Tucked within Rothwell Park’s 465 acres of pristine natural recreation areas in Moberly, Missouri are various war memorials commemorating all of Randolf County’s Veterans. The site is genuinely dedicated to honoring all who have served; alongside monuments dedicated to the Veterans of several wars are others honoring the military police and war dogs along with their handlers.

Perhaps most prominently featured is an oversized bronze statue of General Omar Nelson Bradley. Born into poverty in Randolf County, Bradley would graduate from West Point and eventually go on to command the largest fighting force ever amassed in battle under the American flag. As the monument proclaims, his brilliant military leadership and genuine concern for the lives of his men made him one of the most popular generals of WWII and was affectionally referred to as the GI’s General.

After WWII, he headed the Veterans Administration and was honored with several appointments until becoming General of the Army in 1950. Bradley served on active duty from his arrival at West Point until his death in 1981; a total of 69 years, 8 months and 7 days, the longest active duty career in the history of the United States Armed Forces. When this monument was dedicated in 1996, Omar Nelson Bradley was the last five-star general of our nation, a military status he still holds today.