Major General Omar Bundy (June 17, 1861 – January 20, 1940) was a career United States Army officer who was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I.
A native of New Castle, Indiana, Bundy graduated from the West Point in 1883 and began his career as a second lieutenant of Infantry. After service on the U.S. western frontier and in the American Indian Wars, Bundy took part in Spanish–American War combat in Cuba as a participant in the Battle of El Caney, for which he received the Silver Star. His continued career included several tours in the Philippines, among them combat during the Philippine–American War, for which he received a second Silver Star. As commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment and adjutant of the Army's Southern Department, Bundy was a participant in the Pancho Villa Expedition.
During World War I, Bundy commanded the 2nd Division during combat in France in the summer of 1918. Afterwards he was promoted to command of first U.S. VI Corps, and then U.S. VII Corps. For his wartime service, Bundy received the French Legion of Honor (Commander) and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. After the war, Bundy commanded Fort Lee, Virginia, the Philippine Division, the Seventh Corps Area, and the Fifth Corps Area.
Bundy retired in 1925, and was a resident of Washington, D.C. In 1938 he suffered a stroke that left him in ill health and with partial paralysis. He died in Washington on January 20, 1940, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Early life and education
Omar Bundy was born in New Castle, Indiana, on June 17, 1861, a son of Judge Martin Bundy and Amanda (Elliott) Bundy. He came from a military family; Bundy's father was a Union Army paymaster during the American Civil War and his great-grandfather, Christopher Bundy, served in the Patriot military of North Carolina during the American Revolution.
A graduate of New Castle's grammar and high school, Bundy attended Asbury College (now DePauw University) from 1878 to 1879, where one of his classmates was Willis Van Devanter. While at Asbury, Bundy became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. In 1879, Bundy was appointed to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, by U.S. Representative Milton S. Robinson. He graduated from West Point in 1883, ranked 50th of 52. Several of his classmates would go on to become general officers in their careers, such as Charles W. Kennedy, George H. Cameron, Harry C. Hale, George W. Read, John W. Heard, Ira A. Haynes, Samson L. Faison, William C. Langfitt, Robert D. Walsh, Lawrence Tyson, Charles G. Morton, Tyree R. Rivers, John W. Ruckman, Isaac Littell and Clarence R. Edwards.
Start of military career
After graduation, Bundy was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to the 2nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Lapwai, Idaho. He served with the 2nd Infantry until June 1884, when he was transferred to the 3rd Infantry at Fort Missoula, Montana.
From 1885 to 1887, Bundy was a student at Fort Leavenworth's Infantry and Cavalry School. He then returned to the 3rd Infantry at Fort Missoula, where his duties included participation in an 1888 American Indian Wars expedition against the Crow near Fort Custer, Montana. In late May 1888, the 3rd Infantry was assigned to duty at Fort Meade, South Dakota.
In May 1890, Bundy was promoted to first lieutenant. During the winter of 1890-1891 he took part in an Indian Wars expedition against the Sioux. From 1891 to 1898, Bundy was on duty with the 3rd Infantry at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. For much of this period, he served as both the post and regimental quartermaster. He received his promotion to captain in April 1898.
Spanish–American War
At the start of the Spanish–American War in early 1898, Bundy was offered a position as commissary officer with the United States Volunteers, which he declined. In May, he traveled with the 3rd Infantry to the Mobile, Alabama, port of embarkation. The regiment sailed for Cuba in June, where it was part of the Fifth Army Corps. Bundy took part in the July 1898 Battle of El Caney, and received the Silver Star in recognition of his heroism. Following this fight, Bundy took part in the July 1898 Siege of Santiago, after which he returned to the United States.