GEORGE C. MARSHALL

Soldier and Statesman

As U.S. Army Chief of Staff during World War Two, George Catlett Marshall had an imposing presence and an air of authority. He had an ability to understand the global picture and was able to deal firmly with strong-minded commanders in the field. He was also outstanding in selecting good officers, raising and training a superb army, obtaining weapons and equipment, and was a trusted advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt.

He was so successful in all of these that when the Supreme Commander for the invasion of Europe was appointed, Roosevelt decided he could not spare Marshall. Though Marshall could have had the command by simply saying he wanted it, he instead insisted that Roosevelt do what he thought would benefit the country most, "with absolutely no thought of my feelings." Instead of Marshall, whom Roosevelt had planned to appoint, Dwight D. Eisenhower was picked. Later, Roosevelt would say that he could not have slept at night knowing Marshall was not nearby. Though deeply disappointed at losing this anticipated battlefield command, Marshall never let it affect his productivity. Winston Churchill called him "the true organizer of victory", and Marshall was named the first five star General of the Army, outranking all other generals. So the greatest military mind of his time never got a battlefield command, but was the most important in gaining victory.

However, Marshall's service was far from over. He also served two years as special representative of the president to China and in 1947 became Secretary of State. Here he surveyed the health of the European countries, declaring that "The patient is sinking while the doctors deliberate. The Communist Party was making inroads because of the bleak economic conditions. In June of 1947, he announced the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of post-war Europe. This plan saved millions of lives and probably some of Western Europe from becoming Communist states. He won the Nobel Prize in 1953.

Marshall was born in Uniontown, PA, on Dec. 31, 1880, and died on Oct.16, 1959. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1901. He served in World War One and later would transform infantry training to be ready for the type of war that he knew would be next. He also formed the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp.), learning how to deal with civilians and politicians. He handpicked many top soldiers, such as Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, and George Patton, for leadership positions. His curse seemed to be that he was indispensable to everyone he served under, so much so that noone wanted to let him go.