Book Description

The two years covered in the fifth volume of The Papers of George Catlett Marshall were among the most momentous in the life of Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall -- and in the course of the twentieth century. A year of transitions for Marshall, 1945 witnessed the final assault on Nazi Germany and the use of atomic weapons against Japan. Allied forces under the command of Marshall's protege, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had contained Hitler's Ardennes offensive at the beginning of the year and launched the final drive to smash the German regime.

The war against Japan seemed far from over, however, and Marshall was deeply involved in planning for the massive and difficult redeployment of troops and materials from Europe to the Pacific. The debate with the U.S. Navy over supreme command of the invasion of Japan continued through the first six months of the year until Marshall secured Douglas A. MacArthur's appointment. In May and June, the chief of staff was involved in the decision to use the new atom bomb.

Military-related political problems continued to consume much of Marshall's time as the Second World War drew to a close, although he was only peripherally involved in the Big Three conferences at Yalta and Potsdam. Instead, demobilization and readying U.S. Army ground and air forces for the postwar era were Marshall's chief concerns. He pressed for a unified military department against navy opposition and also lobbied incessantly for universal military training for all physically fit eighteen-year-old males as the key element in the nation's military readiness and deterrent value.

After the fighting ceased, Marshall expected to retire, having served on active duty since 1902, but President Truman kept him in office until late November 1945. The day after his retirement, the president asked him to go to China to mediate in that country's increasingly violent civil war. Despite his initial success in negotiating a cease-fire between the Nationalists and Communists, irreconcilable differences soon led to renewed fighting. Marshall's continued hopes for achieving a political compromise, along with knowledge that his mission was the only hope for avoiding a disaster in China, kept him in the country until early 1947. He returned to the United States only when the president announced that General Marshall would join his cabinet as secretary of state.From The Papers of George Catlett Marshall

"The one great element in continuing the success of an offensive is maintaining the momentum. This was lost last fall when shortages caused by the limitation of port facilities made it impossible for us to get sufficient supplies to the armies to continue their sweep into Germany when they approached the German border. Once additional ports had been captured and reopened there was a shortage of rail and transportation facilities with which to get supplies forward. Now the port facilities and the interior supply lines are adequate. Subject to the worldwide shortage of both cargo and personnel shipping, there is no foreseeable shortage which will be imposed by physical events in the field." -- Speech to the Overseas Press Club, March 1, 1945

"Today we celebrate a great victory, a day of solemn thanksgiving. My admiration and gratitude go first to those who have fallen, and to the men of the American armies of the air and ground whose complete devotion to duty and indomitable courage have overcome the enemy and every conceivable obstacle in achieving this historic victory." -- Marshall V-E Day Radio Address, May 8, 1945

"Just a few months ago the world was completely convinced of the strength and courage of the United States. Now they see us falling back into our familiar peacetime habits. They witness the tremendous enthusiasm with which we mount demobilization and reconversion, but they see as yet no concrete evidence that we are determined to hold what we have won--permanently. Are we already at this early date inviting that same international disrespect that prevailed before this war? Are we throwing away today what a million Americans died or were mutilated to achieve? Are we already shirking the responsibility of the victory?" -- Speech to the New York Herald Tribune Forum, October 29, 1945

Book Description

Volume 3 illuminates Marshall's evolving relationships with President Roosevelt and his selection of such commanders.

Book Description

Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall's Pentagon office was the nerve center for United States ground and air forces during World War II. This fourth volume of The Papers of George Catlett Marshall covers the nineteen months that constituted the heart of American participation in the war, a period during which Marshall was operating at the peak of his abilities as a politician, strategist, and coordinator.

Marshall was undoubtedly disappointed in late 1943 not to be chosen Supreme Allied Commander in Europe--a job that would have been granted to him had he demanded it. But many people, including President Roosevelt, considered him too important to America's war effort and to the alliance to move him out of Washington, D.C. As the documents in this volume demonstrate, Marshall directed great energy at maintaining and strengthening the crucial Anglo-American alliance through his participation in the great wartime decision-making conferences at Quebec, Cairo, and Teheran, and through his perseverance over strategic direction.

This volume also reveals Marshall's efforts to maintain the alliances of army and navy services, ground and air forces, regular and reserve components, home front and combat theaters, military and civilian, and Pentagon and Congress. Army personnel increased to eight million by the end of these nineteen months, and Marshall moved vigorously to complete the creation, training, and transportation of combat units. He continually faced problems of logistics and shipping, research and development, finding exceptionally able leaders, and supplying support personnel. All the while, Marshall was planning for the postwar military by advocating Universal Military Training and a unified Department of Defense. "You are doing a grand job," he told General Eisenhower at the end of 1944, "go on and give them hell." The same might have been said of Marshall himself.

Customer Reviews (5)

The controversial Senator's take on an establishment "saint".
In 1951,Senator Joseph R. McCarthy made a lengthy speech(constantly interrupted)in the Senate,highly critical of the military and diplomatic career of General George C. Marshall(and other "public servants")during the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.The reaction from many quarters to this speech was one of indignant outrage.
In questioning the wisdom-indeed the very loyalty to the US-of Marshall,revered andsanctified as the "Organizer of victory" during World War 2,even Senator McCarthy's allies(such as Republican party chief Robert Taft),felt Joe may have gone too far.
To this day,it is McCarthy's "attack" on Marshall-Army chief,roving diplomat for Truman,Secretary of State and Defence Secretary-which is pointed to as being the "red-hunting" Senator's greatest political crime.This book,published in 1951,is basically a condensed version of McCarthy's speech,with some additional material.
Whether McCarthy was wholly responsible for writing the speech/book-or if,as some believe,it is largely the work of one of his more academic assistants,such as J.B. Matthews,is debatable.
Be that as it may,whoever has(like me)been informed by our "media" for decades that McCarthy's public attack on Marshall was a prime example of Joe's unholy wickedness,may have to revise their opinion after reading this book.The case made against Marshall,his proteges and advisors,is carefully argued,well supported by evidence-and devastating!Drawing on published memoirs by the politicians,military figures and such who were involved in the momentous events in which Marshall played a leading part,one is staggered by the scope of the indictment against him,and sobered by the thought of the other horrors which would have occured if Marshall(and others discussed here)had managed to get their way all the time(instead of just a lot of the time!).
Here we see Marshall's murky role in the Japan/Pearl harbour debacle,his monomania about opening a "Second front"-at a time when neither the US or the Britain could have mounted an assault on Nazi held Western Europe without colossal casualties and inevitable failure,solely to take the pressure off Stalin's forces in Russia(Stalin having been until very recently Hitler's ally and fellow plunderer of Europe);his sabotaging of the efforts of Churchill and others who were trying to prevent Russia occupying swathes of eastern europe and taking Berlin;his moves to see that Russia was brought into the war in the east(a strengthening of Stalin's hand quite unnecessary to the Allied war on Japan);his insistence on there being a land invasion of Japan(then defeated militarily,without supplies-as its Navy had gone-and suing for peace with the Allies)which would have seen massive needless loss of life among Allied servicemen;his role in ensuring Stalin got the territory he craved during behind the scenes manoevering at the big conferences like Tehran and Yalta;his willingness to forward the cause of Mao and his communist rebels at the expense of the Nationalist regime which led to decades of the Chairman's gory incompetent rule over China(turning it into an impoverished charnel house).
Anyone reading the indictment here will probably begin to wonder how on earth Marshall gained such a reputation as a sagacious guardian of the US and the free world's interests,and why he was thought of so highly by clever political operators like FDR,Truman and Eisenhower.Is this the story of a naive serial blunderer,whose errors were somehow turned into epics of reasoned statesmanship by a fawning gullible left/liberal media and political establishment-or were all these activities(which promoted the aims and ends of Stalin)coldly calculated and deliberate.We have the evidence from the previously secret US and Soviet intelligence archives that the infiltration into the power structure of the US by Soviet agents and fellow travelling allies was on a quite breathtaking scale in the 30's and 40's.Much more still remains locked in the archives of the Soviet intelligence services.There is uncontrovertable evidence that many of those previously declared by the "liberal consensus" to have been innocent victims of unscrupulous political witch hunters like McCarthy and the Un-American Activities Committee-from Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White to the Rosenbergs-were in fact guilty as charged all along.Joe McCarthy came close to calling Marshall a traitor.Dwight Eisenhower,who coasted to prominence on Marshall's coat-tails,never forgave McCarthy for attacking his old mentor-it was one of the reasons why,as President,Ike finally joined the pack who were out to get the Junior Senator from Wisconsin,and helped destroy him politically during the 1954 Army Hearings and their aftermath.
Reading this book will help any impartial reader decide who was right about George Catlett Marshall.

Explains a great deal
In evaluating Senator McCarthy's book, I will compare the situation he analyzed with another more well-known situation.

From reading William Shirer's book "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" I became aware that Neville Chamberlain helped precipitate World War 2 when he went to Munich.There, he appeased Hitler by allowing him to take chunks of Czechoslovakia and incorporate them into Germany, without a fight.Czechoslovakia was not even invited to these "negotiations."The situation was hopeless for that country; although it was well-armed and could have fought back Germany, the citizens capitulated and within a few weeks the entire country became engulfed by Germany.But that is all that Chamberlain did to encourage Germany into invading Czechoslovakia.To think that Chamberlain was a Nazi or a Nazi sympathizer might be overreacting.

Now, imagine that prior to Chamberlain coming to Munich, Germany was already invading Czechoslovakia by force.Not only that, but the Czechoslovak forces were steadily beating back the German army from the Sudeten regions.Suppose now, at the urging of Hitler, Chamberlain was to demand that the Czechoslovak forces cease-fire before taking back their lost territory, in the interests of "peace."Suppose that while assuring the British people, who wanted arms to be brought to Czechoslovakia, the arms were mysteriously sabotaged while being transported to Czechoslovakia in the care of Chamberlain.Suppose further that Chamberlain demanded that Czechoslovakia "reform" their government and hold elections, and allow the Nazis to be elected into their government positions, in the interest of "democracy."And that if they refused to comply, Chamberlain was going to withdraw British troops from, and discontinue aid to Czechoslovakia.Suppose that the Czechoslovaks conceded and ceased-fire but still this was not good enough for Chamberlain, who before returning to Britain, withdrew aid and troops, and made the statement, "With a stroke of the pen, I now disarm 39 divisions of the Czechoslovak army."Would you think that Chamberlain was a Nazi, had he committed these actions?Even if the man was considered by most of your countrymen to be a "war hero?"

In the previous paragraph, replace "Chamberlain" with "George Marshall," "Hitler" with "Chou En-Lai," "Munich" with "Yenan," "Germany" with "Russia and Red China," "Nazi" with "Communist" "Czechoslovakia" with "Free China," "Sudeten" with "Manchuria" and "British" with "American," and you get the idea, of what happened to China prior to it's fall to the Communists shortly after world war 2.Now we are faced with another question.

If you are yet undecided as to the answer of that question, then I suggest you read McCarthy's book, which is actually a transcription of a speech he made in the Senate.In spite of the media reaction to McCarthy and his speech, in the speech, and hence this book, much evidence is provided, and conclusions presented in a calm, objective manner.

A special section at the end of the book documents media reaction to the speech.Much vitriol was flung at McCarthy by editors of various newspapers.Much of the commentary demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of what McCarthy said, or worse.

It is a great injustice that Marshall is still considered to be a "war hero," when it is quite apparent that he committed numerous "errors," even prior to his shenanigans in China.The systematic nature of his errors, always in favor of the reds, explains a great deal why China is still communist today, and unlike Japan, has a government which is hostile to the US and may become increasingly so in the next several years.

McCarthy Is Correct
This small tome, expanding upon his speech in the Senate, provides a wealth of documented information regarding General Marshall and the deleterious effects his mistaken eforts have wrought on the US and the enslaved citizens of China.

A modern history of this subject with all the released information from the Venona files and the Soviet Union folded in would only enhance McCarthy's prescience in writing this book.

This book does not charge Marshall with being a spy, nor a Soviet agent, nor a communist, nor a fellow traveler, but whatever leanings Marshall had and how he was influenced by the Communists and American Traitors that were in charge of formulating and influencing the US's foreign policies, especially in the far east, are strongly inferred in this book.

This is a well written, well argued, and well documented book, that almost turns into a page turner and a one night read.

Fascinating Book By the Famous Senator
Senator Joseph McCarthy was a contemporary of General George Marshall (the WWII U.S. military officer who worked closely with President Roosevelt), both having lived through the events that are described in this book, so this is a fascinating, absorbing first-person account of that history and those times.Senator McCarthy certainly lives up to his "no holds barred" reputation for directness and controversy in this book.Highly recommended!

CHAPTERS:

Background Leading Up to the Marshall Speech

Marshall and the Second Front

The Struggle for Eastern Europe

The Yalta Sellout

Marshall and Stilwell

The Marshall Policy for China

The Marshall Mission

The Marshall Plan

The Marshall-Acheson Strategy for the Future

Appendix A:Source Material

Appendix B:Press Reaction to the Speech

Yes---this is what he said
Much has been made of this. Sen. McCarthy had some things to say about the so-called good general. Eisenhower went ape, as they said then, and the establishment press pontificated---but these words, written by Forrest McDonald, are worth a view. Where was Marshall on Pearl Harbor day? Why did he consistently side with Mao? Read this for a decidely different view from the conventional one. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Air & Space Power Journal, published by U.S. Air Force on June 22, 2005. The length of the article is 1288 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 5, "The Finest Soldier," January 1, 1945-January 7, 1947.(Book Review)
Author: Harold R. Winton
Publication: Air & Space Power Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2005
Publisher: U.S. Air Force
Volume: 19Issue: 2Page: 111(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
At the turn of the twentieth century, the forty-five states that constituted the United States of America were on the brink of change. No longer a second-rate nation behind the old European countries, America was emerging from its Wild West frontier days, becoming a major commercial power and military force. For the majority of the century, the United States would be the world's dominant nation.

In many respects, what defined the American Century was the work of George C. Marshall. Though he shunned publicity and self-promotion, seeking instead to do his job quietly and well, he was twice selected as Time magazine's Man of the Year, stood at the top of the U.S. Army, and won a Nobel Peace Prize for the Marshall Plan. Marshall prided himself on his lack of emotion and, unlike his protégé, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Marshall never had any desire to be president—though others lobbied him to be a candidate. His careful command in World War II made Marshall a leading force in transforming the United States into the reigning world power. Later, Marshall served as Secretary of State during the Berlin Airlift and then served as Secretary of Defense during the Korean War.

It was all quite a lot for a boy who was a mediocre student, and whose brother feared he would disgrace the family name when he went away to military school. Fighting Wars, Planning for Peace: The Story of George C. Marshall showcases the incredible accomplishments of the modest man who shaped a world at war—and at peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Highly useful insights about wars, peace, and leadership
This book is worth buying.It's packed full of information, yet uses simple explanations and includes amusing touches, making it easy and enjoyable to follow.Detailing the chronological path of Marshall's life and work, Gimpel provides insight not just into what Marshall accomplished but also how he grew as a person.This allows readers to learn or brush up on the last century's history while feeling like part of Marshall's quest to make the right choices for himself and his country.Both younger and older readers will likely find themselves inspired by Marshall's persistence in the face of obstacles, his assertiveness in making the most of opportunities, his adaptability when he gets what he wants but finds it different than expected, and his forthright and humble character.

Gimpel provides a solid overview of the progression of 20th century history, including descriptions of many other great leaders of that time.The sections about WW II and the Marshall Plan are particularly good.I imagine that any reader would see the relevance of Marshall's strategies to present-day international affairs.

Truman said of George C. Marshall: "He was the greatest of the great of our time."After reading this book, you'll know why.

Great for teens--Relevant, interesting, easy read for adults
A teenage friend lent me this book on Marshall and recommended that I read it.I haven't read a history book since college and have never been interested in biographies of military heroes, but I read it anyway.It was great!I found myself incredibly impressed with Marshall's leadership skills at a young age and his patience, persistence and humility as a leader, diplomat and outstanding human being who really valued peace. I unexpectedly found myself caught up in the historical events that now have so much more meaning to me.The examples of his leadership and the challenges he faced are so completely relevant for our current issues that I found myself wondering how Marshall would lead us through the global and national issues we face today. It's definitely on my holiday shopping list for other young readers I know and for friends who would appreciate a good modern history book that is well written and a quick and easy read.

Nearly 200 pages of details about a man who shunned publicity yet was twice selected as Time magazine's Man of the Year
Lee Gimpel's Fighting Wars Plannign For Peace: The Story Of George C. Marshall packs in nearly 200 pages of details about a man who shunned publicity yet was twice selected as Time magazine's Man of the Year, and who won a Nobel Peace Prize. Marshall never had any desire to rise in politics: his World War II command led the country into becoming a reigning world power, leading the struggle for peace.

Best book on Marshall!
A fascinating man and a remarkably well constructed novel, this is a must read.The story invites you into Marshall's life and you will quickly be taken aback by his strength of character and determination.I don't often take the time to write reviews, but after finishing this book I was so impressed I wanted others to experience it for themselves.

Character Shaping
George C. Marshall's approach to his life will serve as a model to every student with regard to purpose and the shaping of a man that resulted in the shaping of a nation.The makings of great people lead to the ingredients necessary to continue to fight for American freedoms today, just as we did in years past.The principles remain the same, and Gimpel has done a superb job at translating Marsall's life to an easy-to-follow and digest reading that will be intriguing while educational.A great voice for a great role model in American history. ... Read more

Book Description
A captivating and fanatically thorough reevaluation of Marshall's life and times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Mediocre Biography of a Great Man
This is not a bad biography.The facts are there as well as a reasonably complete account of a very complicated part of history.But the people and groups that Marshall dealt with are simplified to the point of caricature.Similarly, matters of grand strategy and the new tactics stemming from technological advance are treated merely as things that Marshall had views on.It's not clear from the book that the author understands anything about war as fought in the mid-20th century above the cartoon level.Of course there were many people; of course things were complicated, and a great deal happened; but in over 700 pages we are entitled to some subtlety and insight, which aren't there.General Marshall, one of the truly great mean, deserves better than this.

Great Man, Great Biography
For those of you who like their reviews to be direct and to the point: Ed Cray, a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California, has written the single best one volume life of George C. Marshall.The book is 15 years old and is unlikely to be surpassed for another 15-20 years.It is the kind of book that will still be in print 70 years after its initial publication.

Why?Well, it is well-written and a pleasure to read.More importantly, Cray does an excellent job of giving his readers a character portrait of the great general that brings the man alive.Not an easy thing to do with a subject as taciturn as Marshall.The man that emerges is one of real character.He became a protégé of General of the Armies John J. Pershing only after Marshall stood up to him as an overage captain, yelling at the general telling him he was wrong when Pershing had criticized Marshall's division.As Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Marshall was the critical figure in building the military that defeated the axis powers.He selected the commanders, who often went on to greater fame than he enjoyed.He was the leader of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the war and often had to battle with his naval counterpart Admiral Ernest J. King.In the realm of allied strategy, he faced off against the head of the British Army, Field-Marshal Sir Alan Brooke.In both cases healthy mutual respect kept from making their differences and disputes personal.In running the army during the war, Marshall's administrative style was highly effective and can provide a model for many in other fields to follow.He also suffered.His stepson, who he had done a good deal to raise, was killed in Italy.It says a good deal about the man that he made no effort to protect one his family from dangerous assignments.

After the war, Marshall served as Secretary of State and then later as Secretary of Defense.He won the Nobel Peace Prize for the plan the State Department developed to rebuild Europe after the devastation of the war.He was twice "Time" magazine's "Man of the Year."

Marshall was the first five-star general in U.S. history and that was no accident.In this fine book Cray makes that clear.

Gentlemen, scholar, and Inspiration
This is a fantastic biography of an incredible leader.Marshall is usually associated with the European Recovery Act and as the Chief of Staff of the Army during World War II.He influenced so much more during his long Army career.A true gentlemen and scholar, his long career and dedication to service is an inspiration for all of us today.

THE Classic Life of Marshall
I read this book immediately after I finished Douglas Southall Freeman's massive four volume biography "R.E. Lee," and at first, I thought I'd be underwhelmed. How wrong I was.
Cray's book covers all the major moments of Marshall's life. While it probably won't surplant Forrest Pogue's definitive four volume work, it will probably remain the finest one volume distillation.
Marshall's contribution to this nation cannot be overestimated in any way. A key member of Pershing's staff in the First World War, his time with the 15th Infantry in China, helping organize the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression, his ascension to Chief of Staff on the very day Germany attacked Poland and his invaluable contribution in that post over the next six years, his time as Secretary of State in the Truman administration, there is little that Cray didn't cover.

Truman and Eisenhower would have major differences between each other over the years, but their flat out admiration of this man was well warranted.

I stand in awe that this country could produce such a man. We certainly could use more like him.

General of the Army is a solid book. Well written and instructive. Definitely worth the time it takes to read it.

Character Counts
George Marshall was arguably the greatest man of what has come to be known as the Greatest Generation.Only George Washington commanded a similar level of veneration and awe from his contemporaries as Marshall.And, like Washington, Marshall was revered mostly for his irreproachable integrity and honor.

In this solid, single volume life of the celebrated Army Chief of Staff, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, Ed Cray captures the essence of a man who was at once Olympian, yet, in a sense, quite common and whose special qualities should have been, in an ideal society, unexceptional.Marshall became a legend by being a world-class manager (one might even say a highly skilled bureaucrat) and earning a reputation for incorruptibility and almost unnatural selflessness.He was a larger-than-life figure who got that way through hard work and honesty, rather than uncommon genius or death-defying battlefield heroics.That has been Marshall's reputation since his lifetime, and Cray's biography generally endorses that image.

But this is no hagiography.As Cray tells the story, Marshall was, in fact, deeply ambitious; the prospect of being passed over for Chief of Staff drove the future five-star general to fits of despair and he fretted over his slow career advancement during the 1920s and 1930s.Moreover, Cray argues that Marshall didn't shy away from using connections and influence to advance his own cause and engaging in self-promotion when necessary, especially early on his career.In one memorable anecdote, Cray writes how a young Marshall literally elbowed his way into the Oval Office to talk President McKinley into giving him a shot at taking the Army Officer's commission test (it worked and Marshall passed).Any notion that Marshall simply worked hard, kept his head down and let the chips fall where they may has to be rejected after reading Cray's biography.

Not surprisingly, Cray devotes a great deal of focus to Marshall's role in the Second World War.He stresses Marshall's unswerving commitment to a few core strategic principles and his epic battles with some of the biggest egos of the 20th century.First, he steadfastly promoted the maximization of industrial production in the US and the careful allocation of resources based the key objectives being sought (much needed amphibious landing craft - LSTs - played an unusually critical role).Second, from the earliest days of the war Marshall maintained a steady focus on a "Europe-first" approach to strategy and a landing in France as the means to winning the war, which brought him into frequent clashes with Admiral King, General MacArthur, overall US public opinion, and, last but not least, Winston Churchill and his penchant for operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the "soft underbelly" of Nazi Germany.Finally, Cray describes Marshall as an unapologetic defender of his commanders in Europe - especially Eisenhower - against the badmouthing and operational encroachment of the British.

Cray eloquently and accurately sums up George Marshall's life this way: "[he] exemplified in his lifetime all that was America's best - its sense of mission, of responsibility, of integrity, even nobility."Indeed.It's a shame that there aren't more like him.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Very good abbreviated biography
This is a good biography of the general.If you want more in depth read the masterpiece four volume biography by Forrest Pogue.

Just the Facts Please
This is a perfectly unobjectionable book outlining Gen. Marshall's life and military and political careers.It did strike me as being rather cursory in a number of areas and does not go very far in terms of the motivations and character of its subject.Undoubtedly this is in part because Marshall left very little in the way of written reminiscences of his own and kept a studied distance from those with whom he worked.As such, it leaves a bit to be desired as an in-depth biography.Nonetheless, it is well written, fair in its viewpoint and can be read within a couple of evenings.It is certainly a fine introduction to Marshall, but a reader looking for a comprehensive treatment of his life might well select one of the longer alternatives.

A Succinct Appraisal of an Extraordinary Leader
Mark Stoler writes a concise account of the life and accomplishments of George C. Marshall, one of the greatest soldiers and statesmen in U.S. history.The opening lines in chapter one describe how Marshall was the only professional soldier to receive the Nobel Peace prize.Stoler's work provides inspiration to not only those in uniform, but also diplomats and others interested in leadership in general.I found the book highly readable, succinct, yet having the detailed notes that provide guidance for further reading.It is well worth the read.

Stoler's work comes in at just under two hundred pages, but adds depth with extensive notes for the reader who wishes to pursue more details on the life and accomplishments of General Marshall.The author leans heavily on Forrest C. Pogue, Marshall's official biography, and others who have written extensively on the leader and World War II.The book also features a chronology of Marshall's life, two sets of photos, a bibliographic essay, and an index.

I found the chapter on Marshall's time as Secretary of State to be extremely interesting.He not only garnered passage of the European Recovery Plan ("Marshall Plan") during his tenure, but he also helped negotiate the Rio Pact and Organization of American States, witnessed Tito's Communist coup in Czechoslovakia, opposed the Soviet blockade of Berlin, and supported the creation of NATO.Marshall's immense impact on world affairs can still be felt in Western Europe and elsewhere, as his military and diplomatic efforts set the stage for international relations for the remainder of the 20th century.

As a military leader, I found this to be great reading and a good source for future reading on General Marshall.Read Stoler's work if you are a student of history or enjoy reading about leadership.Highly recommended!

Essential Reading for Military & Foreign Policy Enthusiasts
The book by Stoler is an excellent,albeit somewhat abbreviated account of the life of Marshall.The format, which discusses a time period and its relevance in US History and the life of Marshall was an excellent choice by the author.The only place it falls short, in my opinion, is in that its not really a critical review - the author never really analyzed Marshall's actions and took him to task for anything, and I find it hard to believe that, while a great man, Marshall never did anything wrong.Nonetheless, anyone who wishes to understand US military and foreign policy in the 20th century needs to read this book.

Good introduction to a Great Man
As other reviewers note, Marshall was one of the greatest men of the 20th century and a model of what our leaders should be.The author does not engage in hagiography, but instead provides a concise view of this man'slife in its historical context.Unfortunately, I was hoping for somethingmore comprehensive, yet not as massive as Pogue's exhaustive (exhausting)work.

Stoller does a good job of describing the footprint that Marshallleft upon the world, but not enough about him as a man. ... Read more

Book Description
Foreword by Fred Smith, President and CEO, Federal Express

The importance of George Marshall to 20th century American and world history cannot be overstated. And yet Marshall's place in the pantheon of great leaders often goes unrecognized. Eclipsed perhaps by the larger personalities of his contemporaries -- Roosevelt, Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, Patton -- Marshall was a visionary whose legacy still resonates worldwide. His impact is evident from a look at even a few of his many astonishing accomplishments. For example:

*As Chief of Staff of the United States Army before and during World War II, he oversaw its expansion from a force smaller than Bulgaria's into the mightiest army ever assembled.
* He personally mentored future generals Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Ridgeway, and others.
* He was the first career soldier ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and was twice named Time magazine's Man of the Year.
* As Secretary of State, he introduced the plan that would literally save Europe from post-war economic ruin: the European Recovery Program, universally known as The Marshall Plan.

Marshall's extraordinary career reflects unparalleled leadership capabilities and consummate skills, which Jack Uldrich has aligned with seven overarching principles. Through shining examples that could only have come from the life of Marshall himself, Soldier, Statesman, Peacemaker outlines these principles and their importance and applicability to today's aspiring leaders.

Uldrich's chronicle of Marshall's stunning record demonstrates the value of:

* Integrity: doing the right thing, "frankly and without evasion"
* Action: mastering the situation by acting swiftly and decisively
* Selflessness: serving the greater good, especially when "the issue is too great" to involve one's personal feelings
* Candor: speaking one's mind and leaving nothing "between the lines"
* Preparation: remembering it's not just about the battles themselves, but laying the groundwork for those battles
* Learning and teaching: "learning how to learn," and sharing the knowledge gained
* Fairness: choosing the right people and seeing that they are rewarded, rather than compromising or settling for mediocrity
* Vision: knowing that every decision must drive the big picture, and "swallowing the little things in order to go to bat on the big ones"
* Caring: considering the interests of your constituents "first, last, and all of the time"

Winston Churchill called Marshall "the organizer of victory" and "the last great American." President Truman called him "the great one of the age." More recently, Tom Brokaw proclaimed him "the godfather of the greatest generation." An illuminating portrait of an undersung hero, Soldier, Statesman, Peacemaker brings the life and achievements of General George C. Marshall front and center -- where they have always belonged. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A GREAT read about a GREAT man -- order this book today!
One of the greatest men of the Twentieth Century - and I know nothing about him?I ran across references to General George C. Marshall on numerous occasions and I wondered why I knew so little about him - so, I found this book that coupled the biography of this great man with his leadership principles and ordered it - wow, was I glad I did!I was completely surprised by the character of this incredible man who has unfortunately fallen thru the cracks of history.Uldrich does an incredible job of giving you a great feel not only for the accomplishments of this mountain of a man, but also for his personality and character - which, in the case of Marshall, are what made the man.Uldrich also does a great job ending each chapter by summarizing the leadership principle demonstrated by Marshall and then giving modern examples from the world of business and industry so that this book is an easy cross-over for business and industry leaders and not merely relegated to history buffs.

Marshall seems to embody all the great character qualities that I associate with that generation we've dubbed the "greatest generation" and Uldrich has brought those qualities to the forefront in this book - selflessness, a sense of duty, integrity, candor, preparation, a love for learning and teaching others, fairness, vision and caring for others.This is an amazing read for almost everyone - from the student who needs to know more about great men and women who sacrificed for the greater good, to the leader in almost any capacity who wants to know how to inspire others and get them to perform at a higher level - all will learn something from this book.While the names of his contemporaries are more familiar to many of us - Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt, Bradley, and Patton - after reading this book you'll appreciate the fact that much more is owed to Marshall than to maybe the rest of that list combined!

EveryWestern politician should read this book!
Today the legacy of George C. Marshall is seen everywhere in Europe thanks to his tireless preparation for WWII, running the US war and then headingthe after war efforts to rebuild Europe. He believed that one could never over prepare for war and the peace that ensues after.Too bad GW Bush and Chenay never read his work!The book illustrates Marshall's Nine Core Values with examples from his career as well as with present day efforts by current CEOs.Trumen's "doomed to repeat " quote about the perils of ignoring history resound out of this book as you see how the US and Canada are responding to the current wars.Marshal was a man with a mission, to get any war over as quickly as possible, to spare as many lives as possible, and to do everythinghe could to show the troops that the military and the country was 100% behind them at all times.History used Marshall well and then he seems to have been forgotten.Easy. organized read that I recommend for those looking for leadership lessons.Get it from Amazon.com or Amacom.

More Biographical than it was Instructional
Like most of the other reviewers, I hold General Marshall in high regard, and as a result, I wanted this to be a defining book.It was not.It was however, a short little interesting look about Marshall.

I also realize my opinion contradicts what others here have written, but what I read was a somewhat disjointed biography (meaning it was not chronological) themed around General Marshall's leadership style.Generally speaking it is difficult to actually teach leadership or impart lessons learned, from a third person perspective, even when it is based on very thorough research. This book has research and some hearsay. What carries weight, is leadership taught in the 1st person.A good example of this--although in a very different setting--is John Wooden's book, Wooden on Leadership.

While this book is insightful, it is not nearly as inspirational as I would have hoped, or as it could have been.Assuming that in large measure the readership of this book are people having a personal relationship with the military or an affinity for its history, I believe the author missed an important opportunity to tie Marshall's leadership into the development of current leadership doctrine as defined in Army Field Manuals (FM 22-100, being primary).If anything, Marshall epitomized the current Army "Be, Know, Do" philosophy of leadership.

I would have preferred the author spend a little time explaining the difference between the "authority" Marshall gave his subordinates and the authority he and his subordinates earned from the men in their command.Over the years I have seen many people mistake the two.In the first instance Marshall, or any leader, authorizes a subordinate to make certain decisions without having to check back for permission.The implication being that the leader will support the subordinate's decision.In the second instance it is a case of leaders earning the authority to lead from those they lead.By virtue of rank or position, leaders are given power and responsibility for those things in/under their command.The use of power can certainly get things done, but power alone will almost never create the type of organization that is recognized for its excellence. Sooner or later, folks are going to resent being "powered" around. Conversely, authority to lead that is earned by positive influence and is based in part on trust, is something real leaders receive FROM their subordinates.On the part of the led, it is a willingness to follow.And that was the sort of leadership that Marshall practiced and Army doctrine teaches.

A few other recommended first person leadership books (instructional):by John C. Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and Developing the Leaders Around You.By Jon M. Huntsman, Winners Never Cheat, by Dale Dauten, The Gifted Boss, and James C. Hunter, The Servant.

Leadership Lessons: I've Never Seen It Done Better
As a retired US Army Infantry officer, I valued this book highly for two unique achievements by the author.

First, Jack Uldrich taught me here what a great part of the values and aspirations that shaped my military career and continue to make me proud of it, arose from the work of this single great American.The nine principles fostered and exemplified by Marshall, and so well identified and expounded by Uldrich, continued to shape the Infantry School and the US Army long after Marshall's departure. The entire book could have been written to a different plan using current military examples from the second half of the twentieth century, and George Marshall's unique contribution might have been highlighted just as clearly.

But Uldrich chose to apply Marshall's principles to the whole of our public life; this is his second unique achievement.If we seem to be living in a time of leadership failure everywhere we turn, this book is a ray of hope.Uldrich provides the diagnosis and points out where solutions can be found. In business, politics, government, academia, and non-profits, we do still find leaders who apply these principles. We may expect to find them succeeding, and we should honor them.

from one who served with General Marshall
This review was written by F. Gorham Brigham, Jr. Mr. Brigham served in General Marshall's Office from September 1940 until November 1945, the critical Word War II period.

"I am an avid reader of books written about General Marshall.Mr. Uldrich did a remarkable job in bringing out the key incidents of this remarkable leader.What makes the book exciting are the examples.The author relates how Marshall's skills can relate to today's managers.Most of us like to believe we live in dynamic times and perhaps we do.Few of have been critical leaders in the most dynamic period in America's history.This book is well worth managers' time as General George C. Marshall continues to be a role model for leaders of today."


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Product Description
This 56-page (plus color cover) book includes drawings with text and quotations portraying a biographical summary of George Catlett Marshall's (1880-1959) entire life. The drawings--suitable for coloring and rendered from photographs or based on actual events--concentrate on World War II and the postwar years and the Marshall Plan. In addition to captions explaining the pictured events of General Marshall's life, there are quotations by or about Marshall. A one-page summary introduces the reader to George C. Marshall, and a detailed chronology of his life is provided. The book includes a world map and a map of the Marshall Plan countries.

"There are few men whose qualities of mind and character have impressed me so deeply as those of General Marshall," wrote Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill. "He is a great American, but he is far more than that. . . . He has always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement and disillusion. Succeeding generations must not be allowed to forget his achievements and his example." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent booklet
I had the pleasure of using this material while teaching 6th grade social studies. It is a concise, accurate account of George C. Marshall's life in a way elementary and middle school
students can enjoy and understand, but also a tool that adults will appreciate.The copy consists of 50 pages of text, illustrations, and maps in a booklet encouraging students to color each page.Students in elementary and middle schools thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the material.I used it as a supplement to my textbook. It was well received by the students. They gained a thorough knowledge of who George C. Marshall was, the strength of his character, and what he represented. This was accomplished in such a fun way that they did not realize how much they had actually learned from this one
source. I would highly recommend this booklet.

Gwen Sichol (Rockbridge County, VA_ ... Read more

Book Description

George C. Marshall served as chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II and as secretary of state during the rebuilding of Europe. A master of mobilization and organization, he did as much as any national leader in achieving Allied victory in the war; afterward, as architect of the Marshall Plan, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for that massive and highly effective effort on behalf of Western European economic recovery. Winston Churchill called him "the noblest Roman of them all."

This colorful collection of Marshal portraiture and memorabilia commemorates and humanizes this giant of a man, about whom comparatively little beyond his career achievements is known. The book will accompany an exhibit on Marshall that will open at the National Portrait Gallery in November 1997.

"He was certainly no flamboyant general, he was not a character, there were no pearl-handled revolvers or corncob pipes of crusty anecdotes to spice up the legend of Marshall. He never wrote a book to tell his story. He never ran for election to public office. He never sought popularity. He never exploited his fame. He never asked for recognition or favors. He was a man driven more than anything else by a sense of duty, by the powerful, overpowering obligation of service. To him, it was never George C. Marshall that was important; it was the task at hand." -- Colin Powell

Distributed for the National Portrait Gallery