Customer Reviews (12)

A Democrat Nemesis
Despite Stoler's airbrushing, I now understand the visceral and malevolent aversion of Marshall that my University's faculty tried so desperately to hide.

Stoler's dismissal of the "domino theory" (p. 160,) is "simplistic" in vision because everybody knows that there were, indeed, communists such as Alger Hiss in the state department before 1939.
(See "Witness," "Treason" and "Blacklisted by History.")
Contrary to Stoler's assertion, Vietnam was the "crisis" that the ilk of SDS Alinskyites used as a means to metastasize the democrat disease.
(The release of the Venona Project in 1995 exposes Stoler's "mythmaking" strain.)

In 2003, Ann Coulter asked if there were "communists in the state department" when the hero, Joe McCarthy, was engaged in his inquiries.
Today we can state unequivocally that that "fifth column" of Marxists not only heads the state department, but occupies the oval office as well.
(How's that North Korean thing working out?)
Domino theory indeed.

However, Stoler does make clear that by frustrating, forestalling and eventually bankrupting communist expansion, the Marshall team was an epic nemesis of Marxist proliferation.
In Marshall's day, the frontlines of Marxist containment were primarily geographic (i.e. Europe and Asia.)
But it seems like, back then, while folks were aware of the ruthless nature of Marxist expansion in the geographic realm, they weren't as sensitive to this ideological HIV/AIDS that are now ravishing the West.
That is, although the seed of the present democrat disease had been planted in American soil prior to the Marshal Plan, it did not sprout and blossom in American political culture until fertilized by the Vietnam "crisis."
(Ask Rahm Emanuel about not letting "a crisis go to waste.")

Today, those frontlines are in what Robert Bork described as the "precincts of Gomorrah," (i.e. American education, revised history, the courts, the media, popular culture, yatta, etc. ad-infinitum) - precincts into which Mark Levin says in "Liberty and Tyranny," that we must launch a resolute, longstanding and overwhelming counter insurgency.

RIP RJD

Wish I new more about him
Excellent statesman and soldier. Not much about his personal life what people thought about him as a young man or a middle age man or the late years of his life but I think thats what he wanted. He wanted no glory just to be successful and serve a rare man. Short on personal stuff. Once, maybe ever 100 or so years a man comes along that truely makes a difference, this is one such man. We were luck to have him. You will enjoy reading this book.

Soldier-Statesman
Before reading this book I did not have a very high opinion of George Marshall. You never heard much of anything he did. The Battle Field Generals of WW2 took much of the show. However after reading another book about Ike where he talked a little about Marshall I decided to give him another look and I am glad I did. Marshall was a truly outstanding general and patriot of the highest kind. But so humble that he would not even accept awards or leave his own story written by him. Getting back to the book, it was written very well. One of those books you just cannot put down. Naturally it takes you through his early years, West Point, the lean years of the army. But it also goes through the most difficult times of WW2. Without Marshall we would not have been prepared for WW2 and many of the command and control items are still used today. But just when you think it was over and Marshall would fad into history the President called him back on the civilian side and he was wonderful. If the book told you nothing else about Marshall it would be that he could not say no! You have to read it and I promise you will never be bored of regret it.

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. ... Read more

Product 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 (11)

A great Primer!
I learned so much about Soldier and Statesman G.C.Marshall. A must read for your introduction to this fantastic individual. Jack Uldrich writes in John Maxwell fashion for leadership and excellently communicates G.C.Marshall's leadership traits. Purchase 2, one for yourself, and one for those you mentor.

Not a Biography, Not Even Original
George C. Marshall has been the topic of an extensive list of biographies, he won the Nobel Prize, he served as Army Chief of Staff, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense. He is impossible to miss in even a shallow study of US Military History or American Leaders. Mr. Uldrich portrays him as "The Unknown Famous American." Does that even make sense? Then he attempts to establish the books claim to be a condensed biography, in addition to a commentary on leadership, by treating George C. Marshall's life story with less than 10% of the books content. Finally he goes into 9 Principles of leadership which are without a doubt exemplified by the life of this outstanding American Leader. My question is, how did he manage to do it so awkwardly when he need only have more exactly copied Stewart W. Husted's George C. Marshall: The Rubrics of Leadership which has the same premise? The only original contributions Mr. Uldrich adds to what has been previously published are examples of other more recent leaders from the sordid world of business executives who either did or did embody the each of the 9 principles. If you want to read a short biography of George C. Marshall, read Mark A. Stoler's George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century. If you want to read specifically about the 9 great principles of leadership George C. Marshall embodied, read Stewart W. Husted's book already mentioned. I have my doubts as to the value of the additional content from the business world...if that's your thing you might give this one a try; but, from my point of view the one redeeming quality here is that this book is available on Kindle while the others are not. Here is to hoping the original works on this great and valuable topic will soon be available in Kindle format.

No history, rather shallow; for corporate types only
There isn't any history in this book, and don't buy it if you are hoping to learn much about George C. Marshall. The book's script goes something like this:
Honesty.
Honesty is good.
George C. Marshall was honest. Here is an anecdote and a quotation to illustrate it.
We found a CEO who was honest. Here is an anecdoteto illustrate it. This CEO made a lot of money.

Willingness to speak out.
Willingness to speak out is good.
George C. Marshall was willing to speak out. Here is an anecdote and a quotation to illustrate it.
We found a CEO who was willing to speak out. Here is an anecdoteto illustrate it. This CEO made a lot of money.

( Repeat for seven more positive character traits)

George C. Marshall really was a great man, and I want to learn more about him. As another reviewer wrote, <>
Unfortunately this book does not establish these facts convincingly, which is what a biographer should do.It simply asserts them. Not only is the book short on facts, but the constant jump from discussing Marshall to comparing him to the CEO-of-the-week is somewhere between belittling and insulting to Marshall. And the final measure of the quality and virtue of these CEOs always comes down to money, which was not the point of Marshall's life in the first place. The greatness of Marshall does not make the book great.

As for the CEOs, I'm glad the writer could find one honest one and one who was willing to speak out (and so forth).However, from a logical point of view, the link between these character traits and success was not established. You can say: I found an honest CEO, and he made money. The next question is, compared to what? If you examine fifty CEOs, of whom (let's be generous) you find ten honest ones, and you compare the success of those ten to the other forty, then you work out the math and find the statistical correlation between the honesty and the money (this book's value system is all about the money), then you've made your case (for what it's worth).

I'm also disappointed in the book's failure to match its title: Soldier, Statesman, Peacemaker. There was little to no discussion of any of these aspects of Marshall's career. If you're looking for a book on peacemaking, look elsewhere.

-- - -
update: if you're looking for a good book about Marshall, try Marshall : Hero for Our Timesby Leonard Mosley

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. ... Read more

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

Customer Reviews (26)

David's Review
Excellent behind-the-scenes capsule of the largely overlooked man who really "won" World War II.Best single volume work on george marshall
that I've ever read.Superb blending of history, military strategy, geo-political realities and the key personalities.A must-read for every WWII aficionado.

Magnificient achievement
This book is a magnificent achievement by the author in delineating the life and career of George Marshall. He is quite possibly the third most important individual, after Churchill and Roosevelt, who are responsible for Allied victory (I deliberately omit anyone from the Soviet Union).

Marshall took an army of less than 250,000 in 1940 and expanded it, so that by war's end, it had grown to over 8 million men. Marshall understood more than anyone the overall logistics of a modern mechanized army. This was an army, that even at the time of Pearl Harbour, had few planes and tanks. It did not have the capacity to move men and equipment across vast oceans.

The book describes the career of Marshall when he joined the army before World War I. He fought in France and we see how he listened and learned. Marshall was not a man afraid to challenge superiors - he had it out with Pershing (after which they became life long friends).And very admirably, Marshall encouraged subordinates to question him - he was not someone who wished to be surrounded by `yes' men.

After the First World War Marshall had various postings through-out the U.S. and in the Philippines and China. It was only in 1939 that he became Chief of Staff.

He participated in all the major war conferences with Churchill and Roosevelt, starting with Placentia Bay off the coast of Newfoundland. Although he wanted a landing in France almost as soon as America was involved in the war this would have been a mistake. Both Roosevelt and Churchill wanted U.S. involvement to start in North Africa where the American army had a very tough initiation. Even during the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943 the learning curve was arduous. Only by 1944 did the Allies have the requisite troops, landing craft and airpower to force a successful landing in Normandy.

Marshall was right in resisting all of Churchill's requests for alternate strategies like landing troops in Greece or proceeding northward in Italy to Yugoslavia. These divergences would have drained manpower and supplies from the invasion of France. Marshall always insisted that France be the first priority.

The author describes the relationships in Marshall's long career, like Harry Hopkins, John Dill and Eisenhower.

After the war Marshall was sent by Truman on a hopeless mission to China to attempt to negotiate a truce between the Communists and the Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek. Why the mostly practical Truman administration thought that America could accomplish lasting peace in China illustrates how ubiquitous America thought of itself after the Second World War. America wasted billions of dollars in China (mostly to Chiang Kai-shek) during and after World War II. Unfortunately Marshall became a scapegoat for this during the ugly probing of the McCarthy period.

But Marshall was wholly correct with his program of aid to Europe which was in chaos and ruin after the war. The Soviet Union was only plundering the vast areas it had occupied. America, through the Marshall plan, helped Western Europe back on its feet. The Marshall Plan is in many ways, the reason why Western Europe is today prosperous and democratic.

Marshall was also supportive of Truman in his dismissal of MacArthur in Korea. MacArthur wanted to expand the zone of fighting in Korea to include China; both the President and the Chiefs of Staff were opposed. There could be no greater contrast between the flamboyant and eccentric MacArthur who constantly required attention and the straight-forward and un-obtrusive Marshall. Marshall's personality is to some extent, the reason why he is today not as well known as some of the other great personas of the Second Worlds War like MacArthur, Patton, and Eisenhower.
This too, is what makes this story so important, it brings back to life a most important character in the growth of America.

Following Marshall's career is much like witnessing the development of the U.S. He started off in a modest income family in a country that was isolated and insular. He was instrumental in bringing his country to World power status.

Remarkable American
If I was to read a biography about only one American in the twentieth century it would be about George C. Marshall - and this would be the book that I would choose to learn about him.

The author does an amazing job of portraying all of General Marshall's strengths and weaknesses, and does so in a manner that I found easy to read and informative at the same time.I hated to have this book end.

Should be a must read for all students of American History.

To damn with feint praise
This is an interesting book, worthy of reading, although almost more than you ever wanted to know about General Marshall without explaining any of the questions.
If Marshall had retired at the end of WW2, deservedly so, he would have gone down in US history as one of our greatest staff officers. Staff officers are those who make the commanders look brillant by their planning ahead.
Instead, Marshall undertook several other jobs, special missions to China where the Nationalists were sold out to the communists, Secretary of State, where the nest of commies were not cleaned out, and Secretary of Defense during the no win Korean War. In these, Marshall sullied his reputation in history.
As a VMI cadet, Marshall rec'd. a commission in the Army and built a career from 1902 to his death in 1959. He traveled widely in the Far East, held many important staff positions, never commanded troops in battle but was the brains behind our success in WW2.
Marshall was a loyal and industrious subordinate to his commanders, a wise counsel to his proteges, and had enough sense to retain Patton in his battle command while he organized things behind the scenes in WW2.
The Supreme Commander job in Europe was his for the asking, but he deferred to FDR and stayed in Washington as Chief of Staff. Marshall was at the pivot of every important decision of WW2 and did a very ample job at what he had to do.
It was only after the War where he came in for deserved critism, his friendship with Joe Stillwell, who sold the Chinese Nationalists down the river to the Communists, his half hearted prosecution of the Korean War and his non-performance during MacArthur's relief of command.
This book holds a wealth of information on the life and times of George C. Marshall and is worthy of reading. It does not adequately defend Marshall's post-war career, if that can be defended at all.
Marshall is an enigma, there's something missing in this book. Why did he sell out China to the Communists? Why did he fail to prosecute the Korean War, why was he silent on MacArthur's relief of command?
GCM certainly gave his career and life to the service of his country, but many more questions are left without answers in this work.
So far as "Statesman" that would best be left off the title. Propriety and respect prevent me from suggesting an alternative....

Driven, but Humble
After reading this account, what seems to stand out in Marshall's character is the seemingly incongruous combination of intense ambition and humility.He was a true soldier and knew his place--wasn't a self-promoter like MacArthur--but he also spoke his mind when convicted to do so.Was surprised that he could be so blunt with Pershing!But he could do so b/c of the immense respect he commanded.He was intensely dedicated to his work.At a young age he overheard his brother telling his mother that he thought George would disgrace the family.I wonder how much of Marshall's professional drive can be attributed to proving them wrong.Obviously, you learn a ton about US WWII strategy and running of the war from this book. ... 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

Product 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

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

Product Description
A biography of the military leader and statesman, discussing his roles in both World Wars and his service as a cabinet officer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

To be read for information rather than enjoyment
There seems to be a consensus that Pogue's massive biography is the definitive authority on Marshall. Certainly every possible detail is included, which is why the book is so huge. If you want the most possible information on Marshall or on any particular phase of his life, go find a copy of one or all volumes of Pogue's work.
I found the reading slow going and sometimes the level of detail stood in the way of a strong narrative. Contrast this with, say, Caro's biography of LBJ, where each instance of delving into deeper detail and closer focus just makes the book more intensely gripping. ... Read more