General of the Army George Marshall
“I couldn’t sleep nights, George, if you were out of Washington.” – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
On December 16, 1944, Gen. George Marshall would receive his fifth star. Although he is one of the most decorated and respected military leaders in American history, he never commanded troops in battle.
As Chief of Staff from 1939, he oversaw the expansion of the military. Marshall knew that success in World War II required harmonious civil-military, interservice, and interallied relationships.
Winston Churchill described Marshall as “the true ‘organizer of victory.’” As such, Marshall’s opportunity to assume command during the cross-Channel assault was denied by FDR’s need for him in Washington.
After the War, Marshall was appalled by the destruction and despair he saw in Europe. He knew something needed to be done. During the 1947 graduation ceremonies at Harvard, Marshall announced the need for a “European recovery program.” The program would become known as the “Marshall Plan.”