George C. Marshall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids General of the Army George C. Marshall GCB
Official portrait, 1946
3rd United States Secretary of Defense
In office September 21, 1950 – September 12, 1951
President	Harry S. Truman
Deputy	Stephen Early Robert A. Lovett
Preceded by	Louis A. Johnson
Succeeded by	Robert A. Lovett
10th President of the American Red Cross
In office October 1, 1949 – December 1, 1950
President	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Basil O'Connor
Succeeded by	E. Roland Harriman
2nd Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission
In office January 1949 – October 16, 1959
Preceded by	John J. Pershing
Succeeded by	Jacob L. Devers
50th United States Secretary of State
In office January 21, 1947 – January 20, 1949
President	Harry S. Truman
Deputy	Dean Acheson Robert A. Lovett
Preceded by	James F. Byrnes
Succeeded by	Dean Acheson
United States Special Envoy to China
In office December 20, 1945 – January 6, 1947
President	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
15th Chief of Staff of the United States Army
In office September 1, 1939 – November 18, 1945
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman
Deputy	Lorenzo D. Gasser
Preceded by	Malin Craig
Succeeded by	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Personal details
Born	George Catlett Marshall (1880-12-31)December 31, 1880 Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1959(1959-10-16) (aged 78) Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	None
Height	6 ft (183 cm)
Spouses	Lily Carter Coles ​ ​ (m. 1902; died 1927)​ Katherine Boyce Tupper Brown ​ (m. 1930)​
Education	Virginia Military Institute
Civilian awards	Nobel Peace Prize Congressional Gold Medal Charlemagne Prize Complete list
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1902–1959
Rank	General of the Army
Commands	Chief of Staff of the United States Army Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army 5th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Fort Moultrie and District I, Civilian Conservation Corps Fort Screven and District F, Civilian Conservation Corps 8th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	Philippine–American War World War I Western Front Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II Chinese Civil War Operation Beleaguer Korean War
Military awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Croix de Guerre Complete list
College football career
VMI Keydets
Position	Left Tackle
Career history
College	VMI (1900)
Career highlights and awards
All-Southern (1900)

George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an important American army officer and leader. He became the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. After the war, he served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

Winston Churchill, a famous British leader, called Marshall the "organizer of victory" for his role in helping the Allied forces win World War II. After the war, Marshall tried to help bring peace to China, but it was a difficult task. As Secretary of State, he created the Marshall Plan. This plan helped European countries rebuild their economies after the war. For this important work, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.

Early Life and Education

George Catlett Marshall Jr. was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children. His family had strong roots in Virginia and Kentucky. Marshall's father worked in the coal business.

Marshall decided early on that he wanted to be a soldier. He attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) starting in 1897. His brother thought he wouldn't succeed, but Marshall was determined. His mother sold land to help pay for his schooling.

1900 VMI Keydets football team. Marshall circled

At VMI, Marshall was excellent in military training. He became the highest-ranking cadet. He also played football as an offensive tackle. In 1901, he graduated from VMI.

Early Military Career

After VMI, Marshall worked at a military school in Danville, Virginia. He passed a test to become an officer in the U.S. Army. In 1902, he became a second lieutenant in the Infantry. Soon after, he married Lily Carter Coles and went to serve in the Philippines.

Before World War I, Marshall had many different jobs in the Army. He served as a platoon leader and company commander in the Philippines. He learned a lot about modern warfare. He was a top graduate from the Army's Infantry-Cavalry School in 1907. He also finished first in his Army Staff College class in 1908.

In 1916, Marshall became an assistant to Major General J. Franklin Bell. Bell was a former Army chief of staff. When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Marshall helped prepare the 1st Division for war in France.

World War I Service

Major General Robert Lee Bullard (center, facing towards the right), the newly appointed commander of the 1st Division, and members of his divisional staff at Gondrecourt, France, January 17, 1918. To Bullard's left is his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell King, while to Bullard's right is Lieutenant Colonel George C. Marshall, the assistant chief of staff for operations.

During World War I, Marshall helped plan training and combat operations. He worked with the 1st Division in France. He even walked into dangerous "no-man's land" to scout the area. He was injured during this time but kept working.

Marshall was praised for planning the Battle of Cantigny in May 1918. This was the first major American victory of the war. Later, he joined the staff of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). He helped plan the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was a key battle that helped defeat Germany.

By the end of the war, Marshall was a temporary colonel. He was even recommended for promotion to brigadier general. After the war, he became chief of staff for the U.S. Eighth Corps.

Colonel Marshall in France in 1919.

Between the World Wars

General of the Armies John J. Pershing and members of his staff standing outside the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, D.C., September 23, 1919. Stood directly behind Pershing is his aide, Colonel George C. Marshall.

After World War I, Marshall became an assistant to General John J. Pershing. He worked on projects to train soldiers for modern warfare. He also served in China for three years. There, he learned some basic Mandarin.

In 1927, Marshall became assistant commandant of the Army's Infantry School. He made important changes to how the Army trained its leaders. These changes were very helpful during World War II. He also helped create Infantry in Battle, a training manual still used today.

Marshall's first wife, Lily, died in 1927. In 1930, he married Katherine Boyce Tupper Brown. General Pershing was his best man at the wedding.

During the Great Depression, Marshall supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt's programs. He commanded soldiers and also oversaw Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps. These camps helped young men find work during the Depression. Marshall worked to improve the lives of the men in the CCC camps.

Brigadier General Marshall in 1938

In 1938, Marshall was assigned to the War Plans Division in Washington, D.C. He later became the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff. President Roosevelt chose Marshall to be the Army Chief of Staff. Marshall was sworn in on September 1, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II. He held this important job until 1945.

World War II Leadership

As Chief of Staff, Marshall led the biggest growth of the U.S. military ever. He took an Army of only 189,000 men and helped it grow to over eight million soldiers by 1942. He worked closely with Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Marshall was promoted to five-star rank as General of the Army.

Marshall was a skilled organizer. He was good at inspiring other officers. Many top American generals of the war were chosen or recommended by Marshall. These included Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton.

Building the Army

Cover to the book Infantry in Battle, the World War II officer's guide to infantry combat operations. Marshall directed production of the book, which is still used as a reference today.

Marshall faced the huge task of turning civilians into soldiers. He focused on quickly training many soldiers. However, this fast training sometimes meant soldiers lacked experience. Early in the war, U.S. forces faced challenges against experienced German units.

Marshall had planned for a large Army with units rotating in and out of combat. But by 1943, he changed this plan. He decided to send individual replacements to units already fighting. This system caused problems for soldiers' morale and teamwork. New soldiers often didn't have enough training before going into battle.

Planning the Invasion of Europe

Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall with Chief of the Army Air Force General Henry "Hap" Arnold in England on July 23, 1945.

Marshall was key in preparing the U.S. Army and Air Forces for the invasion of Europe. He wrote the main strategy for all Allied operations in Europe. He convinced the United Kingdom to focus on defeating Germany first.

Marshall wanted to be the Supreme Commander of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe. But President Roosevelt chose Eisenhower instead. Roosevelt said he couldn't do without Marshall in Washington. He needed Marshall as Chief of Staff.

On December 16, 1944, Marshall became the first American Army general to be promoted to the new rank of General of the Army. This is a five-star rank, like a field marshal.

Marshall coordinated Allied operations in Europe and the Pacific until the war ended. Winston Churchill called him the "organizer of Allied victory." Time magazine named Marshall "Man of the Year" in 1943. Marshall officially left his Chief of Staff role in November 1945.

After the War: China and Secretary of State

General Marshall with Chiang Kai-shek and Zhou Enlai in China, 1946.

In December 1945, President Harry S. Truman sent Marshall to China. Marshall's job was to help stop the Chinese Civil War. He tried to create a shared government between the Nationalists and the Communists. But both sides refused his ideas. He returned to the U.S. in 1947.

Truman then appointed Marshall as Secretary of State. Marshall was a respected leader. He became the voice for plans to rebuild Europe.

General Marshall being sworn in as Secretary of State by Chief Justice Fred Vinson in the Oval Office on January 21, 1947.

On June 5, 1947, Marshall gave a famous speech at Harvard University. He explained the American plan to help Europe recover. This plan became known as the Marshall Plan. It helped European countries rebuild their economies. Time magazine named Marshall "Man of the Year" again in 1948.

Secretary of State Marshall speaks to The House Appropriations Committee. January 15, 1948.

Marshall resigned as Secretary of State in January 1949 due to health issues. He was very tired from his work. Truman then gave him honorary roles. He became chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission and president of the American National Red Cross. In 1953, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to help Europe after the war.

Secretary of Defense and Korean War

Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall in his office at The Pentagon.

When the Korean War started, the U.S. military was not ready. President Truman asked Marshall to become Secretary of Defense in September 1950. Congress had to make a special exception for this, as a military officer usually couldn't hold this job. Marshall was the first to receive such an exception.

Marshall's main goal was to restore confidence in the military. He also worked to rebuild the armed forces after World War II. He brought in new leaders to help him. He also improved the relationship between the Defense and State Departments.

Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall discussing the Korean War with President Truman and Special Assistant to the President Averell Harriman in the Oval Office.

Marshall supported General Douglas MacArthur's plans in Korea. However, MacArthur made public statements that went against President Truman's war plans. This caused a big problem.

On April 6, 1951, Truman met with Marshall and other leaders. They discussed whether MacArthur should be removed. Marshall agreed that MacArthur's removal was necessary. This was to ensure that civilian leaders controlled the military. On April 11, 1951, Truman removed MacArthur from his command.

Later Life and Legacy

Dodona Manor, the 19th century home and gardens of George Marshall and his wife Katherine

In September 1951, Marshall retired after 49 years of public service. He moved to his home, Dodona Manor, in Leesburg, Virginia. He and his wife Katherine enjoyed gardening there. Katherine loved roses so much that a new rose was named after her.

Marshall continued to serve as chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission. He oversaw the building of cemeteries in other countries for soldiers killed in World War II.

In June 1953, Marshall led the American group to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. People stood up for him as he walked into Westminster Abbey. He was the only non-royal person seated at the Queen's table at the banquet.

Marshall died in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1959. He was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. He was buried next to his first wife and her mother. His second wife was also buried there later.

Marshall's Reputation

George Marshall portrait by Thomas E. Stephens (c. 1949)

Historians see George Marshall as a very important and selfless American leader. He was known for being honest and having strong integrity. He was an excellent military organizer and planner. Even early in his career, his superiors recognized his great potential.

After World War II, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson called Marshall "the finest soldier I have ever known." Marshall was not afraid to speak his mind, even to powerful people like President Roosevelt. He once told Roosevelt to stop calling the Navy "us" and the Army "them."

Marshall is most famous for the Marshall Plan. This plan gave billions of dollars to help rebuild Europe after the war. This cooperation between former enemies helped lead to the creation of the European Union much later.

President Truman once said that Marshall was the American who made the greatest contribution in his lifetime. He called Marshall a great leader with amazing knowledge of military affairs.

Orson Welles, a famous actor and director, called Marshall "the greatest man I ever met." He said Marshall was a "tremendous gentleman."

Memorials and Tributes

A statue of General Marshall is unveiled at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies on April 30, 1998.

Many places are named after General Marshall. These include streets in Germany. There are also two non-profit groups that work to keep his legacy alive. The George C. Marshall Foundation keeps his papers and documents. The George C. Marshall International Center preserves his home, Dodona Manor, as a museum.

In 1998, the first public statue of General Marshall in Europe was unveiled in Germany. It shows him walking across a bridge, reaching out to new friends and allies.

Images for kids

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  General John Pershing rides under Arc de Triomphe in parade with aide-de-camp George C. Marshall. 1919.

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  General John Pershing (left) with Colonel Marshall in France, 1919.

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  Left to right: Brig. Gen. Frank Parker, Col. James A. Drain, and Lt. Col. George C. Marshall at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1924.

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  Marshall as Army Chief of Staff, 1940.

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  Army Chief of Staff George Marshall with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. "Hap" Arnold accompanying Brig. Gen. James H. Doolittle while being presented the Medal of Honor from President Franklin Roosevelt for his achievement on leading the Doolittle Raid. April 18, 1942.

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  Oveta Culp Hobby being sworn in as the first WAAC by Major General Myron C. Cramer. General George C. Marshall, second from left, and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson witness the ceremony. May 16, 1942.

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  Army Chief of Staff George Marshall, 1944

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  Generals George C. Marshall and Henry "Hap" Arnold in 1944.

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  General Marshall greets Major General John R. Deane and Brigadier General Stuart Cutler while arriving at Potsdam, Germany on July 15, 1945.

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  General Marshall with General of The Air Force Henry H. Arnold and Air Force Major General Lauris Norstad at The Potsdam Conference in Germany, July 21, 1945.

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  Recently sworn in George C. Marshall as the new United States Secretary of State shaking hands with his predecessor James F. Byrnes, as President Truman looks on, at the White House, January 21, 1947.

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  Secretary of State George Marshall greeted by President Harry S. Truman at Washington National Airport. August 13, 1947.

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  Secretary of State Marshall pointing out landmarks at Mount Vernon to Mexican President Miguel Aleman. April 1947.

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  Award of honorary degrees at Harvard to J Robert Oppenheimer (left), George C. Marshall (third from left), Omar N. Bradley (fifth from left), and T. S. Eliot (second from right). The President of Harvard University, James B. Conant, sits between Marshall and Bradley. June 5, 1947.

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  Secretary of Defense Marshall with President Truman and Princeton University President Harold W. Dodds at the Library of Congress. May 17, 1950.

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  Anna M. Rosenberg being sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Defense by Felix Larkin (left), General Counsel of the Department of Defense. General George Marshall (second from right) and Robert A. Lovett (right), Deputy Secretary of Defense, witness. November 15, 1950.

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  Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall with President Truman, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, and Prime Minister of France Rene Pleven during Pleven visit to Washington D.C., at the White House on January 29, 1951.

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  Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall greeting President Truman following Truman's return from the Wake Island Conference at Washington National Airport, October 18, 1950.

Fictional Portrayals

Marshall has been played in movies and TV shows by:

• Keith Andes in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!
• Ward Costello in the 1977 film MacArthur.
• Dana Andrews in the 1979 film Ike, The War Years.
• Bill Morey in the 1980 television film Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb.
• Norman Burton in the 1988 miniseries War and Remembrance.
• Hal Holbrook in the 1989 television film Day One.
• Harris Yulin in the 1995 television movie Truman.
• Harve Presnell in the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan.
• Scott Wilson in the 2001 film Pearl Harbor.
• Donald Eugene McCoy in the 2009 Chinese movie The Founding of a Republic.

Dates of Rank

President Roosevelt's nomination of General Marshall to be Major General. June 30, 1939.

Marshall's ranks and dates:

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date
No pin insignia in 1902	Second lieutenant	United States Army	February 2, 1901 (Appointment accepted February 2, 1902)
	First lieutenant	United States Army	March 7, 1907
	Captain	United States Army	July 1, 1916
	Major	National Army	August 5, 1917
	Lieutenant colonel	National Army	January 5, 1918
	Colonel	National Army	August 27, 1918
	Captain	Regular Army	June 30, 1920 (Reverted to permanent rank)
	Major	Regular Army	July 1, 1920
	Lieutenant colonel	Regular Army	August 21, 1923
	Colonel	Regular Army	September 1, 1933
	Brigadier general	Regular Army	October 1, 1936
	Major general	Regular Army	September 1, 1939
	General	Army of the United States	September 1, 1939
	General of the Army	Army of the United States	December 16, 1944
	General of the Army	Regular Army	April 11, 1946

Note – Marshall left active duty when he became Secretary of State in 1947. He returned to active duty after leaving that job in 1949.

Awards and Decorations

President Harry S. Truman awarding General Marshall an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal on November 26, 1945.

General Marshall's Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)

U.S. Military Decorations
	Army Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
	Silver Star
	Expert Rifleman Badge
U.S. Service Medals
	Philippine Campaign Medal
	World War I Victory Medal with five campaign clasps
	Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
	American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp
	American Campaign Medal (First recipient)
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
	Mexican Border Service Medal
	Four Overseas Chevrons (for service in World War I)
	One Overseas Service Bar
Foreign Orders
	Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)
	Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Chile)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Boyacá Cherifien (Colombia)
	Member 1st Class of the Order of Military Merit (Cuba)
	Member 1st Class of the Order of Abdon Calderon (Ecuador)
	Knight Grand Cross with swords of the Order of George I (Greece)
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (Italy)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite (Morocco)
	Knight Grand Cross with swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
	Grand Officer of the Order of the Sun (Peru)
	Member 1st Class of the Order of Suvorov (Soviet Union)
Foreign Decorations and Medals
	Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with bronze palm (France)
	Medal for the Centennial of the Republic of Liberia (Liberia)
	Silver Medal for Bravery (Montenegro)
	Medal of Solidarity, 2nd Class (Panama)
	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (United Kingdom)
	Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de Guerre (France)

Civilian Honors

General Marshall's Congressional Gold Medal. Designed by Anthony de Francisci in 1946.

Honorary Degrees

Honorary degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Kansas	1934	Command and General Staff College	Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Pennsylvania	1939	Washington and Jefferson College	Doctor of Science (Sd.D)
Pennsylvania	1940	Pennsylvania Military College	Doctor of Military Science (DScMil)
Virginia	1941	College of William and Mary	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)	Yes
Connecticut	June 15, 1941	Trinity College	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)	Yes
Vermont	1942	Norwich University	Doctor of Military Science (DScMil)
New York	1947	Columbia University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
New Jersey	February 22, 1947	Princeton University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)	Yes
Massachusetts	June 6, 1947	Harvard University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Massachusetts	June 16, 1947	Amherst College	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)	Yes
Rhode Island	June 16, 1947	Brown University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)	Yes
Quebec	1947	McGill University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Pennsylvania	1947	Lafayette College	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
California	1947	University of California	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
United Kingdom	1947	University of London	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
United Kingdom	November 11, 1947	University of Oxford	Doctor of Civil Law (DCL)

See also

In Spanish: George Marshall para niños

• German Marshall Fund
• George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
• George C. Marshall Foundation
• USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654)
• Marshall Scholarship
• George C. Marshall's Dodona Manor
• George C. Marshall High School
• George C. Marshall Space Flight Center