Noah Webster, one of our founding fathers, defined patriotism as love for or devotion to ones country. From the American Revolution through the Persian Gulf War, our country has have seen many heroic leaders and patriots. In the 1700s, General George Washington, the "Father of our Nation" led the Continental Army to victory over the Redcoats. He went on to serve 2 terms as the 1st president of the United States of America. In the 1800s Col. Joshua Chamberlain led the 20th Maine Infantry during the battle of Gettysburg. His courage and bravery on Little Round Top preserved a Union victory. For his actions he was awarded the very 1st Congressional Medal of Honor. After the civil war he served four terms as Governor of Maine. With love and service to America both as soldiers and statesmen, Washington and Chamberlain stand out as Patriots in their respective centuries.
As humanity moves into a more global society one man stands out over the last one hundred years as a true patriot, a patriot not only to the United States of America, but to the world as well. That man is George C. Marshall.
The alpine village of Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies in the heart of the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany. Within this charming small town is a military installation where military and national security professionals from America, Europe and Eurasia come to study together as a community of nations building a more stable, secure and prosperous future. This is the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, a German-American institution. To fully understand the goals and vision of the Marshall Center we must first look to the hero and patriot for whom it is named.
George Catlett Marshall Jr. was born Dec. 31 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The youngest of three children he grew up in the "industrial revolution". Many changes were taking place including Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb the year before George's birth. During his teenage years George became one of the first people in town to talk on the phone with someone in Chicago.
Spankings and whippings were a part of home and school discipline during George's growing up and he received his fare share. At age six he went to a private school. His favorite part of school was recess. He liked to play soldier and giving orders. He would line up the children, give them stick guns to carry on their shoulders and march them around the schoolyard. George struggled in the classroom but managed to graduate from the local high school in Uniontown. Much of his learning and education came from home and the St. Peter's Episcopal Church to which the family were active members. George C. Marshall Sr., George's father read books by popular writers of the time to his family at night.
George and his father spent hours together hunting and fishing. George Sr. would tell his son exciting stories during their excursions together. Young George had a passion for history and learned about his family's long line of service and duty to country. His father served in the Union militia at age sixteen. Two of his Father's brothers fought for General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Another relative, Colonel Charles Marshall, was an aide to Robert E. Lee and wrote his farewell address at Appomattox as the General dictated. He also learned about John Marshall, the 3rd Supreme Court Chief Justice.
After high school George decided he wanted to attend Virginia Military Institute like his older brother Stuart. "When I was begging to go to VMI, I overheard Stuart talking to my mother;" he said. "He was trying to persuade her not to let me go because he thought I would disgrace the family name. Well, that made more of an impression on me than all instructors, parental pressure, or anything else. I decided right there I was going to wipe his eye."
During Marshals first year at VMI as a Fourth classman (or rat, as they are referred to) he endured the hazing while focusing his attention on becoming a good cadet. His grades improved and at the end of the school year he was appointed First Corporal of the Cadets, the top position for the third class. He took on many more responsibilities, reporting all cadets he saw violating regulations regardless of who they were. He gained even more respect from classmates because he was always fair in the performance of his duties. In the spring of 1899 he was again promoted to the top rank of First Sergeant for his junior or 2nd class year.
During the summer break of that same year George Marshall witnessed something that would significantly impact his life. While at home in Uniontown between school terms, the Uniontown Company of the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry returned from the Philippines. The soldiers coming back from the Spanish-American War were given a hero's welcome, complete with a parade along Main Street. Marshall recalls years later, "I have sometimes thought that the impressions of that period and particularly of that parade, had a determining effect on my choice of a profession. It was a grand American small town demonstration of pride in its young men and of wholesome enthusiasm over their achievements. Years later most of us realized it was much more than that. It reflected the introduction of America into the affairs of the world beyond the seas."
At the end of his 3rd year Marshall reached the pinnacle of success at VMI. He was announced as the First Captain, putting him in charge of the entire Corps of Cadets. During his senior year Marshall played football for the first time and was named all southern conference tackle in 1900. He finished his academic career in the middle of the pack, graduating 15th out of a class of thirty-three. He was an all-around cadet, excelling in military and athletic ability. George Marshall turned out to be one of the best cadet officers VMI had ever seen.
The toughest obstacle his senior year was not school but rather obtaining an army commission. George Sr. wrote letters to congressmen for his son. The VMI Superintendent even wrote a letter to President McKinley on Marshall's behalf. After exhausting all other avenues Marshall went to Washington D.C. himself. He made his way into the office of President McKinley and expressed his desire to be allowed to take the examination for a commission. The fact that he would visit the Commander in Chief displayed the persevering desire Marshall had at age 20 to become a professional soldier. His success at persuading the President of the United States would be a skill he would use again years later with other world leaders.
In 1902 he was sent to the Philippines as a newly commissioned 2nd. Lt. Here he learned the job of field command. While leading his seven-man patrol single file through a jungle stream one-day, one of the men screamed "Crocodiles!" The patrol panicked and trampled Marshall en route to the bank. Marshall never lost his composure. He picked himself up, walked over and ordered the men to fall in. He then marched them back across the stream they had fled from and gave them the opportunity to cross again maintaining bearing in correct military fashion.
In 1906 Marshall received orders to the Arms Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Here he recognized that the industrial revolution had fundamentally changed the nature of war. Marshall finished number one in his class at Leavenworth and received his first of many promotions. He then reported to the Army Staff College. Marshall began to develop a reputation of distinguished performance. His knowledge and experience from the classroom to the field shined as he became a logistical wizard (expert) of moving entire armies with remarkable agility and coordination.
While Marshall was conducting maneuvers in the Philippines in 1914 rumor has it that the commanding general called him "the greatest military general since Stonewall Jackson." While at Fort Douglas, Utah, in 1916, the commanding officer observing Marshals performance reported "this officer is well qualified to command a division, with the rank of major general, in time of war and I would like very much to serve under his command."
Because of his reputation Marshall was among the first Americans to see combat in WW I. As Chief of Operations, he organized the famous First Division while on the high seas en route to France. Moving up to Chief of Staff of the First Division, he had a memorable confrontation with the Commander of U.S. forces, Gen. John J. Pershing. Extremely upset that Pershing would "chew out" Maj. Gen. William L Sibert in front of his officers, Capt. Marshall spoke out. "There are some things to be said here, I think I should say them." He then blasted Pershing with a furious monologue addressing the condition of the troops and inadequate supplies and transportation. For most officers this display would have been career suicide, but Marshall was transferred to Pershing's headquarters at Chaumont and later became the General's principal aide.
A brilliant strategist, Marshall was called upon to handle the logistics of the American part of an allied counter attack. During the Meuse-Argonne operation he coordinated the transfer of some 600,000 troops along with 900,000 ton of war materials at night in secret without detection of the enemy. After WW I and a promotion to Lt. Col., Marshall commanded the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia as the assistant commandant. He stressed to his instructors and students "Plan for the first six months of the next war!" He designed the curriculum to train young officers in the lessons of firepower and tactics of modern warfare. Among his instructors and students were 150 future generals including Omar Bradley and Joseph Stilwell. His foresight in predicting future combat situations involving fast moving planes, tanks and armored cars would pay great dividends against the blitzkrieg of WW II.
In October of 1936 at the age of 55, Marshall was promoted to Brig Gen.. Shortly thereafter he went to Washington where he served as Chief of War Plans and Deputy Chief of Staff. His performance in these positions caused President Franklin D. Roosevelt to choose the general as the most qualified leader to meet the upcoming military challenges. With the dark cloud of war hovering over the world, Marshall was appointed Army Chief of Staff on September 1, 1939, the same day Hitler's troops invaded Poland. Marshall took a military ranked seventeenth among the world's armed forces with less than 200,000 men and ultimately turned it into a fighting machine eight million strong.
In the spring of 1940 Marshall convinced Roosevelt to ask Congress for a billion-dollar budget. "Mr. President" he concluded, "If you do not do something immediately I fear what will happen to this country." Marshall, ever seeming to predict the future, prepared, trained and commanded a fighting force in nine theaters throughout the world.
Marshall was superb in his duties as the Commander of all U.S. military forces. His influence and respect from Congress were instrumental with an extension of the draft as well as periodic request for enormous appropriations to Fund the war effort. House Speaker Sam Rayburn speaking of Marshall said, "When General Marshall takes the witness stand to testify, we forget whether we are Republicans or Democrats. We know we are in the presence of a man who is telling the truth about the problem he is discussing."
Even with his busy schedule interacting with Congress and planning strategy with the top military brass, the Chief of Staff made constant visits to his troops and made lists to make sure their needs were met. "Morale is a function of command" he repeated. "It wins the victory because it provides courage and hope, confidence and loyalty."
He was once informed that an issue of blankets to Fort Benning was stalled due to paperwork. He notified the officers responsible. "Get those blankets and stoves and every other damn thing that's needed out tonight," he ordered. "Not tomorrow, tonight! We are going to take care of the troops first, last and all the time." Marshall established Post Exchanges overseas to maintain high morale among the troops. He also ordered that hot Thanksgiving turkey dinners be supplied to all troops including those on the front lines. General Marshall had a genuinely deep concern for each of his servicemen. He wrote to the wife or parent of each man who was killed in WW II.
After successfully leading the allies to victory, Marshall retired as Army Chief of Staff in November 1945. The next day President Harry Truman called him back to duty as the Ambassador to China. Marshall spent less than a year in China attempting to reach a peaceful agreement between the Chiang Kai-Shes Nationalist and Mao Tse-Tuns Communists.
In 1947 he was appointed Secretary of State. Ever a humble man, Marshall did not have a taste of flamboyancy. He did not smoke a corn cob pipe or wear a pearl handled pistol, which may be one of the reasons he is often not remembered with the vividness of Generals MacArthur and Patton. During the second session of the United Nations in New York City, most foreign dignitaries and political leaders stayed at the ritzy Waldorf Hotel. Marshall chose the more modest accommodations of the Pennsylvania Hotel. When he was commented to about how almost everyone else was staying at the Waldorf, Marshall replied "Well, I like to see the look on an ambassador's face when he comes over here from the Waldorf to ask us for 500 million dollars."
Marshall took the office of Secretary of State in a very crucial period of World History. The physical destruction and economic dislocation of WW I I had left Europe in shambles with wide spread hunger and poverty, a complete breakdown of social and economic life. On June 5, 1947 at Harvard University commencement ceremonies Marshall delivered a speech concerning the severe predicament of war-torn Europe. During his ten-minute presentation, he outlined a plan to assist Europe's economic recovery by pouring in massive amounts of U.S. money and material. He referred to his plan, as the European Recovery Program but it soon became commonly known as the Marshall Plan.
Over a four-year period Congress appropriated $13.3 billion to rebuild Europe. Several critical events took place while the Marshall plan was in effect. First, the Berlin Airlift kept democracy alive in the Soviet occupied Germany. In 1949 the French, British, and American zones of occupation merged to become the Federal Republic of Germany. That same year the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed, with Germany joining six years later. The Marshall Plan was extremely successful in helping Europe get back on its feet. Helmut Schmidt, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany between 1974-1982, grew up during that time period and said "We appreciated the risk the American government had assumed, and saw the U.S. as the military, political, and economic anchor of the security and well being of Western Europe. The U.S. had proven itself a generous nation, standing by its commitments and fulfilling its promises."
Marshall retired as Secretary of State the day of President Truman's second inauguration. Within the year he was serving as President of the American Red Cross, a position he held from 1949 until the outbreak of the Korean War. In 1950, President Truman again called on Marshall, this time as Secretary of Defense. As the conflict in Korea came to a close Marshall at the age of 70 was allowed truly and finally to retire. On May 15, 1951 he was honored by his old alma mater. One of the three arches in the VMI cadet barracks was named after him (the others are named for George Washington and Stonewall Jackson).
On Oct. 16, 1959 George Marshall, America's hero and patriot, in fact its ultimate soldier-statesman, died and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. His life extended eight decades and was distinguished by 49 years of military and public service. Some of his greatest assets were his integrity, exceptional patriotism and profound humility. He was a leader who set high goals and possessed the ability to concentrate on the task at hand. He was a visionary who seemed to have a window into the future.
What would have happened if General Marshall had not had the foresight to prepare the United States for WW I I? What would the world be like if Secretary of State Marshall had not put into action a vision to rebuild Europe into an economically stable region? Marshall's compassion, wisdom, hard work and sacrifice to his country and mankind have created a better world for all of us. The Marshall Plan officially ended on December 31, 1951, however is influence can still be felt today. The European Recovery Program set the precedent of foreign aid as a vital element of U.S. Foreign policy.
Marshall's vision created a new spirit of cooperation, mutual help and support between Western Europe and the United States which led to the strong and established NATO alliance. Since Marshals death many changes have taken place in world affairs. The recent end to the Cold war and break up of the former Soviet Union has created an environment in many ways is similar to post WW I I Europe. Marshals legacy, ideals, and vision continue to impact world affairs today.
In March 1992, Gen. Colin Powell, then Chairmen of the joint Chiefs of Staff endorsed a proposal to create a institution to expand defense and security contacts with the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Supported bilaterally by the governments of the U.S. and Germany, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies was dedicated in 1993. At the heart of the Center is the College of International and Security Studies. Organized like a senior service college with seminars, lectures and other interaction. Students are taught "how" to think rather than "what" to think. There is no "School solution."
The international college faculty presents models and options but teaches that each country must make its own democratic adaptations and constructs. Noting that America's founding fathers scrapped their first government (the articles of the Confederation) in favor of an even better democracy that has now prospered over 220 years. The Defense and Security Studies (DSS) Program offers three international courses. A two-week Senior Executive Course is geared toward Flag Officers and senior government officials. The Executive Course of 15 weeks is aimed at mid grade officers. Junior officers and their civilian equivalents attend the nine-week leaders for the 21st Century Course. Each course is reviewed and revised regularly to remain relevant and focused on how national security strategy is formulated and maintained. All courses are taught in English, Russian and German.
The College of International and Security Studies also coordinates the Research program, Foreign Area Officer Program (FAO) and Foreign Language Training Center Europe (FLTCE). Both the FAO and FLTCE programs are intensive language, political-military and regional studies preparing individuals for key assignments dealing with foreign nations. In addition to the college the Marshall Center has another aspect that serves as an international forum for defense contacts to share ideas vital to European Security.
The conference Center is a mobile arm of the Marshall Center that brings experts to the host nations for seminars and conferences, which focus on a variety of security and economic concerns. Since 1993 the Conference Center has had over 5000 attendees. The participation in the Marshall Center program has been overwhelming. Nineteen NATO nations and twenty-four Partners for Peace (PFP) nations have been represented. The College boasts alumni that serve as Ministers of Defense, Ambassadors, and Chiefs of Staff in new democracies throughout Europe.
In continuing to fulfill Marshall's legacy. the Marshall Center is building a network of national security officials across the globe. Military and civilian professionals have a unique opportunity to study with their counterparts from other countries. The relationships they build and the knowledge they gain from each other while united together creating solutions to common problems is invaluable.
Sir Winston Churchill once delivered this tribute to Marshall: "During my long and close association with successive American administrations, there are few men whose qualities of mind and character have impressed me so deeply. He was a great American, wise in war, understanding in council, resolute in action. In peace he was the architect who planned the restoration of the battered European economy. He always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement and disillusion. Succeeding generations must not forget his achievements and his example".
The former Marshall Center Director, Dr. Robert Kennedy explained the Center's mission as "Creating a new community of nations from the Atlantic to Russia and Central Asia that share values, concerns, and objectives in attempt to find common ground for common action."
The entrance to the Marshall Center campus has the only known statue of the General in Europe. Marshals words from the Marshall Plan speech are inscribed there as a reminder: "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist."
Dr. Kennedy concluded, "Marshall's objective was to reach out to the nations of Eastern Europe and win a community of nations as partners. We have extended that vision to Europe and Eurasia. In post cold war period there is an unprecedented opportunity to do so. Again, not to advance the policy of any particular nation but to advance the well-being of all countries.
