I read this book, George Marshall: A Biography, after reading a summary of George Marshall's life in David Brooks' book The Road to Character.
George Marshall had a loyalty to country that rose above his own personal ambition. George Marshall waited more than ten years after world war I for an opportunity to move up in rank. His life was closely linked to Dwight Eisenhower. Both of them were the top two candidates to lead the D-Day invasion in WWII. Marshall deferred to FDR when asked if he wanted the assignment to manage D-Day. George felt that decision was best left to the president.
George also was attacked for the failure to provide a specific warning to the US military base on Pearl Harbor. The person receiving the warning responded by focusing vigilance towards terrorism as opposed to vigilance towards an external threat. Marshall also had the difficult task of managing Douglass Macarthur which did not go well.
His work in logistics while in the military served him well as he worked on implementing the Marshall plan as Secretary of State after the end of WWII. He had retired from the military but felt a duty to do the work when asked by the president.
I appreciated his kindness and attentiveness to his first wife with her delicate health condition. Her death affected him and it took several years before he was married to his second wife. The second marriage was successful because his understanding wife recognized his sense of duty to country.
Candor - George Marshall talks to Patton - 4 min.
Orsen Wells on George Marshall - 3 min.
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