General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman

900 Pages·1990·5.95 MB·English

by  Ed Cray

Praise for General of the Army
“A stirring narrative that traces Marshall’s career under ten presidents.” —
Publishers Weekly
“Cray’s biography is must reading.” —John Lehman, The Wall Street Journal,
former Secretary of the Navy
“Rich and readable, without being overwhelming, this portrait is a model of
biographical excellence.” —Digby Diehl, Playboy
“[This] readable and authoritative biography helps bring Marshall and his career
into sharper focus. . . . Cray is adroit and sensitive. He commands his facts and
explains ever-changing backgrounds and circumstances without slowing the
narrative.” —The New Yorker
“[A] solid, well-researched, and readable biography that goes well beyond
Marshall’s familiar role as Army Chief of Staff and architect of the European
Recovery Program. Cray’s book is also valuable as a survey of a large chunk of
twentieth-century history.” —The New York Times
“An accurate and judicious, as well as a highly readable, portrait of a true
American giant. . . . Cray’s tightly knit narrative is especially good in explaining
the complex politico-military issues of the war years while keeping his subject in
the foreground.” —Mark A. Stoler, The Los Angeles Times Book Review,
author of George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century
“General of the Army captures the essence of Marshall’s character and
leadership style while placing in perspective his role in shaping American
history during World War II and the Cold War.” —The Chicago Tribune
“A concise but comprehensive biography that does evenhanded justice to a great
man and his achievements. First rate.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[Cray] turns a bright and sympathetic light on a soldier whom many authorities
rank as the greatest commander of World War II.” —The Houston Chronicle
“Well written, balanced, and effective. . . . Cray works his way skillfully through
the intricate issues of wartime strategy.”—The Washington Post
“[An] outstanding, detailed biography of the most praised American
soldier/statesman of this century.” —Foreign Affairs
“[A] superbly researched, elegantly written, sympathetic and insightful study.”
—The Miami Herald
“Cray gives us a fully fleshed-out portrait. . . . This book will stand the test of
time and will be permanently included into the World War II bookshelf. . . . This
is a consummate biography, and a must read for World War II buffs.” —The
West Coast Review of Books
“Cray has written an honest as well as a useful book and is candid about
Marshall’s lapses of judgment. . . . [A] well-rounded and highly satisfying
biography that meets a longstanding need.”—The New Leader
“[The author’s] particular strength lies in his narrative power. The book flows
exceptionally well. . . . Perhaps most impressive is Cray’s judicious treatment of
the various historical controversies involving Marshall: Pearl Harbor, the
strategy of the second front, Truman’s firing of MacArthur, McCarthyism. Cray
handles each episode with sensitivity and skill.” —Reviews in American History
GENERAL
OF THE ARMY
George C. Marshall
Soldier and Statesman
ED CRAY
First Cooper Square Press edition 2000
This Cooper Square Press paperback edition of General of the Army is an unabridged republication of the
edition first published in New York in 1990, with addition of one textual emendation. It is reprinted by
arrangement with the author.
Copyright © 1990 by Ed Cray All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including
information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a
reviewer who may quote passages in a review.
Book design by Tere LoPrete.
Published by Cooper Square Press, An Imprint of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group 150 Fifth
Avenue, Suite 911
New York, New York 10011
Distributed by National Book Network The hardcover edition of this book was catalogued as follows by the
Library of Congress: Cray, Ed.
General of the Army George C. Marshall, soldier and statesman / by Ed Cray.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880–1959. 2. Generals—United States—Biography. 3.
United States. Army—Biography. 4. Statesmen—United States—Biography. I. Title.
E745.M37C73 1990
973.918'092—dc20
[B] 89-34445
ISBN 978-0-8154-1042-3
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard
for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
For Diane,
Finally
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge permission from the Oral History Research Office,
Columbia University, to print extracts from the oral histories of Harvey H.
Bundy, Lucius DeBignon Clay, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Anthony C. McAuliffe,
Walter S. Robertson, and James T. Williams, Jr.; and from Yale University
Library to print portions of the Henry L. Stimson Diaries contained in the Henry
L. Stimson Papers, Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Introduction: A Place in History
P I T S
ART HE OLDIER
I A Very Simple Life
II The Long Years
III Remarkably Gallant Fellows
IV The Steamroller
V The Company of Generals
VI A Very Slow Thing to Improve
VII The Make
VIII The Last Lessons
P II T C S
ART HE HIEF OF TAFF
IX The Island Alone
X The Most Businesslike Manner
XI The Common Law Alliance
XII The Summer’s Storms
XIII Oranges, Purples, and Rainbows
XIV The Throw of the Die
XV The Sword Drawn
XVI The Pacific Deeps
XVII Modicum’s Success
XVIII Lighting the Torch
XIX A Pile of Brickbats
XX The Wife’s Legacy
P III T V
ART HE ICTOR
XXI A Very Vicious War
XXII The Great Prize
XXIII Threshers
XXIV A Rainbow Discerned
XXV Losses
XXVI A Lesson in Geometry
XXVII End Game
XXVIII The Winterkill
XXIX The Argonauts
XXX The Battle Day Past
XXXI A Second Coming in Wrath
P IV T S
ART HE TATESMAN
XXXII The Chinese Midwife
XXXIII The Tiger of Peace
XXXIV Going to the Yar
XXXV A Fair Prospect of Success
XXXVI The Crowded Days
XXXVII Playing with Fire
XXXVIII Active Duty
XXXIX Positions Reversed
XL Imperator
XLI The Shatter of Icons
XLII Sunset
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Photographs appear following page 284