Marshall: Hero for Our Times

by Leonard Mosley

Winston Churchill called him the “organizer of victory.” Harry Truman said “he was the greatest of the great.” And General George Patton vowed he “would rather face the whole Nazi panzer army single-handed than be called to an interview with General Marshall.”

This is the first anecdotal, single-volume biography of George C. Marshall; one of the greatest generals in our history, a private, often enigmatic man, whose life was marked by incredible peaks and awesome depths.

Time and again Marshall put his career on the line before his political superiors and military contemporaries and rivals. He made what seemed like a tragic mistake at Pearl Harbor, but turned that disaster into a launching pad to victory. By facing down arrogant statesmen and politicians, he single-handedly decided policy that meant the difference, not just between victory or defeat, but between peace or war.

He had to fight for his nation’s interests and sometimes its very life -both as Chief of Staff during World War II and as Secretary of State in the raw, cold, hungry postwar world that followed.

The remarkable thing about Marshall was that he never lied, either in his own interest or in his country’s. A superb negotiator and a brilliant public speaker, he could manipulate the most stubborn, difficult and politically agile men, including Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill. He had wit, persuasion, and charm a great deal of charm, as a number of famous and beautiful women discovered.

In a world of overpaid heroes and untrustworthy officials, Marshall made it to the top and maintained his principles, though not without pain, struggle and suffering.

This book lays bare the anguishing incidents in Marshall’s life. It tells the awful truth about his wedding night. It tells of the General’s torment when his stepson was killed by a German sniper in Italy, while knowing that he could have kept his stepson alive. It tells of how General MacArthur hated Marshall and tried to hamstring his career. It shows how General Eisenhower — who owed everything to Marshall — finally showed his gratitude in an abysmal act. It discloses the secret events behind Marshall’s mission to China and why it failed. It reveals untold stories about how Marshall went about organizing and winning World War II for the Allies, then, having won the war, how he went on to save the peace by keeping Europe from starvation with the Marshall Plan, stemming the panic in Washington over MacArthur’s behavior in Korea, counselling Presidents,‘ and instilling confidence in prime ministers.

There will never be another man like Marshall.
.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, World War II, American History, 20th Century, Military Fiction

570 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Leonard Oswald Mosley OBE OStJ (11 February 1913 – June 1992) was a British journalist, historian, biographer and novelist. His works include five novels and biographies of General George Marshall, Reich Marshall Hermann Göring, Orde Wingate, Walt Disney, Charles Lindbergh, Du Pont family, Eleanor Dulles, Allen Welsh Dulles, John Foster Dulles and Darryl F. Zanuck. He also worked as chief war correspondent for London's The Sunday Times.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've had it for so long and thought I would like it. Never picked up so far." Actually found out I did pick it up at some point and read a couple chapters. Now I have finished the book and wish I had persevered during the first attempt. What an amazing man Marshall was. He is a great role model. A hellion when young, he finally applies himself at school and does well. Such strength of character when faced with many trials. His service in the World Wars is remarkable. He then serves as both Sec State and SecDef. The problem is that he did not keep diaries or accounts of his service and only gave limited interviews, preferring to not denigrate the individuals who did not measure up--he would not tell only half the story. Honest to a fault, he did not ask for favor for himself and was loyal to his superiors and his soldiers. Highly recommended but the book only gives you a small portion of what he accomplished. His story needs a 3-4 volume set to fully appreciate his accomplishments.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the great men who put our country into position to win in WWII and then helped put Europe on the path to renewal after the devastation of WWII.

[Pei-jean Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this and found it well written I did also feel that it also glossed over much of Marshall’s role in the post WWII world.

[David Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I think it is well written and well researched, and that the author has an affinity for his subject. But I'm not entirely satisfied. This book is more about the man than what the man did. There is much about Marshall's relationships with the women in his life, much about how he related to his peers. If you're interested in placing Marshall in full context of his life, if you want to know who Marshall was, this is a good book. If you want to know what he did, not so much.

There is almost nothing here about the Marshall Plan. That is my biggest disappointment, as I don't really know much about it, I was looking forward to getting the story.

I have a copy of Pogue's "Organizer of Victory" and will now have to consider getting the fourth volume of that set, George C. Marshall: Statesman, 1945–1959 to learn about the Marshall Plan

[Joe Rodeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Marshall* is an excellent biography of the top general of the 20th Century with the dubious distinction of never having led men into battle. MacArthur, his main rival, would disparage him cynically as a “chairborne soldier” and “a Roosevelt stooge.”

The main events are the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the original megacontroversial conspiracy theory of them all. Was Marshall asleep at the switch? Or what?

The second biggie: The firing of MacArthur.

I admire the author’s ability to keep the flow moving, not rehashing a lot of history on non-primarily Marshall events. Ex. He covers D-Day in just a sentence or two.

Such a huge subject is hard to cover in a single volume; and it does get murky when we get to the Maoist Revolution and the creation of the state of Israel--both of which Marshall’s help was of indeterminable value, overshadowed by events in which Marshall was in the middle of, working between presidents and prima donna generals.

There’s much more: the A-bomb, the Red Scare (McCarthyism). May sound dry, but there are humorous anecdotes, quotes, and scandal. (Eisenhower had a girl friend?)

Reading level: easy. An excellent study of character and leadership, still mainly for history buffs.

[Jens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent biography with lots of firsthand quotes and insights in this amazing man's life. However, I found it was too personal at times about non-work related factors. To my dissapointment, less than half of the book covers his military career. All in all, a general certainly worth your time, but maybe in a different book!

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - well researched, fascinating

[Tony Wohlfarth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Military history books fall into one of two categories. They are either short & pithy or they are exhausting and verbose. This one falls into the latter category.
I was impressed that Marshall played a prominent role in World War II. But did it really take 42 references to Winston Churchill to convey this? Also, why are their none references to Canada? The last time I checked Canada was a big ally. Not even a mention?
Moseley may be a meticulous historian but I found this biography unduly long (524 pp) and weak on key details about the nations which made the ally victory. What a waste of paper.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible, entertaining introduction to a little-known giant of the 20th Century United States. Most people are aware of the Marshall Plan as a fine example of American can-do generosity, but Marshall also endured isolationists, Congressional cheapskates, shifty allies, incompetent subordinates, and the realities of electoral politics. He was given the thankless task of negotiating a settlement to the Chinese civil war, later getting thrown under the bus by McCarthyites. He was also stuck between MacArthur and Truman, after MacArthur publicly proposed a Third World War over Korea.

Lots of enlightening and even gossipy anecdotes.

[Grindy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title implies that this may be a hagiography, but in the end it turned out to be a pretty decent read. The book might have gotten the fifth star (like its subject) if it didn't beat around the bush about Marshall's first marriage, which may or may not have been consummated in its 25 years. The author discusses the marriage in Victorian terms, though while he is squeamish about the details of the marriage the author is quick to discuss the famous and glamorous women on the world stage who threw themselves at the general (Madame Chiang, Queen Frederika of Greece, etc.).

[Mike Steinharter · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good biography, one of the best I've read. Somehow I knew little about General George C Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, Sec of Defense and oveall architect of the WWII victory. MacArthur and Patton go all the fame and glory, from the battlefields. This is quite a man, as Winston Churchill said, " the last great America." Mosley does a great job, this is a really good read, and I'm not usually a bit follower of war books.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it told the story of a great man a true American hero but the writing was not up to par with the kind of man that Marshall was.

[Bob Mobley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonard Mosley's , " Marshall: Hero for Our Times" is one of the best books I have ever read. It is interesting, well written, superbly researched and tells a fascinating story about a very special, unique and gifted individual. Without question, this is one of the finest "studies" about leadership I have read. I recommend Mosley's book to anyone seeking to look inside what it takes in terms of "Character, Values and Courage" to be able to rise to the top of achievement as a Leader. There are so many fine examples of George Marshall's unique gifts for leadership that it is hard to single out any one example. What is powerful in this sweeping biography of the "Great American" is his recognition of his own strengths in excess that could become his weaknesses. How Marshall copes with these challenges in his multiple "Roles" is a case study for any individual who truly desires to become a "Serving Leader;" which is indeed exactly what George Marshall became during his wide and highly demanding roles in World War II, as a special envoy for President Truman to China and then Secretary of State. I would like to share a wonderfully insightful quote from the book that describes George Marshall so well and with true insightful wisdom. The British Chiefs of Staff who had served with Marshall throughout the war sent him this message of farewell upon his retirement as Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces: " In bidding farewell to you who have earned our personal affection no less than our professional respect, we would address to you a tribute written more than 200 years ago.
" Statesman, yet Friend to truth, of soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honour clear;
Who broke no promise, served no private end,
Who gained title, and who lost no friend..."
The lines were written by Alexander Pope in memory of a friend.

The tribute to Marshall was signed by:
Field Marshall Alanbrooke, Chief Air Marshall Portal and Admiral Cunningham, the senior leaders of the British Forces with whom Marshall had worked so closely during the Second World War.
They said it all. This is a great book, well worth reading for all the truths and insights the author gives into the life of a most remarkable leader: George Marshall.