In the history of this nation and its Army, the Army has never had so fine a Chief of Staff as General George C. Marshall. While others were content to merely hope for the best in the late 1930s, he began preparing the Army for a war he knew he knew was coming – World War II. His major strength lay in his administrative ability and dedication to DUTY above all else.

When it came time for selection of the major Allied ground commander in Europe, General Marshall hoped that he would be given the opportunity to lead in battle the largest assemblage of U.S. military personnel -- Army, Navy, and Air Force – ever in the history of this nation. It would have been the final achievement in an already stellar career. However, President Roosevelt selected General Dwight D. Eisenhower for the job.

Those who knew Marshall best described him as deeply disappointed. He had wanted the job badly, and his experience and expertise would have no doubt made him a great Allied Commander. But President Roosevelt did not want Marshall to leave Washington because, as the President said, "I don't sleep well when you are out of town." As a good soldier, and a man who had dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to duty, Marshall hid his deep disappointment and soldiered on.

When President Truman needed a Secretary of Defense and later Secretary of State, Marshall again saw that it was his duty to accept the President's mandate. During his stint as the Secretary of State, Marshall was in poor health, but he did his duty throughout with no thought of shirking. If one wants an epitome of what "duty" really is, he or she should look no further than George Catlett Marshall.

Compiled by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Historian Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia