George Marshall is the most important American you’ve never heard of.
He is the model of selfless public service. He’s 5-star army general. Organizes victory in WWII, saves Europe from famine and communism after the war, and serves as both secretary of State and Defense,
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A Pennsylvania native he attended the Virginia Military Institute. After graduation he joined the Army.
In the peacetime there were few promotions. He spent nine years as a lieutenant.
Marshall was always politically neutral. He never joined a party, never voted. When asked about his political affiliation he often said his father had been a Democrat, his mother a Republican, whereas he was an Episcopalian.
When Army Chief-of-Staff, Marshall wanted nothing more than to command the invasion of France. But he believed it was the president’s decision to make and he refused to lobby for the job. FDR chose Ike. He told Marshall “I didn’t feel I could sleep at ease if you were out of Washington.”
As secretary of State, he designed what became known as the Marshall Plan. It helped Europe rebuild after the war’s destruction. He received the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for his post-war work, even though he was a soldier.
While entitled to an Armed Service Military Honors funeral, Marshall requested very simple proceedings. He lay in repose at Washington National Cathedral for 24 hours after which his body was taken to the Fort Myer chapel. There former President Truman, President Eisenhower about 200 invited guests attended a 22-minute burial service. There was no eulogy. It was the simplest service ever conducted for a man of his rank and prestige.
Marshal selected this spot for his grave. But his second wife had the last word on his headstone. It describes his deceased first wife as “wife” while his second wife is listed herself as “beloved wife.”
Marshall was a very humble man. Despite being witness to major events of the last century, he never wrote his memoirs. He said to do that he would have to write about those no longer living, and they wouldn’t have the opportunity to comment on what he wrote. And he thought that wouldn’t be fair.
