General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman, by Ed Cray. This book is an outstanding one-volume biography of one of the greatest Americans of the second half of the twentieth century. General of the Army George Catlett Marshall dedicated his long life to serving the country he loved, and he served in many positions. First, he was a U.S. Army officer, eventually rising to the position of Army Chief of Staff and the five-star rank of General of the Army during World War II. Later, he served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense in the Truman Administration. He was a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan for the economic recovery of Europe in the postwar years.

Ed Cray takes readers much further into Marshall’s life than these simple facts. Cray shows us a highly complex man who was outwardly very reserved – Cray likens him to George Washington – and of such high rectitude that when President Roosevelt called him “George” during a meeting, Marshall corrected him: “it is General Marshall, Mr. President.” Few people knew of Marshall’s hot temper, which he found difficult to control in his youth and early military career, but which he eventually mastered. Marshall was unafraid to speak truth to power, as he spoke bluntly with Roosevelt, Truman, and Truman aide Clark Clifford on more than one occasion.

I first read “General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman” a few years ago after I discovered a used paperback edition of it in a used bookstore. I’ve always been fascinated by military history, and I knew almost nothing about Marshall except what I read in other World War II histories. Ed Cray does an absolutely masterful job of bringing George C. Marshall to light. Cray’s narrative flows beautifully in elegant prose. This is certainly a very favorable biography, but Cray is unafraid to criticize Marshall and show his faults.

George C. Marshall may not be as well known as other World War II American generals, namely Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArthur. As Cray points out, one reason for this is that Roosevelt felt he needed Marshall to remain as Chief of Staff instead of being appointed the commanding general of Overlord (D-Day). Eisenhower got the D-Day command and eventually served two terms as President of the United States; both Patton and MacArthur saw their careers end on sour notes; and Marshall went on to serve quietly but brilliantly in the Truman Administration, where he made his mark on history with the plan named for him.

“General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman” is a magnificent biography of one of the towering figures in American history. Most highly recommended.