Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 21 text:

' resident Johnson, accompanied by Senator Byrd, arrives at the Vir- ginia Military Institute to pay tribute to General George C. Marshall ited, Always you have honored us by yourfrankness, armed us by your courtesy and inspired us by your tgleness of purpose and your selfless devotion to r common cause. Such praise and sincere tribute almost without parallel by military men. General Marshall ' s retirement, to Dodona Manor Leesburg, Virginia, was short-lived, for the next day e President requested him to serve as his Special presentative to China (with the rank of ambassador), arshall accepted the challenge of bringing order from chaos of war-torn China. Soon after reaching China, succeeded in bringing about a truce between the itionalists and the Communists. However, this truce on failed; General Marshall returned to the United ates, having failed to stem the Communist take-over China, conditions having become irreparable before ' arrived on the scene. A similar Communist challenge suld soon face him in Europe. In February of 1947, by special act of Congress anting permission, General Marshall became Secre- tary of State; he was the first man in the nation to occupy both the highest non-elective civilian and military posts. Being confronted in Europe by Communist ad- vances highly detrimental to our interests, Marshall developed a containment or counterattack which was to aid the destitute and oppressed peoples of Europe. It was presented in the form of the Marshall Plan, later to be known as the European Recovery Program. As a result of this project, America gave aid valued at $8,231,000,000 to a total of sixteen countries. This aid, the greatest contribution America has ever produced for the cause of world peace, is credited with bringing about the rapid recovery of Europe ' s economy and of preventing further Communist take-over in Europe. General of the Army Marshall, who had been retired from the Army in February of 1947, was restored to active duty in March of 1949. After resigning as Secre- tary of State, Marshall withdrew from political affairs to serve as president of the American Red Cross. In September of 1950, he returned to serve his country as Secretary of Defense; he retired from this position in September, 1951. After more than fifty years of service to the nation, General Marshall was ready to retire. Among the awards which he earned throughout the course of his distinguished career was the United

Page 20 text:

General Bradley, General Shell, Mrs. Marshall, Governor Harrison, and Mr. Pendleton watch the Corps of Cadets on parade as Acting Chief of Staff from July through Septerrei and was promoted to General upon becoming C.ei of Staff in late September, 1939; President Roosejli picked Marshall for this position over many of his sie- riors in service. Thus General Marshall assumed H onerous duties of Chief of Staff; he was not to relinqi 1 this burden until November, 1945, when, at his own =• quest, he was released from duty as Chief of Staff was succeeded by General Eisenhower. In his crucial years as Chief of Staff, Marshall the man responsible for building, training, and eqi ping the largest and most powerful Army in Ameri history. Robert A. Lovett says of those years, His com| ling sense of duty, his loyalty to his Commander Chief, his sincere concern for others were obvious all. His unshakeable integrity and his fearless acccl ance of the consequences of a course of action thal| felt in duty bound to take . . . , made him a great figi The British members of the Combined Chiefs of S5.R on General Marshall ' s retirement as Chief of Sol W- ! ... m President Johnson, General Shell, and Cadet Captain Rimm review Alpha Company

Page 22 text:

HBBBBBSBfiflB BBSfl BSBflBBi HHMHM General Maxwell Taylor, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, pays tribute to General Marshall Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, the First Lady of the United States States Distinguished Service Medal with first Oak Leaf Cluster and the Silver Star. In 1953, he received the Nobel Peace Prize, the highest civilian tribute paid to him. On 15 May 1951, on the occasion of Marshall Day, he was awarded the Virginia Distinguished Serv- ice Medal as well as having Marshall Arch in the VMI Barracks named for him. General Marshall died 16 October 1959, and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His military and international achievements live on: the effects of the Marshall Plan are still being reape today by the Western world. As architect of victor over totalitarianism of the Axis powers and as architei of European recovery and stability following Worl : Mrs. George C. Marshall and General Maxwell Taylor observe the dedicatory ceremonies