General George Catlett Marshall, Jr.
George Catlett Marshall, Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959)
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Sculpted by Zenos Frudakis, General George C. Marshall was an American soldier and statesman renowned for his leadership during World War II and the early Cold War. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense. Winston Churchill famously hailed him as the “Organizer of Victory” for his exceptional leadership in coordinating the Allied forces to achieve victory in World War II. Marshall also served as the chief military adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1953, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his transformative work in rebuilding Europe through the Marshall Plan.
⭐ America 250 — General George C. Marshall: Architect of Victory and Champion of Peace
General George C. Marshall was an American soldier, strategist, and statesman whose leadership shaped both the outcome of World War II and the direction of the postwar world. Serving as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Marshall oversaw the rapid expansion and coordination of U.S. forces, becoming one of the most pivotal military leaders of the 20th century. Winston Churchill famously praised him as the “Organizer of Victory” for his unmatched ability to plan, mobilize, and sustain the Allied war effort.
Following the war, Marshall continued his service to the nation as U.S. Secretary of State and later as the third Secretary of Defense. He authored the visionary Marshall Plan, an unprecedented program of economic recovery that rebuilt Western Europe, prevented widespread famine, stabilized democratic governments, and set the stage for lasting peace. For this achievement, he was awarded the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first professional soldier to receive the honor.
As America reflects on 250 years of nationhood, Marshall’s legacy stands as a powerful reminder of the ideals that define the American experiment: courage in crisis, service above self, and leadership dedicated not only to victory in war but to the pursuit of peace. His life embodies the principle that true strength lies in using power responsibly—and always in the service of freedom.
Portrait Sculpture
Size: Life size
Media: Bronze
Created: 2011
Location: Virginia Military Institute, General George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia
Collection: Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia