MARSHALL MOMENTS
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL FOUNDATION
WHAT TO WATCH - WOMEN AND THE WAR
Marshall and WAACs
Women of the 6888th Elizebeth Friedman
EVENTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 5:30 p.m.
Devising D-Day: Marshall and OVERLORD Legacy Lecture by Dr. Mark Stoler
For more than two years during World War II George C. Marshall was the major proponent for invading northern France as opposed to British proposals—often endorsed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt–to instead invade French North Africa and Italy in the Mediterranean. This debate quickly became a highly divisive controversy within the Grand Alliance—one that almost wrecked the Allied coalition. Marshall eventually won this debate, only to be denied the actual command of Operation OVERLORD in favor of his protégé Dwight Eisenhower. This presentation will explore Marshall’s pivotal role in the controversy—and the related reasons why he was then denied command of the operation.
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 5:30 p.m.
The American Soldier in World War II Legacy Lecture by Dr. Ed Gitre
The day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army administered the first “attitude survey” to members of the Ninth Infantry Division, then stationed at Fort Bragg. Soldiers were asked 118 questions about myriad facets of their military service and prior civilian experience. Over the course of the war the army administered surveys to over half a million American soldiers across the globe. Survey topics covered leave policies, food preferences, radio listening habits, combat experiences, racial views, mental and physical health, postwar plans, and many others. A great many service members, promised absolute anonymity, took advantage of the final open-ended prompt that encouraged
MARSHALL MOMENTS
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL FOUNDATION
them to elaborate on their answers, or to write about anything else that might be on their minds. Eager to share their views, some filled every square inch of space on the page. Survey records, including some 65,000 pages of open-ended “free comments,” languished in the National Archives until the launch of The American Soldier in World War II on the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Project director Ed Gitre will talk about the program and what the army learned when it surveyed America’s citizen-soldiers, highlighting the European Theater of Operations leading up to and after the D-Day landings.
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1:30 p.m.
Patton Day at the Marshall Foundation
Open House and Legacy Lecture by Dr. J. Furman Daniel
Help the Marshall Foundation celebrate the 60th anniversary of its dedication during our annual open house. Activities include tours of the library and archives, artifact show-andtell, games, door prizes, and refreshments.
ALL SUMMER LONG Summer Movies at the Marshall
Join us for free monthly screenings of classic films with introductions by Marshall Foundation staff. We hope you enjoy our lineup this year, focusing on World War II in Europe.
Saturday, June 1—Saving Private Ryan
Thursday, July 18—Stalag 17
Thursday, August 15—The Imitation Game
MARSHALL MOMENTS
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL FOUNDATION
OPPENHEIMER EVENT VIEW GALLERY
NEW VIDEO MOSCOW FOREIGN MINISTERS CONFERENCE
Learn about the challenging negotiations and significant moments during the Fourth Council of Foreign Ministers in Moscow, 1947. This new video uses materials from the Marshall Foundation archives and research to present an engaging account of the conference that convinced Marshall of the necessity for the plan that would become his legacy.
In February, the Marshall Foundation hosted George C. Marshall actor Will Roberts for a free screening of Christopher Nolan’s critical and commercial hit Oppenheimer. Mr. Roberts worked closely with Melissa Davis, incorporating audio, video, and photographs of Marshall, while preparing for his role.
CONGRATULATIONS TO RAFFLE WINNER KAY LERA!
Seventy-eight years ago, on March 22, 1946, George C. Marshall received the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest award the legislative body can bestow. Marshall’s citation recognized, in part, his “distinguished leadership, as Chief of Staff of the Army and as a member of the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the United Nations, in planning the expansion, equipment, training and deployment of the great Army of the United States and in formulating and executing the global strategy that led to victory in World War II.” The Congressional Gold Medal had been awarded before—military recipients included George Washington—but Marshall was the first soldier since the Civil War to receive the medal for wartime service.
For more information on this historic event, please visit the Marshall Foundation website and read our article here.
The George C. Marshall Foundation is honored to house and safeguard Marshall’s Congressional Gold Medal, and other special pieces of history. Please consider an online gift today at this secure link to help us continue this important work.
DONATE TODAY
