Books like Partners in Command: George Marshall & Dwight Eisenhower in War & Peace

My father had been recommending this book for some time, but I had been hesitant to dive-into it, afraid that the content would be too heavy on military jargon & statistics. My hesitation was unwarranted, as what I discovered within the pages of Mark Perry's PARTNERS IN COMMAND: GEORGE MARSHALL & DWIGHT WISENHOWER IN WAR & PEACE was a well-rounded, thoughtful read. With the expert delving of a seasoned researcher, Perry takes the reader into the world in which Marshall & Eisenhower inhabited. We get to understand the two men who led America's Armed Forces to victory during World War II -- Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, and his subordinate, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Perry uses letters and other research materials to help us to know what made each man to become who he was during one of the most pivotal times in America's history. While both men share commonalities, it's Marshall who shines brightest in his unwavering belief that a military man's job was to be above the fray of politics; to serve faithfully & loyally without any self-serving ambition. Perhaps the greatest example given of Marshall's humility was when FDR suggested to Marshall that if he wanted to lead the troops in Europe during the Normandy landings, all he needed to do was ask. Marshall, despite his own desires to lead Allied forces in the liberation of Europe, acquiesced to his Commander-in-Chief's desire to keep him in Washington. Marshall never let his disappointment in this decision affect his relationship with or faith in Eisenhower when Eisenhower was ultimately chosen. This spoke to the greatness of George Marshall's character. Perry writes how Marshall handpicked Eisenhower, allowing him the independence to pursue his own path, and to rise to the upper echelons of America's military hierarchy. Both men used their diplomatic natures to piece together an Allied coalition that would overcome the tyranny of the Axis regimes that threatened the free world. While the majority of Perry's book focuses most rightly on the men during the Second War War, it's his review of Marshall's public life afterwards that I found most admirable. While Eisenhower turned to the Republican party after the war (his disillusionment & fraction with Democratic President Truman is given as part of this), Marshall became a statesman, admired by both parties while continuing to live by his standards of staying above the fray of politics, using the remainder of his public life for the betterment of mankind -- first, in his attempts to help end the Chinese Civil War through his efforts to bring Democracy to China, and then, later, becoming Truman's Secretary of State, helping to craft the Marshall Plan for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Perry remains an impartial writer of both men and their characters, but it's Marshall who comes away being more admirable for his ability to stay true to his beliefs; to remain non-political; to serve without any self-serving ambition. When Marshall would later come under attack from Republicans when Truman nominated Marshall for Secretary of Defense, it's Eisenhower who failed the man who served as his mentor, supporter, and Chief. Perry explains how Eisenhower purposely chose to stay quiet as Marshall was unjustly maligned for what the Republicans portrayed as Marshall's failure in China (by laying the blame at Marshall's feet, the Republicans claimed it was Marshall & Truman who helped lead the Communists to the takeover of that country). Perhaps Eisenhower's silence was due to his own political aspirations. At this point in Eisenhower's life, he had aligned himself with the Republican party with the intention of running for President. Still, as a reader, I found Eisenhower's turn to political ambition over the support of his former promoter and Chief of Staff, served as an indicator of a great flaw in Eisenhower's character. When, during the war, Eisenhower was blamed for the bumbling of the invasion of Italy, it was Marshall who stood by his subordinate, showing continued faith and support. It was disappointing to see that when the situations were reversed, Eisenhower did not do the same; and worse, did not do so for his own advancement. PARTNERS IN COMMAND is more than a worthy read. It provided greater insight into how America was able to successfully partner with its Allies to overcome tyranny. Mark Perry admirably informs how this was achieved through the leadership of men like George C. Marshall & Dwight D. Eisenhower.