The Generals: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and the Winning of World War II

Celebrated historian Winston Groom tells the story of three remarkable men-of-arms who rose from the gruesome hell of the First World War to become the finest generals of their generation during World War II. George Marshall, George Patton, and Douglas MacArthur redefined America’s ideas of military leadership and brought forth a new generation of American soldier. Their efforts revealed to the world the grit and determination that would become synonymous with America in the post-war years. Virginian George Marshall led his class at the Virginia Military Institute to become the principal planner of the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne, the greatest American operation, which ended the conflict. Afterward, he rose to become the Army’s Chief of Staff, where he balanced the volatility of generals such as Patton and MacArthur for the good of the country. Like Marshall, George Patton, who is remembered as one of the most heroic and controversial generals in American history, overcame early academic difficulties to graduate at the top of his class at West Point. He would build and command the Army’s burgeoning tank division, lead the successful invasion of North Africa during World War II, a