The third volume of Forrest Pogue’s biography of George Catlett Marshall opens with the general’s attendance at the 1943 Casablanca Conference. It’s a fitting starting point given that it represents much of the activity that would occupy Marshall during the final two-and-a-half years of the war: namely the attending of conferences and never-ending negotiations with his counterparts in the other armed services. Though often tedious and tension-filled, it was a process that was absolutely necessary in order to hammer out a combined strategy against the Axis powers – and one to which Marshall brought an effective array of abilities.

This is the theme that emerges from Pogue’s book: Marshall as the indispensable man. This comes across most clearly in his examination of the decision that perhaps more than any other defined Marshall’s place in history: the command of the Normandy invasion. Throughout 1943 it was expected by many in the American leadership that Marshall would trade places with Dwight Eisenhower at some point in the near future and lead the forces opening up the long-awaited “second front” in France. Pogue makes it clear that Marshall himself desired this, as it reflected what would be a career-capping challenge for any military commander. Yet as speculation of Marshall’s departure increased, the calls to retain Marshall as the Army’s chief-of-staff only grew, underscoring the vital role in played in the war effort and culminating in Marshall’s reluctant decision to stay on in his post.

As a result, Marshall has never received the public accaim given to generals such as Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, and Omar Bradley for their role in commanding American ground forces. This is unfortunate, because as Pogue makes clear Marshall’s labors were vital to their success. The scope of Marshall’s concerns was enormous, ranging from questions of manpower to the balance of divisions assigned to various campaigns. Throughout this process he coordinated the activities of theater commanders, attended meetings with world leaders, negotiated with his counterparts in the United States Navy and the British armed forces, and worked patiently with members of Congress in order to ensure the degree of harmony necessary to turn the global military effort into victory. It was an enormous and exhausting effort, and one that taxed Marshall to the fullest.

What comes across in Pogue’s text, though, is not just his capability in the role but his humanity as well. Pogue takes the space to explain how Marshall coped with the enormous strain of his role, which was both mentally and physically demanding. Even with his manifold concerns, though, Marshall made the time for human touches, whether it was personal letters to the families of fallen soldiers or his efforts to honor his good friend Sir John Dill, the British general who served as a liaison in Washington until his death in 1944. That Dill resides today in Arlington National Cemetery is entirely due to Marshall, and it reflects the lengths to which he would go to ensuring that Dill received the recognition Marshall thought was Dill’s due.

Pogue’s book succeeds in conveying the enormity of Marshall’s responsibilities during the Second World War, as well as his role in bringing about the ultimate victory over the Axis powers. While the degree of detail can often make for less-than-scintillating reading, the sheer scope of the amount of material is a real testament to the depth of knowledge about Pogue’s subject. It makes for a fitting testament to one of the 20th century’s great Americans, one that needs to be read by anyone seeking to understand Marshall’s achievements in one of the most critical moments in his nation’s history. ( )