Minuteman Minute | George C. Marshall Jacket

George C. Marshall famously served as Chief of Staff of the Army during the Second World War, but did you know he spent time as a National Guard instructor? This Minuteman Minute explores his time as the senior instructor of the Illinois National Guard’s 33rd Infantry Division.

Hi, I’m Will Roulett, Director of the National Guard Memorial Museum, here in DC, and this is YOUR Minuteman Minute! George C. Marshall is best known for serving as Chief of Staff of the Army during WWII. However, during his more than 50 years of service, he held countless positions. Marshall purchased this jacket in 1929. The then Colonel took it on an assignment to the Illinois National Guard’s 33^rd Infantry Division as its senior instructor in 1933. Marshall was disappointed with the assignment at first, but his energy and military bearing did not allow that feeling to linger. He quickly earned a reputation as a no-nonsense leader who cut through red tape. By the summer of 1934, every unit of the 33^rd passed federal inspection and in 1936 he coordinated the division’s large-scale maneuvers. Marshall’s time with the Illinois National Guard came to an end when he earned his first star in 1936. From there he earned four more stars and rose to the rank of General of the Army, organizing the largest military expansion in US history. Come see this and a whole lot more at the National Guard Memorial Museum. I’m Will Roulett and that’s been your Minuteman Minute brought to you by the National Guard Educational Foundation.