Ike almost fires Patton - May 1944

From The Marshall Papers - Volume four:

"Eisenhower informed General Marshall on April 30 that he had sent for Lieutenant General Patton to report and explain his actions, but based "on all of the evidence now available I will relieve him from command.” Eisenhower indicated his faith in the ability of Lieutenant General Courtney H. Hodges to replace Patton as Third Army commander, but recognized that "the big difference is that Patton has proved his ability to conduct a ruthless drive whereas Hodges has not.” He also expressed his regret that Major General Lucian K. Truscott was unavailable to OVERLORD as a result of his position in the Mediterranean theater. Eisenhower asked Marshall whether Patton should be returned to the United States in his permanent rank or sent home in some higher grade to serve in a training command. "His relief from an active theater will certainly be interpreted by everyone as definite and severe disciplinary action," wrote Eisenhower, "but you would have the immediate problem of absorbing him as a lieutenant general.” Eisenhower added, "After a year and a half of working with him it appears hopeless to expect that he will ever completely overcome his lifelong habit of posing and of self-dramatization which causes him to break out in these extraordinary ways." (Papers of DDE, 3: 1840-41.) "

Marshall Responded to Ike on May 1, 1944:

My view, and it is merely that, is that you should not weaken your hand for OVERLORD. If you think that Patton's removal does weaken your prospect, you should continue him in command. In any event, I do not want you at this time to be burdened with the responsibility of reducing him in rank. Send him home if you see fit, and in grade, or hold him there as surplus if you so desire, or as I have indicated above, continue him in command if that promises best for OVERLORD. I fear my quotation from one editorial may have resulted in over emphasis in your mind of the necessity for drastic action to meet difficult resulting situation here at home. Incidentally, the numerous editorials, while caustic regarding his indiscretion, lack of poise or dignity, suitable to his position have not demanded his release from command. Do not consider War Department position in the matter. Consider only OVERLORD and your own heavy burden of responsibility for its success. Everything else is of minor importance."

Ike reconsidered and after reprimanding Patton, informed Marshall he had decided to keep him in command of 3rd Army.

MacArthur and Marshall - Career Paths

George Marshall and Douglas MacArthur were both famous Generals in WW II and were both born in 1880. Given the small size of the US Army before WW II you'd think these 2 men would have been friends or rivals in the 38 years from MacArthur's graduation from West Point in 1903 to Pearl Harbor December 1941. Yet, the 2 men rarely served together and had little personal contact for the following reasons:

1) Marshall went to VMI, MacArthur to West Point.
2) Marshall was an infantry officer, MacArthur an Engineer.
3) In France During WW I, Marshall was a staff officer, MacArthur a combat officer.
4) Both men served overseas but almost never at the time. When Marshall was stateside, Mac was in the Philippines, and vice-versa.
5) MacArthur became a general in 1920, Marshall languished as Captain/Major until 1927 and only became a General in 1936.

As far as I can tell the 2 men were only in the same general area twice. In 1908-1910 both men were stationed in Ft. Leavenworth Kansas and in 1917-1919 both were in France during WWI. The two men' s service record looks like this:

MacArthur

• June 1903 - Graduates West Point.
• Oct 1903- June 1905 Philippines and California
• June 1905-June 1907 Aid to his father (General Arthur MacArthur) and President
• June 1907-June 1908 - Various posts in USA as Engineer
• 1908-1912 Engineer Ft Leavenworth and Ft Riley Kansas
• 1913-1917 Engineer attached to the General Staff - Washington DC
• 1917-1919 - France with 42nd Rainbow Division - Promoted Brigadier General
• 1919-1922 - Commandant West Point
• 1992-1925 Philippines
• 1925-1928 Corps Commander - Baltimore MD - Promoted Major General
• 1928-1930 Philippines
• 1930 1935 Army Chief of Staff - Washington DC
• 1935 - 1938 Commander US Army Philippines
• 1938 - 1941 Retired from US Army. Head of Filipino Army
• July 1941 - Recalled to active duty.

George Marshall

• Feb 1902-Oct 1903 Philippines
• 1903-1906 - Infantry Officer - Oklahoma
• 1906-1908 - Student at Ft Leavenworth Staff College - Kansas
• 1909-1910 - Instructor Ft Leavenworth Staff College - Kansas
• 1910-1913 - Company Commander and Instructor various posts in USA
• 1913-1916 Philippines
• 1916-1917 - Aid to General Bell - California
• 1917-1918 - Staff Officer - 1st Division - France
• 1918-1919 - Staff Officer - 1st Army - France - Promoted to Colonel (Temporary)
• 1919-1924 - Aid to General Pershing (Reverts back to Regular Army Captain in 1920)
• 1924- 1927 - China (Promoted to Lt Col)
• 1927-1932 - Head Ft Benning Infantry School
• 1933 - Service with Illinois National Guard - Promoted to Colonel
• 1934-1938 - Service with CCC - (Promoted to Brigadier General - March 1936)
• Oct 1938 -Sept 1939 - Deputy Chief of Staff - DC
• Sept 1939- Nov 1945 - Army Chief of Staff