In 1946, Congress commissioned a medal to honor General George Catlett Marshall (1880-1959) for his leadership during World War II. As Army chief of staff under Franklin Roosevelt, Marshall was instrumental in readying U.S. soldiers for combat and helping the president devise military strategy, including Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. Recognizing his contributions, British prime minister Winston Churchill praised Marshall as “the true organizer of victory.” Marshall is perhaps best remembered for the postwar reconstruction program that provided billions in U.S. aid to help Western Europe rebuild its war-shattered economies. Later known as the Marshall Plan, it earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. This uniface artist’s sample represents the obverse of the true medal and shows five stars representing Marshall’s military rank.
