La Farge, P. de

Marshall and Montgomery: Promoters of Military Professionalism1

“…According to Marshall, the 'young officers did not know how to regroup their men after the initial advance, … and when the time came to push on, they were unable to carry out their mission'. 4 Marshall's World War I experience proved invaluable to him and the Army. In handling combat training, planning, and the movement of small and large forces, Marshall learned about the major problems facing an overseas expeditionary force.…”

“…President Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, rejected the proposal, preferring to devote limited resources to air power development. 11 As a result, despite Marshall's efforts, the United States Army remained virtually unprepared for combat in 1939. He blamed the continuous decline in appropriations after World War I for creating an army of a 'third rate power'.…”