Graduation of 1941 OCS Class

As OCS Class No. 1 progressed, during the hot summer of 1941 at Fort Benning, and our graduation neared, it was announced that General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, would attend our graduation exercises and speak to the class. His schedule interfered and he came to Fort Benning on 19 September 1941 and decided to make a visit to the class and speak briefly. At the time he came to the area, the class was assembled in a classroom with an instructor holding forth.

A side door opened and in walked General Marshall alone. He had somehow gotten separated from his aides and those accompanying him, including General Bradley, who was then commandant of the Infantry School. No one called "Attention" and the room got very quiet for a few seconds as General Marshall walked across the front of the classroom.

Soon, General Bradley and the rest of the party came in the rear door of the classroom and someone called "Attention." This was my first time to see a four-star general and those shining stars on General Marshall's cap made a deep impression. He spoke briefly and soon the class was back to normal.

General Marshall did not make it for our graduation but his remarks were printed in pamphlet form and read to the class on graduation. Many years later in 1995, I was telling this story to Lieutenant Colonel David B. Chung, then commander of the OCS Battalion at Fort Benning. He quietly opened his briefcase to show me a copy of those remarks by General Marshall. He referred to them often in carrying out his duties as commander of the OCS Battalion some 54 years later.