Description:

GEORGE C. MARSHALL
(1880 - 1959) American general and statesman, Roosevelt's Army Chief of Staff during World War II and author of the Marshall Plan which sustained eastern Europe after the war. AN INFIRM MARSHALL DECLINES TO ATTEND A 116TH INFANTRY DIVISION DEDICATION IN NORMANDY. Fine content and association T.L.S. on his 'General of the Army' letterhead, 1p. 8vo., Washington, Nov. 4, 1958 to Henry F. Seal, Jr., a veteran of the 29th Infantry Division who was wounded in combat and later wrote a noted history of the 116th Infantry Division's service during World War I. In part: '...I have your letter of October 26...regarding the dedication program scheduled for June 6, 1959. I appreciate your furnishing me the information, but it will not be possible for me to attend the ceremony. I no longer enjoy the best of health and travel is quite difficult. I am not aware of any official Army publications on the dedication, but I will ask my Aide to determine whether the Office of Public Information has any plans for releasing publicity...' Signed with an old age signature at bottom. Mounted with some rippling, else very good. The 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division was a National Guard unit made up of men from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware - including the now-famous 'Bedford Boys' of Bedford, Va. They were the first men to land on Omaha Beach, setting foot on the sand at 0636. A slaughter followed, the men pinned-down for hours with no appreciable cover from German fire. By the end of the day, they had taken 1,007 casualties. On June 6, 1959 - the 15th anniversary of the D-Day landings - France dedicated a memorial to the 116th Infantry Division, presumably at Omaha Beach. Following a series of strokes, Marshall would die less than a year later. SOLD WITH: a black bordered card sent by Marshall's family acknowledging condolences, along with the transmittal envelope, both mounted to a larger sheet. Two pieces.

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December 7, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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