George Catlett Marshall, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, was celebrated as a patriot, distinguished soldier, selfless public servant, statesman, soldier, and leader whose wartime and peacetime service brought great distinction to his school and to the United States. In World War II, he was credited with giving the nation victory, bringing into being the greatest military force in history, and exercising greater influence than any other man in the war in the strategy and tactics of victory. He was praised for courage, fortitude, vision, rare self-effacement, and for serving as a tower of strength as counselor to two Commanders-in-Chief, while his standards of character, conduct, and efficiency were said to have inspired military forces across the nations and the world.