The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-05
EUROPEAN THEATER COMMANDING GENERAL;
 NTYF

XIII
 Whether the event makes the man or the man makes the event, Is the conjecture of historians, With On, Douglas MaeArthur fighting to hold off the JapS swArmoing into the Philippines and the islands of the Pacific, the question arose, Who will load the forces against the Axis horces who have conquered Europe and now threaten to invade both North and South AmerieNs
 There were many able generals in Washington, many of them having won renown in World War l. The nation faced the emergency of building e great army in the quick. est possible time, How the miracle was performed under Gen, George c, Marshall, Chief of Staff, the farm boy from Pennsylvania who had come out of the Virginia Military Institute Is Q book for future his. toriAnS,
 The Arny's revitaliGation pro. gram needed O man, Five days after Pearl Harbor, General Marshall, Q keen Rnalyser of petentialitieS in soldiers, sent for Eisenhower, He was informed that he was to take over the War Plans Divisions, as It's chief, and was to formulate the grand strategy for all theaters of operation,
 His only comment as he left General Marshalls office wa 8, "Yes, they've given me Q new Job, I guess somebody must have told General Marshall was . hot shot"
 With q Shrug of his shoulders he went away-to go to work, Sitting Rt his new post in Washington. the world became q huge ehessboard be- fore him, Watching every move, he sent strategic orders to American commanders in both hemispheres, His penetrating vision gained i'm. mediately respect. They knew c master hand was playing the game,
 President Roosevelt, recognizing Eisenhowers skill, nominated him for the rank of major general, The Senate immediately confirmed 1t, Six days later the War Plants Divi- sion was renamed the Operations Division, and General Eisenhower was now at the head of what the War Department described as "the controlling nerve center of the Army"
 The War Department the Gem eral Staff, and the White House were in conference day and night, Finally the momentous decision was reached-thiS was the man, Tie measured up to all the qualifications of modern warfare, had a genius In organization, was an expert with tanks, a firm believe" in air power, and the coordination of land, sea and air forces, He was e natural born leader of men,
 General Marsh''l called Major. General Eisenhower to his office and said, You're going over to com mand the European divisions, When can you start9"
 Eisenhower, taken by surprise, swallowed quickly and replied, Tomorrow morning"
 It is said that he received this appointment because of two reasons; First, his amazing record in getting things done; second, his strong ad- vocacy of q Second Front, convinc- cd of this necessity, he had worked out practical plans" which were so plausible and brilliant that they commanded the attention Of the War Department. Ike talked 1t out" with Mamie. his wife, at their home in Washington. The responsibilities of the new Job were discussed. He was willing to undertake anything In the service of his country. His wife had full confidence in his ability to carry out his plans; she had lived with him twenty-siX years. she knew the Eisenhower character and de. termination.
 General Staff officers in Wash, ington gave this word picture of Ikes last meeting with them. Snap. oily laying his plans before them he said: This is what 1t is This Is what we're going to do .. This is what we need We're counting on you to see that we get it. Goodbyl'
 We find him a few days later in England in secret conferences with Prime Minister Churchill and the great military leaders on the Brit ish staff. His mission ostensibly was to help prepare merger of United States and British Air Forces to carry out bombing raids on the European continent. He was report ed in London with Gen. Mark W. clark. on May 25, but was back in