A local hero and international statesman, Western Pennsylvania’s George Marshall played a critical role in helping the Allied powers earn victory in World War II.

Born in Uniontown in 1880, Marshall graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1901, where he was a tackle on the varsity football team. Following graduation, he became a second lieutenant in the Army, serving in the U.S. and the Philippines.

During World War I, he helped to plan the first American attack and victory of the war in France and eventually became aide-de-camp to Gen. John J. Pershing. In the ensuing decades, Marshall excelled in leadership roles throughout World War II and the Cold War.

During World War II, Marshall organized the largest military expansion and modernization effort in U.S. history, increasing the Army from 189,000 to 8 million soldiers within three years.

Marshall was instrumental in preparing the U.S. Army for the invasion of Europe and eventually became the first American general to be promoted to five-star rank.

Throughout his career, the Western Pennsylvania native served as chief of staff of the U.S. Army, the secretary of state and the secretary of defense.

His most enduring legacy is the ambitious plan for redeveloping and modernizing Europe following World War II. Nicknamed the “Marshall Plan,” the economic recovery strategy helped Marshall earn the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.

He died six years later and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Visitors to the Heinz History Center can learn more about his enduring legacy and see a life-like museum figure of George Marshall as part of the new major exhibition, “We Can Do It! WWII.” For more information, visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org.

First Published: April 30, 2015, 4:00 a.m.