#3-666

To General Dwight D. Eisenhower

May 24, 1943 Radio No. 8720 Washington, D.C.

From Marshall to Eisenhower for his eyes only.

Reference your recommendations for special promotions following Tunisian Campaign.1 There are 2 names that suggest the possibility that an error has been made by their inclusion in the list.

Colonel Lambert in a letter to his wife, November 16, 1942, divulged the entire North African landing operation and the disposition at that time of the Western Task Force.2 On February 1 he wrote to his brother stating: "I know you are anxious to hear all about our attack and I wish I could give you all the details. As a matter of fact I did my best literary effort to Janet for relay to you but the censors picked it up and sent it back photostated for action (which could have been disastrous for me) but my friend Patton said, "Nuts, file it." so I escaped. It is a shame because it gave all the details of our attack."

This does not indicate a level-headed individual or a disciplined soldier. Discretion and judgment are glaringly lacking.

Colonel Stack's record is exceedingly spotty. McNair states that he would not recommend him for Brigadier General. General Ward on his efficiency report stated: "He is especially desirable in his present grade.” He was passed over by the Board in 1941 to select Lieutenant Colonels for advancement to Colonel. As he is proposed for return to the United States I wish to be absolutely certain that his leadership was so outstandingly conspicuous as to conclusively justify his promotion.3

McNair is unwilling to give Andrus a division. He states he is a good Artillerist. He suggests the possibility that Terry Allen in his loyalty to his own Officers is proposing Andrus for promotion and return to the United States to clear the way for Howell.4

Give me with complete frankness your desires.5

Document Copy Text Source: George C. Marshall Papers, Pentagon Office Collection, Selected Materials, George C. Marshall Research Library, Lexington, Virginia.

Document Format: Typed radio message.

1. Eisenhower had sent his recommendations for promotions, including the officers returning to the United States. (Papers of DDE, 2: 1143–44.)

2. Kent C. Lambert, who had been Patton's operations officer, assumed command of Combat Command A, First Armored Division, in April.

3. Robert I. Stack, who had commanded the Sixth Armored Infantry Regiment, took command of Combat Command C, First Armored Division. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 4, 1943.

4. Eisenhower had recommended that Brigadier General Clift Andrus, artillery commander for the First Infantry Division, be returned to the United States for eventual division command and that Colonel Reese M. Howell (U.S.M.A., 1915) be promoted to fill the Andrus vacancy. Howell was promoted on June 2, 1943, and assumed command of the Ninth Infantry Division Artillery. (Ibid., pp. 1142–44.) Andrus retained command of the First Infantry Division Artillery until December 1944, when he assumed command of the First Infantry Division; he was promoted to major general in March 1945.

5. Eisenhower replied that he was certain that Terry Allen's recommendation for Andrus's promotion "was founded on honest conviction and without personal prejudice.” He added that Omar Bradley was impressed with Andrus's work and that if McNair did not wish Andrus as a divisional commander, Eisenhower was anxious to retain him there. He agreed that Lambert's "continuing disregard for instructions" was cause for him to withdraw his recommendation for promotion even though Lambert had a "brilliant battle record.” Harmon wished to retain Stack, if promoted, as a brigadier general in the First Armored Division. Eisenhower felt that Stack "should be promoted unless the unfavorable entries in his prior reports indicate weaknesses in character or soldierly attitude." (Eisenhower to Marshall, May 25, 1943, DDEL/D. D. Eisenhower Papers [Pre-Presidential, Cables].)

Recommended Citation: The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, ed. Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens (Lexington, Va.: The George C. Marshall Foundation, 1981– ). Electronic version based on The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 3, “The Right Man for the Job,” December 7, 1941-May 31, 1943 (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991), pp. 700–701.