Important Leaders and Groups of WWII

George Patton  General Patton was one of the commanders of the forces that invaded North Africa and Sicily.  He was a tough leader and played an important role in the use of tanks.

Dwight D. Eisenhower  General Eisenhower commanded the allied invasion of Normandy, known as D-Day.  He was the supreme allied commander in the European Theatre of WWII.

Omar Bradley  General Bradley was selected by Eisenhower to lead the first American army to land in Normandy, France on D-Day.  He was noted for his concern for individual soldiers and his ability to organize troops.

Douglas MacArthur  General MacArthur was the supreme allied commander in the Pacific Theatre during WWII.  Using the strategy of “island-hopping”, his forces were able to get closer and closer to Japan’s home islands.

Chester Nimitz  Admiral Nimitz was appointed Commander-in- Chief of the U.S. Pacific fleet just after Pearl Harbor.  He commanded the U.S. naval forces during major battles of the Pacific.

George Marshall  General Marshall acted as Chief of Staff and the “organizer of victory” in Washington, D.C.  He worked closely with President Roosevelt to build and supply an army of 8 million men.

Audie Murphy  Murphy was one of the most famous and decorated soldiers of WWII.  He earned the Medal of Honor while serving in the European theatre.

Vernon Baker  Baker was one of the first African-American soldiers to see combat in the war.  He emerged as a symbol of courage and received medals such as the purple heart, bronze star and the congressional medal of honor 52 years after the war had ended.

The Flying Tigers  The Flying Tigers were a group of volunteer American fighter pilots who helped move supplies to allies in China fighting the Japanese.  They were able to help slow the Japanese expansion in Asia.

Navajo Code Talkers  This group of Native Americans played a key role in the Pacific campaign.  The code was undecipherable by the Japanese, because the language is unwritten and very complex.

Tuskegee Airmen  The Tuskegee Airmen were an African-American fighter group in the Air Corps.  They provided escorts for bombers and performed so well in combat that they were often specifically requested for their support.