When Dwight Eisenhower reached past nine senior generals in August of 1959 to select David Monroe Shoup as commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, no one was more surprised than Shoup himself.
Said he: "This is the first pot I ever won without having a hand in the game." Through his performance and personality, Commandant Shoup, 57, has had his hand very much in the game ever since to the point that he has become President Kennedy's favorite service chief.
Since taking charge, "Uncle Dave" Shoup has presided over a boost in Marine manpower from 175,000 to 190,000, upgraded the...