The Marshall Plan – when America was at its greatest

Vaհe H Apelian

George C. Marshall 

In the aftermath of World War II, America acted in a self-imposed restraint. No nation, so powerful, had imposed upon itself and curtailed the human impulses for conquering and domination. On the contrary, it lent help and assistance to have the devastated nations recover. I too have read about the Marshall plan and knew that it was about the assistance the U.S. rendered for rebuilding the Western Europe after the catastrophic 1937-1945 World War II. It had never occurred to me to find out why it was called Marshall plan and the ideals that catapulted the plan.

As a noun "marshal" with one "l", is the standard spelling for an  army officer, and as a verb it is understood to mean, organize, mobilize, summon, rally, muster, as synonyms listed by Merriam-Webster dictionary. 

But the Marshall Plan is with two "l's", which typically is used as a proper noun, as in the case of the famed plan. The man behind the plan for assisting Western Europe to recover was George Catlett Marshall Jr., who was, according to Wikipedia, an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army under presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, then served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman. On June 5, 1947, George C. Marshall was the U.S. Secretary of State under president Harry S. Truman.

I came across the following as to what transpired on June 5, 1947. I reproduced it here.

“George C. Marshall sat silent as senators tried to turn victory into vengeance.

 It was 1947, and Europe lay in ruins, cities hollowed by bombs, economies starving, governments collapsing. The United States could have walked away. Instead, Marshall, then Secretary of State, proposed something unthinkable: rebuilding the very continent America had just fought.

In a Harvard commencement address on June 5, 1947, he spoke for barely ten minutes. No grand promises. No applause lines. Just a blueprint for mercy that would become the Marshall Plan — a $13 billion recovery effort (over $170 billion today) to feed, rebuild, and stabilize Western Europe. “Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine,” he said, “but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.”

Behind that calm voice was a soldier who understood the cost. As Army Chief of Staff during World War II, he’d commanded more than 8 million men, yet refused personal glory. When Roosevelt wanted to give him command of D-Day, Marshall declined so Eisenhower could lead, saying only, “The President must decide where I’m of most use.” No medals, no press tours. His aides joked that Marshall’s ego had been “drafted out of him.”

The Marshall Plan was attacked as naive, even treasonous. Critics warned he was giving away the treasury to “feed foreigners.” But within four years, Europe’s industrial output rose 35%, and former enemies like Germany and Italy became allies. The plan didn’t just rebuild cities. it rebuilt trust.

In 1953, Marshall received the Nobel Peace Prize, the first career soldier ever to do so. He accepted it quietly, saying peace required “the same qualities of discipline and sacrifice as war.” He died in 1959, leaving behind no memoirs, no self-promotion — just a legacy carved in rebuilt streets and reopened schools.

George C. Marshall proved that real strength isn’t domination and it’s the courage to rebuild what war destroyed.” (True Stories)

As an added note, it should be noted that the United States of America was at its greatest in the world in the aftermath of World War II. It possessed nuclear power when no other nation possessed such power. It had the greatest economy of any nation in the world. It provided to its citizens a standard of living unheard and unexperienced before. 

Indeed, in the aftermath of World War II, America acted in a self-imposed restrain no nation, so powerful, had imposed upon itself and curtailed the human impulses for conquering and domination. On the contrary, it lent help and assistance to have the devastated nations recover.    

In short, we would be living in an altogether different and not as free a world, had the United States of America not emerged victorious in the greatest conflict that humankind had experienced hitherto, up to that time. 

 

Reducing the term of military service.

Attached is my translation of Hrant Mikayelyan’s comment today on his Facebook page, about reducing the compulsory military service in Armenia from 24 month to 18 months. Vaհe H Apelian

I don’t understand the complaints about the law on reducing the term of military service.

To better understand the present state, we need to go back to the 90s, when it was decided that military service should be two years, and not, for example, three years or for a year.

The RA army was formed on the basis of the Soviet army. Those who served in those years will remember that everything from holding a weapon to wearing of the uniform was taken from the Soviet system. According to this logic, the service was set to be two years. Of course, over time, changes were made such as, deferrals, 1.5 years of service for graduates of higher educational institutions, etc.

Now let’s move on to the present.

Does reducing the term of service to 18 months imply that the number of people serving will be reduced? Whoever came up with such a notion does not know that that the law has absolutely nothing to do with  the law does not refer to the number of conscripts, but to the duration of their service. In other words, both before and after the implementation of the law, every person who has reached the age of 18 is required to be drafted. (Note: The 18-month mandatory military service in Armenia is expected to start beginning of January 2026.)

Let's assume that in 2026, 100 persons are registered. All of those qualified to serve will have to be drafted, regardless of whether they will serve for 24 or 18 months. In other words, looking for a quantitative difference here is illogical. The question is: what did the soldier do during 24 months and what will he do if the service becomes 18 months?

First, it is necessary to understand that the army is developing with a different logic today. The entire training process has undergone changes. If previously the soldier was engaged in line training for about 20 months out of 24 months; with the new program this is no longer the case.

The army is being replenished with new generation military equipment, the possession of which is largely entrusted to contract servicemen. The latter undergo special training, including in foreign military training centers. Thanks to the programs adopted by the state, which provide high salaries, a clear service schedule and social packages, the number of contract soldiers is growing day by day. This is a step towards a professional army.

In the new system, a conscript will no longer march for months at a time, but will participate in military exercises day and night, master the weapons assigned to him, and acquire real combat skills.

Yes, there still are problems. Yes, there still are officers who are "herdsmen". Yes, many issues are still in the process of being resolved.

But one thing is clear: the army is transforming day by day, and this is already an undeniable fact.

A rare Armenian taxicab conversation

Բնագիրը կցուած է ներքեւը։ Anyone who has been in Armenia and used their taxicabs has experienced the Armenian taxi drivers, who are notorious complainers. But I have left with the impression that they do not necessarily mean what they say. I think they have found that it’s better for their business to complain against almost everything and anything that is Armenian and Armenia, than to be a bit more rational. 

The attached is a rare conversation, I translated . In fact, it is so rare that Avo G Boghossian had posted it as a commented on his Facebook page, It is a conversation his wife had with a taxicab driver. Mr. and. Mrs. Avo G Boghossian have moved to Armenia a couple of years ago and they live in Yerevan.  I wanted to archive the episode in my blog.

The original comment is reproduced below. Vaհe H Apelian

Armenian taxicabs and drivers.

Driver - the cold has started; we are truly entering the winter season.

Wife - it will be fine.

Driver - It is already fine, sister, our nation is an ungrateful nation. Before, they complained that the sidewalks and roads were demaged. They fixed them. They started saying how dusty it is. The situation was difficult in the army, now my son is serving, what are they giving them to eat, we don’t even have in our home.

My wife said that this is the first time for her to be with a driver who had positive comments.!

Բնագիրը՝

Վարորդ- ցուրտը սկսվեց, աշքիս մանրից մտնում ենք ձմեռ եղանակ: 

Կինս-լավ կլինի : 

Վարորդ- արդէն լավ է քոյր, մեր ազգը ապերախտ ազգ է: առաջ գանգատվում էին թէ մայթերը ճանապարհները քանդված են. Սարքեցին ու սկսեցին ասել էս ինչ փոշոտ է: Բանակում բարդակ վիճակ էր, հիմի տղես ծառայում է, ինչ տալիս են ուտելու, իսկի մեր տան մէջ չունենք: 

Կինս կ՚ըսէ, առաջին անգամ է որ վարորդ մը դրական կը գնահատէ վիճակը:

Another Armenian home closes its library

I read today that Andrew Kizirian has donated his Armenian library consisting of close to 2000 books to the Mesrob G Boyajian Library of the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, MA. Surely, it is commendable gesture but it also is another example of the Armenian libraries disappearing from homes. I too donated most of my books to ALMA at least two decades ago. My mother had my library shipped from Lebanon when I immigrated to the U.S. Carrying them from one house to another, from one state to another was becoming taxing, especially for my wife and mother-in-law. A few years ago, in 2018, the New York Armenian Center closed its library and donated its books and had them sent to Artsakh. Another tragic reality for the Armenian community of NY and another kind tragedy in Artsakh.  The eminent linguist Armenag Yeghiayan wrote an article about the closure of the New York Armenian Center library. I had it translated and posted as a blog.  I  reproduced it below.  (see the link below) Vaհe H Apelian

This week I had not read an article that fired my imagination, so I was about to pass the week with a feeling of deep dissatisfaction. I would certainly not say that there was no such article, but I simply had not come across one.

But this weekend, as I sat to write, I found myself against the article that had alluded me throughout the week. It was Dr. Herand Markarian’s, “Farewll books, have a good journey”, article in “Armenians Today” that was posted on March 13, 208. ( դոկտ. Հրանդ Մարգարեանի «Բարի ճանապարհ, գիրքե՛ր, ճանապա՛րհ բարի» յօդուածին, («Հայերն այսօր», 13 մարտ 2018), 

In his especially smooth style of writing and colorful narration, Markarian made the history of an Armenian library, that was born more than a hundred years ago in the New York city in the United States, come alive. The library had come about through the efforts of the early Armenian immigrants. Over time it had grown in size, shelves were added, its location had changed, but its mission had remained the same, as a source of spiritual and mental nourishment. But lately the books had to be stored in boxes as the “New York Armenian Center” was about to be sold. An unexpecting reader will continue reading the article with optimism that after caring for the books for over 100 years, the books will now find a new location and continue on with their mission as they had done before. 

“The Armenian book should never be orphaned”, wrote Markarian – “it always needs an adopting parent. When the Armenian book is orphaned, it foretells that the whole community is in decline. How to have them not left orphaned, has taken a hold on all of us. Finding a home, a caring place for these books, have occupied our thoughts. These “inanimate” beings have in them human blood and sweat. They will be leaving the New York Armenian Center to a NEW HOME to a NEW place where they will continue their mission. Newer generations will be visiting them and will be enthused by them. They will take care of them. They will not let dust accumulate over these books and be orphaned. Young and old will be visiting them.” 

We read these inspiring words and comforting comments and continue on reading.

But….

It soon becomes evident that these books, stored in 50 boxes, are not being transported to a new location in New York city for the benefit of the New York Armenian community. They are being sent to Artsakh. Markarian seems to be pleased with this arrangement and does not shy from expressing his joy because this time around the books will serve to educate generation of Armenians in Artsakh.

Artsakh is one side of the issue. There is also the other side. How will the Armenian Americans in New York be nourished? The old generation, who read these books, cared for them, and kept them to pass to the nextt generation, is no more. But since the “next generation” cannot read Armenian anymore, this ancient library is now changing hands.  

The fact of the matter is that, this is not the farewell that my old-time friend is bidding. It is the breaking of a sad ending. This is a banishment. It is not the heralding of a bright dawn for the Artsakh Armenians. It is rather the breaking the news of the passing away of the Armenian American, Armenian readership.

Artsakh Armenians, can find ways to fill the void of Armenian books. Fortunately, they never had a scarcity of Armenian readership there. Armenian readership thankfully is alive and well there. Wherever Armenian readership is alive and well, so are readers aplenty and Armenian books will always be available there. The issue is the Armenian readership in the New World. The scarcity, if not the lack of Armenian readership, is the concerning issue. Nothing will bring these books back. They are the witnesses of the last pages of a sad story that has ended.

There was a time when we were used to come across letters sent by young members of a family asking discontinuing their aging parents’ subscription to Armenian newspapers as their parents have passed away and they cannot read in Armenian. The newspapers the older family had kept over the years get thrown away, and soon later the books follow the same fate. In the best of circumstances, they are given away to a library for storage. 

More or less the same fate awaited Ardashes Der Khatcharourian’s library which, after the libraries of the Cilician Catholicosate and Haigazian University was the richest library. During the last years of his life, he tried to sell his library but he was not successful. After his unexpected sudden death, his inheritors tried the same. Eventually the representative of the Armenian Library division of the London’s Library of Great Britain bought the entire library and had them shipped to England. It is hard to imagine what will be the fate of these books that had come about by the life-long efforts and the meager salary of an Armenian teacher who taught Armenian and literature. It is also hard to imagine that these books will be read. 

Link: An Armenian Library is Closed:https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/01/an-armenian-library-is-closed.html

 

 

Random thoughts: Diaspora, its social media and Armenia

Vaհe H Apelian

Left: Viken Zakarin
Right, top to bottom: Monte Melkonian, Mher Juldjian, Garo Kahkedjian 

The other day a friend (Charles Bargamian) commented the following in response to a posting I had on my Facebook page: “Each time you write I am convinced not only are you a Pashinoglu loyalist but an Erdogan Aliev loyalist too!”  By Armenian social media standards, it is not unusual comment. Such derogatory comments are hurled in the Armenian social on the pretext of being more patriotic than thou.

Charles also stated that “Many Americans came to fight in the motherland for Artsakh’s freedom and also lost their lives!”.  That too is not an unusual claim. I know no Diaspora institutional source that authenticates the number of Diaspora volunteers during the Karabagh liberation war and the names of the Karabakh liberation war martyrs from Diaspora.

I know one person, Vartan Tashjian, who had his boots on the ground in Karabagh for four years. Those years are now behind me he says. He gave the following speculation as to how many from Diaspora could be estimated to have taken part in the first Karabagh war. Here is his speculative comment, he wrote a few years ago.

“Thirty-one years ago today, the fierce fighting in the Karabakh war ceased.

Yesterday, during an online conversation with young people, the question arose about how many people from the "traditional" diaspora participated in the war? Young people from 5-6 countries were present at the conversation. One of them believed that the number of participants was 7,000. He said that there were 700 participants from France alone. Others gave 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, and other numbers.

The end of the conversation was shocking for many when I suggested making a rough estimate of the number of participants based on the following estimate. The number of Armenian fighters killed in 1990-1994 is estimated at about 6,000 (+). The number of participants in the fighting is estimated at about 50 thousand. Four from the traditional Diaspora fighters died - Monte Melkonian, Mher Julhadjian, Garo Kahkedjian (The White Bear),  and Viken Zakarian. Forgive me if I have a martyr whose identity I do not know. 

Based on the above data (the overall mortality rate is about 12%), the number of participants from the traditional Diaspora comes out to be about to 34. Considering that the participation of the overwhelming majority of the traditional Diaspora youth, was incomparably short-lived, compared to the fighters from Armenia and especially from Karabakh; the mortality rate can be calculated at a lower number. Thus, the number of participants can be multiplied by two, three, four, five, six, seven. The number of participants comes out to b 68, 102, 136, 170, 204, 238 persons. Which is still very far from the smallest number -500 - estimated by one of the young participants.

 A more accurate presentation of the facts (the geography of the participants, the forms and duration of participation, motivation, etc.) is expected mainly from historians of the war.”

I find Vartan’s estimation very reasonable. The burden of the Karabakh liberation war, and its consequences, were overwhelmingly shouldered by the citizens of Armenia and Artsakh, who continue to shoulder the brunt of the two Artsakh wars. 

This brings to the institutional Diaspora’s role in supporting Armenia. Diaspora needs to have an informed understanding of the budding democratic governance in the free and independent Republic of Armenia. PM Nikol Pashinyan emphatically notes: “Do you love your homeland? Strengthen its state.” Surely, he meant Armenia’s democratic state. Armenian democracy is   ridden with faults. Is not the American democracy, not ridden with faults? At the dawn of its semiquincentennial, the U.S. of America is still in quest of the perfect union. Democracy is a process, if not a race, but without a finish line. 

I know and understand the complexity of the matter and the short comings of what I pen here. But I believe Diaspora’s contribution or assistance to Armenia is unconditional or should be unconditional with no strings attached, in any form and shape.

Those from Diaspora, who claim that they have entitlements for shaping the course of Armenia, or have expectations as to how Armenia should chart its course, because of a support they render to Armenia, should cease supporting Armenia. 

Diasporans have absolutely no obligation to support Armenia. The citizens of Armenia have obligations towards their country Armenia, our homeland, and they struggle among themselves to shape its course. It is for Diaspora, if it can afford, to be compassionate towards the many needs of the citizens of Armenia and no more. 

Two anecdotes from Anastas Mikoyan

 Vaհe H Apelian

 

A few days ago, on October 22, 2025, Pietro Shakarian discussed his book - "ANASTAS MIKOYAN An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin” - at the Armenian News Network - Groong Podcast. On a lighter note, he told the following two anecdotes about Anastas Mikoyan

Pietro shakarian is a historian of Russia and the Soviet Union. He earned his PhD in History at The Ohio State University (2016-2021), MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (2013-2015), and his BA in History at John Carroll University in Cleveland (2008-2012). He also received MLIS, Library and Information Science, at Ken State University (2012-2013) He has been a postdoctoral fellow in St. Petersburg, Russia and has done research in Yerevan Armenia. Recently he had his first book published titled "ANASTAS MIKOYAN An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin”.  The launching of the book took place in Yerevan on July 31, 2025, (see the link below).

The anecdotes: 

                                                        ***

Anastas Mikoyan and Che Guevara had a professional, diplomatic relationship, as Soviet and Cuban officials in the early 1960s, dealing about the fallout of the Cuban Missile Crisis. They also had economic discussions, such as negotiating Soviet purchases of Cuban sugar and oil. 

It appears that their negotiations were not proceeding smoothly, to which, according to Pietro Shakarian,  Anastas Mikoyan tells Che Guevara something to the effect, “no wonder, Che in Armenian means No!”

***

In early 1960’s Catholicos of All Armenian Vazken I, invited the eminent writer and editor of his weekly Nairi, Antranig Zarougian to Armenia. His stay in Armenia coincided with a  visit by the USSR politburo member Anastas Mikoyan to Yerevan to deliver an important speech that would be heard all over the Soviet Union. Catholicos Vazken was invited to the speech and was escorted to a central at a central box. It was an unprecedent honor a highest official of the Soviet Union, the atheist communist Anastas Mikoyan had extended to the head of  the Armenian Apostolic church in Ethcmiadzin. I quote in translation what transpired after the speech.

“Mikoyan has ended his speech and he starts conversing in Armenian. He is joyful, witty and robust as if he is not the person who delivered a two-hour speech. There is a break for 20 minutes after which the reception would follow with music and dance. Thousands of eyes now remain focused on the Catholicos, who is not unaware or indifferent of the attention, but he has nothing to say.

Two persons enter the box where the Catholicos is seated.

“Vehapar, Comrade Mikoyan would like to meet you. He would have come to escort you but the buffet is ready, so he asks you to join him there.”

A pillar of Kremlin would not want to appear escorting a clergyman. All those in the hall are members of the party, committed communists, but they are Armenians. Asking outright the Catholicos to come to him would not sit well with many. In a typical Mikoyan style, the message is subtly delivered that he would have escorted the Vehapar but the buffet is ready for both of them to head there together.

It turns out that it is not the first time that Mikoyan has met the Vehapar.  Seven years ago, they have met in Bucharest during a reception in honor of Mikoyan hosted by the Romanian government.

“I was surprised to see among the guest an Armenian priest,” says Mikoyan. On the podium, it seemed Mikoyan was struggling with his Armenian. In close circles his Armenian is flawless. He reminisces about his student days.

“That Armenian priest wanted to make a clergy out of me, the priest…”. He seeks to remember the name and suddenly with an air of triumph says, “Yes, Karekin Vartabed". He is happy he remembers the name fifty years later. He suddenly realizes the Vartabed was no other than the Catholicos of the Cilician See, Karekin I.

“The good man worked hard to make something out of me, but out came a good-for-nothing”.

“Mister Mikoyan, I wish all those good-for-nothings would have been much like you,” remarks the Catholicos."  

 

Link: Pietro Shakarian launches his “Antastas Mikoyan, An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin” book: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/07/pietro-shakarians-antastas-mikoyan.html

 

What happened to the Soviet Armenia railways?

Vaհe H Apelian

I updated my previous blog “What happened to the railway in Armenia” with a new commentary I came across that pertains to the railway through Meghri and titled it “what happened to the Soviet Armenia railways”.  The described dismantling of railways happened after Soviet Armenia declared independence on Septermber 21, 1991 

The present state of Meghri Soviet Armenia railway station

My translation of Tatul Hakobyan’s posting - see the link: «This article of mine is not about whether it is right to import Kazakh wheat to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan or not and what Baku expects in return.

This article of mine is about the fact that a large part of our people is not aware that ALL railways entering Armenia from Azerbaijan have been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The section from Horadis to Nakhichevan, 45 kilometers of which passed through the territory of the Republic of Armenia, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Zangelan-Kapan section, which connected Yerevan with Kapan, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Armenian part of the Ijevan-Baku section, not entirely, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

And do you know, if we had not demolished the railway lines, then from 1994 until the last war we could have connected Meghri, the Armenian-Iranian border, with Kapan by rail.

This is what my  handwriting is about.”

And not whether historically we built Tbilisi and Baku.»

Բնագիրը՝

Իմ այս գրությունը այն մասին չէ՝ ճիշտ է՞ Ադրբեջանի տարածքով ղազախական ցորեն ներկրել Հայաստան, թե՞ ոչ և դրա դիմաց ի՞նչ է ակնկալում Բաքուն: 

Իմ այս գրությունն այն մասին է, որ մեր ժողովրդի մի մեծ հատված տեղյակ չէ, որ Ադրբեջանից Հայաստան մտնող ԲՈԼՈՐ երկաթուղիները քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Հորադիսից մինչև Նախիջևան հատվածը, որի 45 կիլոմետրը անցնում էր ՀՀ տարածքով, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Զանգելան-Կապան հատվածը, որով Երևանը կապվում էր Կապանի հետ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Իջևան-Բաքու հատվածի հայկական մասը, ոչ ամբողջությամբ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Ու գիտե՞ք, եթե մենք չքանդեինք երկաթուղագծերը, ապա 1994 թվականից մինչև վերջին պատերազմը կարող էինք Մեղրին, հայ-իրանական սահմանը երկաթուղով կապել Կապանի հետ: 

Սա է մեր ձեռագիրը:

Թե բա Թիֆլիսն ու Բաքուն մենք են կառուցել:

                                                                            ***

The present state of Meghri Soviet Armenia abandoned railway

My translation of Nairian AR posting: "In the 1990s, the metals of the Meghri railway (as well as metal machines from some factories in Armenia) were sold at cheap prices to a neighboring country, without any thought or purpose for their future use. It's surprising, how did this machine or a small section of the railway remained. Were not they scrap metal?😏"

 

Բնագիրը՝

1990-ականներին Մեղրու երկաթուղու մետաղները (նաև Հայաստանի որոշ գործարանների մետաղյա հաստոցներ) էժան գներով վաճառվեցին հարևան երկրին՝ չունենալով որևէ միտք ու նպատակ ապագայում դրանք օգտագործելու համար․

Զարմանալի է,  ինչպե՞ս է այս մեքենան կամ երկաթգծի մի փոքր հատված մնացել այստեղ, դրանք մետաղի ջարդոն չե՞ն😏

Link: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/10/what-happened-to-railways-in-armenia.html