Without the Need of a Single American Rifleman

James Van Fleet and His Lessons During the Greek Civil War, 1948–1949

This alliance came at a price. Eschewing the political government, he turned to the constitutional head of state for this support. The Greek monarchs, King Paul and Queen Frederica, enthusiastically participated in the fight against the insurgents and worked diligently to raise the spirit of the Greek people and the GNA. They founded charitable foundations and camps to support refugees and regularly toured the front and inspected training. Van Fleet embraced the royals and frequently accompanied them on their inspections. This relationship also served as a semi-official channel of communication and cooperation between the supportive elements of the Greek government and Secretary of State Marshall, avoiding the often unhelpful views of the American ambassador. The parties of the political left were hostile to the monarchy and saw their relations with General Van Fleet as proof the Americans were “colonizing” Athens. This association also frequently annoyed the U.S. ambassador, Henry F. Grady. Grady had previously served as ambassador to India. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia and was a committed New Deal Democrat and a friend of President Truman. He disliked Van Fleet and disagreed with his heavy-handed approach to the Communists. Grady urged accommodation and reconciliation over military confrontation.