Stainback, Eyers receive scholarship from George C. Marshall Foundation

Buies Creek–Campbell University seniors Alton Stainback, of Henderson, N.C., and Cherilyn Eyers, of Dunn, N.C., have been named George C. Marshall Scholars for 2008. The students received a stipend from the George C. Marshall Foundation and were allowed to use the resources in the Marshall Library in Washington, D.C., to research events surrounding World War II and the role of the Marshall Plan in the reconstruction of Europe.Stainback, a history major who wants to go into public service, selected the failure of American intelligence leading up to Pearl Harbor as his research topic.He asserted that closing of the Black Chamber, the U.S. cryptology unit, by then Secretary of War Henry Stimson was responsible for the United States’ failure to prevent the attack on Pearl Harbor.”Stimson’s action crippled our ability to intercept and decipher important messages,” Stainback said. “Stimson was even quoted as saying, ‘Gentlemen don’t read other gentlemen’s mail.'”Analyzing the role of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) and the U.S. in the Yalta Conference in 1945, Eyers’ research concluded that concessions made by the U.S. and England practically gave the Soviet Union free reign over Eastern Europe.””I looked at the significance of the outcome of the conference and the interaction between the three world leaders–FDR, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. “I couldn’t believe how the U.S. and England allowed Stalin’s troops to march through Europe and how they conceded the Polish government to Communist sympathizers,” Eyers said.Awed by her opportunity to study the original documents at the Marshall Library, Eyers said she was amazed at “being able to hold in her hand an actual letter FDR wrote to his wife.” Stainback was likewise impressed with the Marshall Conference the students attended as part of the scholars program. The conference commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan.”We got to meet the leading experts in the field of history and saw how the principles set out in the Marshall Plan are being applied today in Iraq,” said Stainback.”It was fascinating to learn from history,” Eyers said.Alton Stainback serves as Executive Vice President of the Campbell University Student Government Association and as a member of the North Carolina Student Legislature. Cherilyn Eyers serves as vice president of Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society and is a member of Phi Alpha Theta Political Science Honor Society.Photo Copy: Campbell seniors, Cherilyn Eyers and Alton Stainback, were named George C. Marshall Scholars for 2007.

This article is related to: