I really do appreciate all you folks who took the time to reply. However,
the subject began "code question" amd so far none of the replies have tried
to answer the question based on code. Also the question asked was "How,
according to the NEC, should the generator be grounded?" Does anyone have
an answer based upon their knowledge of the NEC?

As to the long nail suggestion you may be very certain that the nail will
not be connected well to the ground when it is new and much less so after
it begins to rust. That is why long ground rods are used and why two are
sometimes required. That is also why they are made of copper. Yes the
outside of the copper will corrode but the copper oxide, unlike rust, is
conductive.