General George S Patton Jr. 1885-11-11 to 1945-12-21
General George Smith Patton Jr
(November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, then the Third Army in France and Germany after the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Born in 1885, Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the "Patton Saber." He competed in the modern pentathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.
Patton entered combat during the Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916, the United States' first military action using motor vehicles.
He fought in World War I as part of the new United States Tank Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces: he commanded the U.S. tank school in France, then led tanks into combat and was wounded near the end of the war.
Patton led U.S. troops into the Mediterranean theater with an invasion of Casablanca during Operation Torch in 1942, and soon established himself as an effective commander by rapidly rehabilitating the demoralized II Corps.
He commanded the U.S. Seventh Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily, where he was the first Allied commander to reach Messina. There he was embroiled in controversy after he slapped two shell-shocked soldiers, and was temporarily removed from battlefield command.
He was assigned a key role in Operation Fortitude, the Allies' military deception campaign for Operation Overlord. At the start of the Western Allied invasion of France, Patton was given command of the Third Army, which conducted a highly successful rapid armored drive across France. Under his decisive leadership, the Third Army took the lead in relieving beleaguered American troops at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, after which his forces drove deep into Nazi Germany by the end of the war.
During the Allied occupation of Germany, Patton was named military governor of Bavaria, but was relieved for making aggressive statements towards the Soviet Union and questioning denazification. He commanded the United States Fifteenth Army for slightly more than two months.
Patton's colorful image, hard-driving personality, and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by his controversial public statements. His philosophy of leading from the front, and his ability to inspire troops with attention-getting, vulgarity-laden speeches, such as his famous address to the Third Army, was received favorably by his troops, but much less so by a sharply divided Allied high command.
His sending the doomed Task Force Baum to liberate his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters, from a prisoner-of-war camp further damaged his standing with his superiors.
His emphasis on rapid and aggressive offensive action proved effective, and he was regarded highly by his opponents in the German High Command. An award-winning biographical film released in 1970, Patton, helped popularize his image.
In late 1911, Patton was transferred to Fort Myer, Virginia, where many of the Army's senior leaders were stationed.
Befriending Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Patton served as his aide at social functions on top of his regular duties as quartermaster for his troop.
Despite all his military accomplishments.
His controversial statements and actions were his undoing. He was passed over and don’t considered for higher positions due to his many enemies he created with his sharp tongue, that included racist and anti smite comments and sentiments.
He was a solider of old and not comfortable with succumbing to others. He hid his PTSD and fear while in combat with his bravado.
He did what he thought what was right for the country and for his military career his way and to hell with what others in the chain of command thought. Even to the highest office of his chain the president of the US.
He was brash, tough, smart great military strategist but a pain in the spurs for his friends, brass and his soldiers in his command.
His bravado and mouth were his downfall.
He had many wealthy and influential friends inside and outside of politics and the military establishment that protected him and provided cover for his actions. Until 1945 when his close friends slowly started to abandoned him for fear of his actions staining their careers.
Many believe that is untimely death was due to his bridge burning. And a conspiracy was devised to bring him down but the injuries were worse than expected. After so many wars and conflicts he passed away from injuries sustained from an auto accident. The only one out of 4 people involved.
His body was cremated prior to a full autopsy and he is buried amongst his 3rd army soldiers in Luxemburg.
