| Patton: A Tribute to a Hero |
| Patton: A Tribute to a Hero |
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| Introduction When we study or read about General George Patton, we see a rough, hot-tempered, profane, totally undiplomatic old soldier. Despite this negative stigma that has accompanied Patton throughout history, he has also been labeled as one of America's greatest heroes. Some historians have said that Patton has been the greatest General in American history since Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Such a colorful and flashing character is, many times, seen only as what they are most famous for. It has been said that behind every grreat man, thee is an even greater story. Though Patton the general was great, his life, in it's entirety, is even greater. Early Life George Smith Patton, Jr. was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He was the oldest child born to George and Ruth Patton. Georgie, as he would come to be called all his life, was completely spoiled as a child. His aunt, Ann Wilson, gave him everything he could want. When he came to visit her, she would have gifts for him and allowed him to go wherever and do whatever he wanted. Though Georgie loved his aunt, his mother and the rest of his family, it was his father that he clung to. His father would read to him all the time. Of all the stories read to him by his father, the ones that Georgie loved the most were war stories. Georgie was utterly spellbound by the historic battles and the legends of the great warriors and soldiers of history. By the time, Georgie was seven years of age, he could read strategic battle plans and topographical maps of battle plans. Youth Though he possessed an obvious intelligence, Georgie was unable to read until the age of twelve. It was at this age that he was sent to Stephen Cutter Clark's Classical School. There he began to make academic progress. Later, the Patton family discovered that the reason for Georgie's lack of academic progress early in his childhhod was due to a then-unknown affliction called dyslexia. Despite this handicap, once in high school, Georgie worked hard and in the end, was able to conquer it. Upon graduating from high school, Georgie was determined to enter West Point. There were, however, no available openings to his home state of California, so he enrolled in his father's alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute. A year later, there was an opening at West Point and Georgie was accepted. He was now ready to begin his military carreer. West Point While at "the Point" Georgie practiced several different sports. His favorite was fencing. He loved its delicate-yet-deadly nature. He also felt that it the most aritocratic sport of all. He played football, as well. Due to its combativeness, he suffered multiple injuries including two broken arms and three broken noses. Even though Georgie played hard, he worked hard, as well. When his term at West Point had ended in 1909, he graduated 46th in a class of 103. This feat, however small to most, was a tribute to Georgie's determination and resolve. He chose the cavalry as his assignment upon leaving "the Point". Shortly after graduating, in 1910, Georgie met and married the daughter of a wealthy Eastern family, Beatrice "Bee" Ayer. Though their marriage was later troubled, Beatrice would be at Georgie's side to the very end. World War I In 1915, Lieutenant George Patton, was sent to Fort Bliss, just outside the Mexican border, where for nearly a year he led several routine cavalry patrols up and down the border. In 1916, he was assigned to serve as an aide under General John Pershing as. General Pershing led the attack against the famous outlaw, Fransisco "Pancho" Villa in Mexico. A few months into the campaign, Georgie was leading a foraging mission when his company came into contact with several of Villa's outlaws. During the fight that followed, Georgie killed General Cardenas, Villa's head bodyguard. For this, Georgie was promoted to First Lieutenant. He had also gained favor with General Pershing that would not be forgotten in the days that followed. When the United States declared war on Germany, Pershing and his staff were sent to England. Georgie was promoted to Captain. Shortly after landing in Europe, the American troops under Pershing moved into France, where Georgie requested to be assigned to combat duty. Pershing granted his request and Georgie Patton was put in command of the first U.S. tank corps to be used in combat. The first tank battle occured at Cambrai where Patton gained his first combat victory leading the British Tank Corps. Afterward, Georgie started the first American tank training school in Langres, France. There, he trained the first 500 American tankers. In the few months that followed, Georgie led several victorious tank attacks and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In one battle, Georgie wass wounded in the leg by machine gun fire. For this, he recieved the Purple Heart. He also recieved the Silver Star and the Distinguished Cross for his courage and leadership. The First World War was over, but Georgie Patton's carreer had just begun. Post-War Peace Time During the time that followed the conclusion of World War I, Georgie became restless. He went work making several improvements for the tank, including tank-to-tank communications and the machine gun turret. Because of the peace-time system, army ranks would slowly slide backward. Therefore, in 1920, Georgie's rank was reduced to Captain. Shortly after the Tank Corps was dissolved, his rank rose permanently to Major and he was sent to Hawaii. In 1935, Georgie was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Due to rumors of spy networks and possible military trouble, he was sent back to the United States. Once home, Georgie was given command of Fort Clark, Texas. There he trained men for the war that he believed was coming. Soon after, Germany invaded Poland and Georgie was placed in command of the Second Armored Division. He recieved his first star and was promoted to Brigadier General. World War II As the united States entered the Second World War, Georgie and the Second Armored Division were to be the primary weapon. He began to gain fame as his army expanded and moved out of Europe routing German troops. He was put in command of the entire U.S. Armored Corps and sent back to the United States to train more tank crewman. In November of 1942, Georgie and the U.S. Armored Corps took part in the invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch. Just months after the invasion, the American Army was grossly defeated at Kasserine Pass. General Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower had to find a new commander for the Second Armored Corps. He needed someone who could take command of this defeated rag-tag group of men, and turn them into a well-oiled fighting machine. He sent for the only logical choice, Georgie Patton. As Lieutenant General and commander of the Second Corps, Georgie set about restoring the morale and spirit of this defeated army. First he rigorously enforced military rules and sharpened the discipline of the men. They came to fear, yet respect him. His officers were ordered to lead the men into battle at the front instead of commanding them from the rear. Georgie was a flashy, colorful and profane commander. A pair of ivory-handled pistols were always on his hips. When speaking to his men, his language was studded with profanity and obscenity. Yet, the men respected and took pride in their fierce commander. By March of 1943, Georgie and his Second Corps. had nearly pushed the Germans out of North Africa completely. After his tremendous display of military prowess with the Second Corps, Georgie was given command of Seventh Army in April of 1943. His job was to lead Seventh Army into Sicily beside the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery. The campaign became a race between the two allied generals. Each commander bragged that his army would be the first to enter the town of Messina. While Montgomery's Eight Army was slugging through heavy German artillery, Georgie's Seventh Army managed to break through a western beachhead and capture the town of Palermo. From Palermo, Georgie raced into Messina arriving there ahead of Montgomery and the British Eighth Army. Though Georgie had performed marvelously in Sicily, he found himself under severe criticism for what came to be known as "the slapping incident". Patton in Trouble While touring a military hospital after capturing Palermo, Georgie visited several wounded soldiers and awarded medals to some. Near the end of his visit, Georgie saw a soldier huddled against a wall, shivering and sobbing. Georgie walked over to him and asked what was the matter. The soldier replied that it was his nerves. He said that he could not stand the shelling and the bombing anymore. Georgie stood in silence for a brief moment. Then, he pulled off his glove and slapped the soldier with it. The soldier continued sobbing and Georgie slapped him again ordering him to shut up. The soldier was escorted from the hospital and Georgie left in silent fury. Days later, Georgie was orded to make a public apology to Seventh Army for his behavior. Even under this harsh criticism, Georgie recieved tremendous support from his men. Even the soldier that had suffered Georgie's wrath, did not hold him a grudge. The day after the new year, Georgie recieved a telegram from headquarters notifying him that he was relieved from command of the Seventh Army and was transferred to London, England. Patton on Probation For the next several months, Georgie was used as a decoy against the German army. Though physically in England, Georgie was alledged to be in command of the invasion into France. The United States simualted radio traffic and built up a fictitious army around Georgie. This military decoy misled the Germans and in the end they spent itme pinnning down Allied forces that did not even exist. Once the "Patton Decoy" had ended, in 1944, Georgie was put in command of Third Army. At last, Georgie Patton was back in the fighting. Patton's Great Glory On July 28, 1944, Georgie and his Third Army were turned loose across Northern France. They covered 600 miles in just two weeks. Georgie himself would "roll" with the tanks into battle. Following one battle, he saw a man who had been shot in the arm. Georgie, stayed at his side, applying pressure to the artery until a corpsman arrived. One of the most famous battles of World War II occurred in a forested area of northern Germany called the Ardennes. This battle is known in history as the Battle of the Bulge. Georgie and his mighty Third Army ran headlong into the German lines routing them from all sides. During the heat of the battle, Georgie was summoned to a meeting of the Allied Generals. It was there that General Eisenhower, head of the allied forces, informed them that a small town south of the Ardennes was surronded and being pummeled by Germman infantry and artillery. The town was called Bastogne. Georgie volunteered to take the bulk of Third Army and send them to Bastogne to rescue the soldiers and civilians within. Georgie, along with most of his army, pulled out of the battle in the Ardennes and turned nearly 180 degrees and raced toward the besieged town of Bastogne. This was a testament to the men of Third Army and the discipline whicha had been instilled in them by Georgie Patton. Within 48 hours, the Third Army had surronded the German troops at Bastogne and recaptured the town. This was one of the many great feats that contributed to the end of the Second World War in Europe. The battles were over. The war had ceased. Georgie was once again with the dreaded boredom of peacetime. Bitter Ending As soon as the war in Europe was over, Patton attempted to get an assignment to fight in Japan. Shortly before the surrender of Germany, Georgie was considered for reassignment to the Pacific. However, due to some negligent remarks made regarding the Nazi party, Georgie was summoned by General Eisenhower and relieved from command of Third Army. Now, Georgie did not know where to turn and was troubled about his future. What was he, a violent and heroic warrior, supposed to do with no army to lead and no battle to fight. Georgie did not wait very long to find his new destiny. In Decmber of 1945, Georgie was involve in a freak car crash while on a hunting trip. His neck was broken and he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down. During the next several days, he underwent therapy and and several tests as he clung to life. Despite the efforts of the doctors and nurses, Georgie Patton finally passed way on December 21, 1945. His body was carried by train to Luxemburg, where he was buried. Conclusion Despite Patton's rough, profane demeanor, we now see him as hero. Though he lacked the political skill that most of the men of his time had, we look back on his life and see a man that was born with dreams of greatness. We see a man who overcame every adversary and achieved his lifelong goals of military glory. As we read and study, it is apparent that Georgie Patton was a cornerstone of America's history and he is an everlasting landmark of our nation's glory and her triumphant spirit. |
| Written by Jonathan C. Paxton |
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| * Contains strong language |
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