This photo shows Gen. Patton's dog Willie after the general's death

Insider ^ | 9 June 2016 | Amanda Macias

[COBOL2Java]

Considered one of the most successful combat generals in US history, Gen. George S. Patton died on December 21, 1945, 12 days after breaking his neck in a car accident near Mannheim, Germany.

Sadly, a few hours after that tragic car accident, Patton was due to return back to the US.

While leading troops during World War II, Patton purchased an English bull terrier puppy that he named Willie.

Willie was known to follow Patton everywhere, and the two were seldom separated while in England.

According to some accounts, Willie would enter a room and alert soldiers in there that Patton was on his way.

The following photo shows Willie lying next to Patton's belongings a few days after the general's death.

Patton was buried at the American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Willie was sent to the US to live with Patton's wife and daughters.

[Pelham]

” It was a freak accident he died even if it was intentional”

It wasn’t intentional. That accident would have been impossible to plan. No one would have know Patton would be on that road. And the young soldier who was Patton’s driver virtually worshipped the ground he walked on.

The trip that Patton was on that day was a last minute idea of his pal General Hobart Gay, who had noticed that Patton had been moping around since the war’s end and Gay thought that some bird hunting might cheer Patton up.

A dog that they were taking along was riding in an open jeep and dog lover Patton thought it looked cold and took pity on it. Patton gave his front seat spot to the dog and joined General Gay in the back.

The collision was a low speed affair. An Army truck turned left in front of the staff car. The Cadillac was barely damaged. But this was the era of no seat belts and Patton was tossed against a partition separating the front seats from the rear compartment, breaking his neck and paralyzing him. He was the only one injured.

Patton survived in the hospital for something like a month. Pneumonia or heart failure is what finally did him in.

[Pelham]

Never get in the way of a conspiracy theory unless you want to get run over. They don’t brake for pedestrians.

[COBOL2Java]

there was an article by the Daily Mail around 2006 where a GI died in Iraq and his coffin was interred briefly at the hometown church. The dog which was the GI’s pet, was front and center and laid down right in front of the casket, never moving until it was time for burial..both an amzing and somber image.

Great Disney movie - back when they knew how to make great movies:

[Impy]

You really think Ike had him wacked?

[GOPsterinMA]

I do. Either directly or tacitly.

[wardaddy]

SEAL......DOG IS HAWKEYE

[frank ballenger]

Photo of sad occasion....

More proof dogs are great.

[wardaddy]

Indeed they are..Rotts are outside

Taco Bell dog is sleeping tween me and Rib

Older I get more I like dogs and I’ve always liked dogs

My last Rott fore these.....on my homepage....Beckett ...got car killed five hears ago in December.....only time my adult life I’ve sobbed....we all did

My teen boys buried him....i couldn’t do it..

My daily companion for five years....just like the chihuahua is now....but completely different dog experience...I’ve never had a girl dog and utterly dependent on me

Girl dogs are like.....girls ....personality wise....so weird ....I treat her deferentially

[frank ballenger]

Your stories of loving the dogs in your life....

I knew you were a softy underneath the usual tough FReeper exterior. Enjoy your life of going to the dogs-—for fun.

[Mr. Lucky]

My dad served under Patton in North Africa. His opinion of the General was somewhat different.

[wardaddy]

👍

[max americana]

Yup that’s it.