Patton was despite his flamboyant media personage, a guy who was noted to ALWAYS do his homework, and always be well prepared. He was also a guy who could get the most out of his subordinates. That said, he could also be rash and he had a few shameful episodes like diverting a significant force that could have been better used elsewhere to liberating a POW camp in which his son in law happened to be a POW. He was no strategist and was not suited for more than Corps Command.....but he was a damn good Corps Commander.
He was also a guy who could get the most out of his subordinates.
***I worked under a guy who was one of Patton’s drivers. He said Patton had many more personal drivers than any other General. He found out why: Not only was it personal vanity, but Patton used his drivers as a form of recon. They never were allowed to take the same route to him to deliver messages, and were often sent down roads which were unsecured.
My boss said one day that several drivers had a bitching session about Patton after 2 of the drivers had been killed. They had thought being a driver was gonna be a cushy job, and the sergeant basically called them out as p*ssies, that Patton was allowed to use his drivers however he saw fit.