I would recommend this book. I listened to it on Books On Tape.
Posted on 06/25/2004 8:31:46 PM PDT by xzins
He grew up on a ranch in California and his childhood schooling was sparse. At West Point his first year marks in academic subjects were so weak that he could not be advanced to a second year cadet. The Commandant however thought he saw something in Patton, so he offered him the opportunity to repeat his Pleb year. Patton did so, suffering not only the usual humiliations of a first year cadet, but also torment by his former classmates, more than a few of which had been rubbed the wrong way by his ego.
General George C. Marshall placed an age limit on Generals going overseas into combat theatres in WWII, and no one over that age sailed unless he personally gave them a waiver. Patton was one he he allowed to go, even though he was pushing 60. When Marshall gave Patton his first big command -- an armored division I think -- it was a unit in training slotted to go to Europe. Several officers in Washington questioned this move because they though Patton, although talented, wasn't a team player and would cause more trouble than he was worth. Marshall told them: "Don't worry. I know how handle Patton."
Sure enough within a few weeks complaints poured in that Patton wasn't working well with others and was trying to rearrange the entire Army's training schedule for his convenience. Marshall sent a telegram to Patton telling him that he was relieved, but not telling him to report anywhere else and not appointing a new commander. Within minutes of the telegram going out Patton was on the telephone trying to defend his actions. Marshall told his secretary to tell Patton that he was not available -- and continued to not be available for three days while Patton sweated. Finally on the third day he relented and took Patton's call. By this point Patton was contrite and instead of trying to defend his actions or explain his conduct he merely said: "G@@ damnit George, I've learned my lesson. I'll be good." Marshall told him he had his command back, then turned to and aide and said: "THAT is how you handle Patton."
I would recommend this book. I listened to it on Books On Tape.
Great stories.
Thanks.
Currently there is a large display of Elvis memorbilia at the Patton Museum. The wife of the Ft Knox CG, MG Terry Tucker, is a Elvis fan and helped arrange for his uniforms and other items to be placed there on loan from other museums and Graceland. The Patton Museum recently received a large sum of money from several sources, it is a private museum not receiving anything from the Army, that will allow it to expand to about 3 times the current size. This expansion will still not be large enough to allow for display of all the equipment on hand. There are two buildings in one of the motor pools on Ft Knox that are virtually crammed to the ceiling with items for display. I hope to see this all completed in the next two or three years.
True but in lower quantities than otherwise would have been the case. In the long run, less blood is spilled by advancing aggressively against the enemy. It's unfortunate to have been one of the men whose blood and guts were spilled under Pattons command, under different command, more would have been spilled. It's one of those counter-intuitive aspects of warfare.
The Patton Museum also sits inside a very impressive park with various antique armor, artillery, and mech infantry vehicles on display.
Hearing about the upgrade of the museum, I'll be back in a few years to see it, (TGLW).
The witnesses were more than impressed by the officer who carried on stoically despite bleeding like a stuck pig. The story made its rounds as it flashed through the barracks, gaining increasingly lurid details. But the overriding thought was: here was a leader one could count on when the going got rough.
...His trademarks for soldiers -- cleanliness, discipline and military courtesy -- were more than apparent in camp. His soldiers adored him. With high morale, they were anxious and eager to fight, to move forward aggressively and to close with the enemy. They performed exceptionally well when they were committed to battle.
Thanks for the post, xzins.
A TRUE honorable legacy, not just a legend - worth remembering as a nation, emulating as a Soldier.
Our public education system needs a regime change - or a few Pattons.
Get the book - "The Pattons" I have read almost every book on Patton and consider that the best. you have no idea about the history of the family. Did you know his aunt was almost married to Black Jack Pershing???
Anyway, Patton understood that it is kill or be killed and that the only way for a war to end is when one of the two parties is defeated, hopefully the other guy. Additionally, Patton understood fear. That is why he slapped the guy in Sicily. Experts, after the war, have said that striking someone is a way to break someone out of a mental block or phobia.
Although Patton had his shortcomings, I consider him to be one of the most brutually honest military figures in our history. When looking at our present day Generals, it is a shame what guts and toughness we have lost. Although the grunts and gi's of today are superb, the top brass are pitiful.
Having spent an entire career in the military as an army chaplain, I can assure you that we do have our fair share of politician/officers. YET....there are those there who are warrior/officers in the tradition of Patton/Jackson/Grant/Lee/MacArthur/etc. who understand that winning the war, and winning it overwhelmingly and with finality, is THE POINT.
It just seems to me, a lay citizen who wants to see overwhelming and total victory, that our generals, and too an extent even the President, is not committed to total victory, without apology or compromise.
As a patriotic citizen, I would like to hear our leaders commited to destroying the enemy and all its reminents.
I listened to it as well, csvset. I found it fascinating, especially the incident in the trenches in France in 1918. He was with Gen. MacArthur during an enemy artillery barrage. A shell landed near them, but did not explode. What would the outcome of WW2 have been had that shell taken out those two?
One of my favorite uncles was very proud to have served in the Third Army and practically worshiped Patton.
I was only a young boy at the time, but I was so impressed by his respect and admiration for the General that it has stuck with me all these years.
attack
:>)
Precisely!
He'd want to go after Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Saudi.
And continue to attack.
Thanks for the title. I figured somebody had already come up with that idea.
Legend has it that he was kicked out of school in his Rat (freshman) year for riding a horse up to the 3rd or 4th stoop.
FYI: The Oscar that "Patton" won for Best Picture is at VMI
I have a few good stories about George Patton III. He was a little short on filling his dads shoes, but he tried and IMHO did a fairly decent job.
I was an instructor in the Armor School in 1972 when he was the Assistant Commandant as a BG. One day I was teaching a class on adjusting the throttle, shift and steering linkage on an M110 howitzer. The students were all setting on the front slope of the howitzer and I was on the ground facing them. Suddenly I noticed them staring at something behind me. I turned around and there was Patton, standing about two feet behind me. Before I could say anything, he told me something like "Good job sergeant, that's what I like to hear, good instruction with no BS going on. Carry on" and was gone. He was good at just popping in and out at will.
Another story - this was the draw down from Vietnam and most of the soldiers were going to Germany. He made another unannounced visit one day to one of our classes, asking them if they had any beefs with the Army. "None of that FTA BS, but real beefs." One private raised his hand and was recognized. He told Patton he wanted to go to Vietnam, but had orders for Germany. Patton turned to our senior instructor and told him to get the man's name. Two days later the soldier had orders revoking Germany and sending him to Vietnam.
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