General Patton's "Blood and Guts" Speech the Troops (Warning Language)

General Patton

[xsrdx]

"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."

-- General George Patton

Great speech. Patton was a bit unhinged but he knew how to fight.

Good post.

[demlosers]

An absolute classic!

[Semper Paratus]

Brave men are going to die soon.

I pray our victory is swift and our causulties are very light.

[speedy]

Whew!! What a tonic. Put me in coach.

[MJM59]

I think that you have to be a bit unhinged to be able to wage war the way that it has to be fought in order to win.

[CanisMajor2002]

Worth Bookmarking bump...

[Manic_Episode]

Excellent speech. Taught me how to cuss with more proficiency. Patton is a classic.

[Constitution Day]

Awesome. Thanks for posting it.

(hoping this will work...)

George S. Patton, in tanker's headgear, stands to the side of an M2 medium tank, 1942
National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[IncPen]

War Day Bump

[nevergore]

BTTT....

[xp38]

On to Baghdad

[Iscool]

My dad served under old "Blood and Guts" Patton...Said he was a madman...Your blood and his guts...

[Constitution Day]

My boss's dad served under him too, and was a tank commander.
Apparently his dad used to say the same thing.

[STONEWALLS]

.....Many thanks for posting this wonderful speech....I was in the Army in the late 60s and served with men who had fought in WW2, Korea and VietNam, but yet those who had been with Patton were proudest of that period of their Army career.....they never forgot it.....Patton was fond of making impromptu visits to units in the field to encourage the troops....the men loved it....they would crowd around him just to be in his presence....they loved him for who he was and he loved being George Patton.....

Good luck to everyone and pray for our troops!

Stonewalls

[joesnuffy]

Kill off the Goddamned cowards and we will have a nation of brave men. Well that would pretty much take care of Americas "Arteest" population.... The universities, the liberal press, and at least half of our govt. employees and politicans.. hmmmm

[Valin]

I wonder what his casualty rate was?

[RinaseaofDs]

Patton saved lives. Patton mastered both tank warfare and close in air support while most of the Army's thinkers were still fighting WWI all over again. Most generals came up through the infantry ranks. Most believed that tanks ought to support infantry advance at 4 MPH.

Patton took the time to understand air support, and got to the point where he allowed AA generals to commit his forces to battle without his prior say so.

One of my good friends served in his Third Army and thanked God every day after the war that he did. He could have been under the command of Brit generals in Anzio, or Monty's forces as they slogged their way through France or Africa.

Patton knew what Sherman knew - war is about taking all ability to make war out of the enemy. About forcing the enemy to eschew war ever after. Japan's been a pretty good ally, and Germany? Well, what can you say except they are awfully antiwar at this point.

Patton was as sane as you or I, but he was right about Russia too.

Too bad you can't freeze dry generals like that and break them out for use in days like the one tomorrow.

[PfromHoGro]

A caller/emailer to Fox & Friends a few weeks ago said: "The last movie I saw was Patton and the next movie I'll see will be Son of Patton." Absolutely perfect!

So when did Patton say "We're going to use their intestines to grease our tank treads." That's my favorite, perhaps it's just from the movie.

[VMI70]

My father-in-law also served under him. I guess he was a Captain at the time. He was a briefing officer and had to give Patton the "news" on the progress of the war. This was not a one on one deal. There were lots of senior staff present. He always said that he thought life at the "front" would be far safer than briefing Patton.

The one thing that really got him was that, despite his intimidating presence, Patton had a high pitched, squeaky voice. I think the "artistic license" taken for the movie "Patton" was well advised.
George C. Scott was a better choice than Pee Wee Herman.