The father of a friend of mine served with Patton in France. He hated Patton because the general was so strict. One time Patton personally fined him for not wearing a tie in a combat zone. But he also respected Patton. Not because of the strictness, but because Patton got the job done.
Perhaps strictness and getting the job done are related. But I of course never mentioned that to the old veteran!
I served under Patton in France for about 3 weeks. Then we were transferred from the 3rd Army to the 7th to defend Alsace during the Bulge. About Patton all I heard was 'our blood and his glory'. His death was a mystery.
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The father of a friend of mine served with Patton in France. He hated Patton because the general was so strict. One time Patton personally fined him for not wearing a tie in a combat zone. But he also respected Patton. Not because of the strictness, but because Patton got the job done.
Perhaps strictness and getting the job done are related. But I of course never mentioned that to the old veteran!
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A fine for not wearing a TIE in COMBAT? Wow. Patton was SOMETHING else. He was underused somewhat because some of the Allies didn't want anything to do with him. There HAD to have been some ego there.
Ego? With four-star generals? Nooooo.
It's my opinion that if Patton had been in charge of MORE in the war, both sides of the world, it would have been over a lot sooner.
Hindsight is always 20-20, isn't it?
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There are a lot of people who "pooh-pooh" the military, the generals, uniforms, the pomp and such, but when we NEED them...
I still get a bit choked up sometimes remembering those IGNORED Vietnam vets...after all these years.