World War II Database

George Smith Patton, Jr. was born in San Gabriel, California, to the affluent George Smith Patton and Ruth Wilson. His grandfather was Brigadier General George Smith Patton of the Confederate States of America, and his father a lawyer and politician who graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1877. Patton, with his high-pitched voice, grew up hearing stories of valor and bravery, and wished to be a military officer from a young age. He attended Virginia Military Institute, and transferred to West Point after one year. He was a gifted athlete and played sports for both schools. He was well versed in sword fighting, fencing, and horseback riding. After his graduation, he married childhood friend Beatrice Ayer. Patton served as a lieutenant under General John Pershing in Mexico in 1916 against Pancho Villa, and commanded units in WW1. During the latter, he was exposed to a new form of warfare: armor.

After WW1 ended, he returned to the US and studied armor and armor tactics extensively. After WW1 Patton would form the United States' first training facility for tank crews, the American Tank School. He was credited for not only his part in the school's creation, but he also wrote many early training manuals, devised training methodologies, and personally led tank crews in training exercises. During WW2, after scoring victories against Rommel's Afrika Korps in North Africa, Patton commanded troops during the Invasion of Sicily and during the Allied troops march from Normandy toward Berlin. His aggressive personality was at a contrast with Britain's Bernard Montgomery, a peer of Patton's under Dwight Eisenhower's command, whose first instincts were often to regroup and defend before making any tactical decisions.

During the time in Sicily, he was involved in "the slapping incident". He, on a visit to a field hospital, met two soldiers in the hospital with no apparent wounds. "General, I guess it's my nerves," one of them said when inquired by Patton. Patton was enraged and screamed at the soldier. The second soldier, whom he met several minutes later, explained his situation similarly. Patton, who did not believe in such a condition as battle fatigue, struck the second soldier on the side of his head, sending his helmet rolling along the ground. Doctors and nurses removed him from the struck soldier, and Patton continued to visit the hospital, praising the physically wounded soldiers and continuing to denounce those needing a short psychological break. When the news reached the United States, it became a controversy waiting to explode. Eisenhower, who believed Patton was a valuable leader in his army despite his rashness, wrote him a harsh letter of reprimand, ordered him to apologize to the two abused soldiers, and allowed him to keep his command as long as he maintained control of himself for the rest of the war. In addition, while planning for Overlord, Patton was also given a gag order by Eisenhower so to prevent his explosive statements before the press. Eisenhower's intent was to keep him focused militarily; "it would be far easier to keep him for a significant role in the war if he could shut off his public utterances", Eisenhower said in his memoirs.

The common soldiers' opinions for Patton were divided. Many soldiers felt that the front lines were not for the soldiers who were prone to nervous breakdowns, and agreed with Patton's reasons for the slapping incident. At certain units, when Patton visited to apologize per Eisenhower's order, the troops cheered him and refused to give the general an opportunity to speak, let alone apologizing. Patton was said to be hiding teary eyes when he encountered such a response. There were also those who did not perceive him as one capable of command; many of them thought that Patton was way too brash and too careless to be an effective leader for the common soldier. US Army infantry officer Lieutenant Charles Scheffel was among those who did not agreed with Patton; he recalled an incident in North Africa, during the preparations for the Sicily invasion, where Patton was rather careless in his choice of words:

As the war progressed Patton picked up some rather distinct preferences in appearance - lacquered helmet, riding breeches, cavalry boots, and an ivory-handled Colt 45 revolver. Later in the war, he also gained a traveling companion, a bull terrier named Willie. Despite the eccentricities, his proven track record with victories such as Bastogne built a legend around his name.

After Germany surrendered, Patton was given the post of the Military Governor of Bavaria, but was removed from this post, along with his command of the Third Army, after his criticism of occupation policies. He was given command of the US 15th Army, which existed only on paper.

Patton passed away in Heidelberg Germany on 21 December 1945 from injuries suffered during a jeep accident on 9 Dec. He was buried two days later at the American Military Cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg.

Patton's personal virtue could be summed up with his quote "wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men". He earned the nickname "Old Blood and Guts" from the press for his aggressive and effective style of leadership, though he hated the name.

Famous Quote(s)

• "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"
      » 31 May 1944

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
   2 Mar 2007 11:22:20 AM
   
   nice
   
2. Anonymous says:
   18 Nov 2008 03:37:20 PM
   
   sweet im using this in my paper
3. Anonymous says:
   16 Feb 2009 03:31:29 PM
   
   General Patton was the only Allied Commander that the German's named a group after. It was called "Army group Patton". My late Uncle was with the 3rd Army he served in Tanks, he never talked about his experiences in ww2, but he would always say " I was with Patton" and that was all he would say. God rest his soul.
4. Dan Phantom says:
   22 May 2009 04:43:28 PM
   
   However, the soldier he slapped actually forgave him, saying that everyone was under a lot of pressure. Turned out he had Malaria as well, and Patton apologized when he learned, having been unaware of it previously
5. BILL says:
   10 Jun 2009 01:06:35 PM
   
   All I ask is a patch of land, not to small nor to large, and on this land a small house, and behind this house an ever present stream of running water, and beyond that a bit of wood.
   
   "The courage of the Soldier is heightened by the knowledge of this profession"
   
   -Flavius Vegetius Renatus
   Epitoma Rei Militaris
   4th Century AD
   
   -Roman Soldier-
   
   I have always remembered this, that every soldier wants peace to return to his life.
6. Anonymous says:
   2 Nov 2009 05:33:29 PM
   
   Your a **** ing dumb **** with first comment, no such regiment get off Wikipedia.

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