There are a number of sources available to consult and the reader can decide for themselves. Gordon was 21, and the daughter of Beatrices half sister. Pattons armoured units were not operational until August 1, almost two months after D-Day, but by the end of the month, they had captured Mayenne, Laval, Le Mans, Reims, and Chlons. Twelve days before his death, on December 9, 1945, Patton was sitting in the back of his limousine when his driver, PFC Horace Woodring, sped too fast over a railroad crossing in Manheim, Germany, and plowed into the passenger-side of a left-turning Army truck headed into a depot. Ike found not only appalling conditions but German guards, some of whom were former SS men. In November 1917, Patton, now a major, left Pershings headquarters staff and became the first officer to be appointed to the new U.S. Army Tank Corps. She was the bridesmaid for both the Patton girls. December is the anniversary of the death of General Patton. His wife came but he wa sunable to speak to her. Omar Bradley was the MOST incompetent Commanding General. Patton wrote in his diary, I guess there is nothing left for me but the undertaker.. As the Third Army approached the German border, the advance was slowed because of supply shortages, but it was not stopped until it met the strong German defenses at Nancy and Metz in November. But over the years, certain circumstantial evidence has come forward from multiple sources that put that theory in a new light. Gen. Patton was in the right place at the right time in history, doing what he had trained for all his adult life. When his wife asked about birthday plans he curiously responded: 'No Glenice. Now, more than half the Germans were Nazis and we would be in a hell of a fix if we removed all Nazi party members from office. During the U.S. occupation of Germany, George Patton was commanding the U.S. Fifteenth Army, a paper army gathering historical information about the war. . So, how much is George S. Patton worth at the age of 60 years old? Thirty-year-old Lieutenant Patton managed to build an acquaintance with the general. Virginia Tech was not the worst school massacre in U.S. history. Woodring was unable to stop in time, and the two vehicles collided at a 90-degree angle, with the right front bumper of the truck smashing the radiator and bumper of the Cadillac. I dont know if you ever visit Luxemburg or did see part of Germany and retraced his voyage, but I wish I could because I always loved your Grandma tremendously and cant read or see a film or documentary without crying Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." People hate to be micromanaged. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. One news service said pictures of the general were strewn around her. By: Martin Blumenson (author of: The Patton Papers). This photo shows Gen. Patton's dog Willie after the general's death. What a gripping story and a great General, Its no wonder where Donald trump gets his leadership from. General Patton was struck down the day before he was scheduled to make a triumphant return to the United States. George Patton died peacefully at 1755 hours on December 21, 1945. Patton renamed the barracks Flint Kaserne, after Colonel Paddy Flint, an old friend and one of his regimental commanders who had been killed in Sicily. Eisenhower returned and went to see Patton at Tegernsee on September 16. Salute to such a great man! Rather than IKE. So what did Patton do with his time? George Patton elevated the field of adolescent health, bringing the needs of adolescents to the world's attention and identifying interventions that could improve their lives. His beloved dog, Willie, was to follow later. Despite Pattons indiscretions and lack of interest in his overall duties, in August 1945 Bavaria was judged by Secretary of War Stimson to be the best-governed area in the whole U.S. European Theater of Operations (ETO), an opinion apparently shared by his deputy. George Patton, in full George Smith Patton, Jr., (born November 11, 1885, San Gabriel, California, U.S.died December 21, 1945, Heidelberg, Germany), U.S. Army officer who was an outstanding practitioner of mobile tank warfare in the European and Mediterranean theatres during World War II. It was a mistake to suppose a free-swinging fighter could acquire overnight the capacities of a wise administrator. At least, I have done my best as God gave me the chance.. Though the mission failed to apprehend Villa, Patton was responsible for leading a raid that killed three of Villas men. From now on we will get . Who knows? Courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration. A plane was sent to London to fetch them, and after they arrived on the morning of the 10th, they advised some changes that turned out to be equally painful. He briefed Ikes chief of staff, General Walter Bedell Smith, who sent the report of the incident to Eisenhower who was on leave in the South of France. Tommy Howard/South Strand. Yet, all his laurels could not protect the General from a simple car accident eight months into the peace. Presidential Ties A 12-man squad raised its rifles, and a three-round volley of salutes echoed into the Luxembourg hills. His swift conquest of Sicily, his race across France, his relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and his drive into Germany destroyed German armies, saved American lives, and captured the collective imagination of the American public. Following his campaign in Western Europe, George S. Patton had difficulty adjusting to peacetime and was fatally injured in an automobile accident. As he put it to his III Corps commander, Maj. Gen. James Van Fleet, There is already a star [MacArthur] in that theater and you can only have one star in a show., Patton was also depressed because he knew there would be a rapid reduction in the strength of the U.S. Army in Europe, and he believed this was inviting disaster. At 5:55 p.m. on December 21, 1945, General George S. Patton, Jr. passed away in his sleep. Thank you so much for this comprehensive and heartfelt and I would have to say incredibly accurate account of my grandfathers final days. Patton did not remain in his plot for long. His removal by General Eisenhower was an acknowledgement of that mistake. Ike told him they were both already filled. When Patton eventually met him on September 28, he described him as a smooth, smart-ass academic type. Academic or not, Dorn soon focused his attention on the success or otherwise of the denazification program in Bavaria. Although there was no eulogy, various holy men, including a group of rabbis wearing their concentration camp uniforms, prayed over Pattons grave. I then said that I should be allowed to continue the command of the Third Army and the government of Bavaria, remembered Patton. I am extremely proud of our General Patton and Im pretty sure you are too! The result . The whole luncheon party reminded me of a meeting of the Rotary Club in Hawaii where everyone slaps everyone elses back while looking for an appropriate place to thrust the knife. Laterwhile attending the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, KansasPatton was designated an instructor of swordsmanship and received the title Master of the Sword. Patton died from his injuries on Dec. 21, 1945. Dead from injuries sustained in a car crash after the close of WWII, General George S. Patton, Jr. left in his wake a tremendous legacy. He was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery under fire. His wife, Beatrice, a novelist, and their three children suffered greatly, according to the author, as Georgie went through periodic drinking bouts and began an affair with his wife's. His early years were marred, however, by difficulties in spelling and reading, which has led some historians to speculate that he suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia. When his host pointed out a new, massive, and very advanced Stalin IS-3 tank and mentioned that its cannon had a range of 17,000 meters, Patton is said to have replied, Indeed? The Pattons had been married for 35 years, with minimal domestic turmoil, except for an apparent dalliance the general had with Gordon in 1936, according to Patton biographer, Carlo DEste. When Patterson told him that he did not understand the big picture, but asked Patton what he would do about the Russians, he allegedly replied that he would keep the U.S. Army in Europe intact, delineate the border with the Soviets, and if they did not withdraw behind it, push them back across it. He went on: We did not come over here to acquire jurisdiction over either the people or their countries. When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Pershing was made the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), and Patton, promoted to captain, joined him in France. The train stopped six times during the journey to allow honor guards, bands, and mourners, despite the freezing weather and heavy rain, to pay homage. Even so, he took little serious interest in the work other than to ensure, according to Eisenhowers son John, a lieutenant on the Fifteenth Army staff, that Pattons Army was mentioned about three times as often as any othereven though John Eisenhower himself felt that the First Army had contributed more to victory than had the Third. Few unbiased military historians would disagree with that view. The weather was too bad to fly, and when Patton arrived on the 28th, after a seven-hour car journey in heavy rain, he was uncharacteristically dressed in an ordinary khaki jacket and GI trousers. After nine days of agony, traction was maintained and the pain eased by encasing Pattons neck and shoulders in a special plaster jacket. Gen. George Patton's wife put a Hawaiian curse on his ex-mistress. I was overwhelmed and prayed in front of his grave. The first stop of Patton's last ride, however, was after only about five miles when he saw General Keyes's car, who left earlier for his headquarters, stalled on the side of the road with mechanical trouble. [3] World War II Cavalry reconnaissance vehicles led the way, followed by an Army ambulance and staff cars holding dignitaries. Pattons forces continued to push the Germans back, and by the end of January 1945, the Third Army had reached the German frontier. A comment now that time has given historians a bit more perspective. When Patton was a young adult, he was kicked by a horse, who broke his leg in three places. Bedell Smith did not attend the service, which is hardly surprising since Patton carried his dislike for both him and Eisenhower to his grave. I will ALWAYS say and think that he was the greatest General that the 20th century ever seen and I wished they could have unleashed him because the world would look quite different if they did. Also Known As: George Smith Patton Jr. Died At Age: 60 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Beatrice Banning Ayer (m. 1910-1945) father: George S. Patton mother: Ruth Wilson children: Beatrice Smith, George Patton IV, Ruth Ellen Born Country: United States Military Leaders American Men Height: 6'2" (188 cm ), 6'2" Males Died on: December 21, 1945 In 1912 Patton was selected to represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. Two days later, Patton wrote his last letter to his wife telling her that he was coming home for Christmas. Top Image:General George S. Patton, Jr., one of Americas greatest battlefield commanders died on December 21, 1945, in an Army hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. Pattons version of what Ike said at this conference can be read in his diary. In the gray skies above, an aircraft circled, attempting to bring Lieutenant General Walton Walker, one of Pattons former corps commanders, to the funeral, but low cloud cover prevented it from landing. He was a very opinionated man who spoke exactly what he wanted to say! General Patton saved Bradleys ass at the battle of the bulge. And may your bones rot joint by little joint.. Amazingly, Patton's current historians still try to deny this happened, though many of the participants and their living descendants have confirmed it, orally and on paper. Hello Helen. His obituary revealed that he had died just a few weeks after he'd ushered in his 50 th wedding anniversary. Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the Third Army to relieve Bastogne, and Patton repositioned his force with astonishing speed. His normal cavalry breeches, swagger stick, and pistols had been left behind. It is my opinion that this talking cooperation is for the purpose of covering up probable criticism of strategic blunders which he unquestionably committed during the campaign. In the final minute of the ceremony, Master Sergeant William G. Meeks, the man who had served Patton faithfully as his orderly since April 1942, presented Beatrice with the flag that had draped the coffin. Helen Patton stepped into Maj. Gen. Frank Muth's quarters Feb. 26, and stepped back in time. Soon, the five foot five airman would make US military aviation history. Thursday, July 1, 2004. The ceremony lasted 25 minutes. Courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration. Of German origin, he was determined to rid Germany of all vestiges of Nazism. At the station, the casket was placed on a train for Luxembourg. He died from his injuries on December 21, 1945. Why does General Patton still lay in Europe? Patton made a short farewell speech, which began with the words All good things must come to an end and ended with Goodbye and God bless you. A band then played Auld Lang Syne, the Third Army flag was handed over, and Patton left to the music of the Third Army march and Hes a Jolly Good Fellow. After a luncheon in his honor, he left in the Third Army train for his new headquarters in Bad Nauheim, 20 miles north of Frankfurt. Omissions? His wife preferred to have him buried along with his men who died in Battle of Bulge. An M3 half-track bore Pattons flag-draped gunmetal casket, escorted by helmeted soldiers wearing white gloves. For years The Patton Museum in Ft. Knox, Kentucky advertised that it had on display the limousine in which Patton was injured. Allied friends and acquaintances walked behind the casket. Pattons personal residence was a palatial house on nearby Lake Tegernsee. Then he vanished. Known for his aggressive nature just as much as his many . Very Human story. Pattons final command was to head the Fifteenth U.S. Army in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where he oversaw the writing of a history of the war in Europe, a role Patton described as serving as an undertaker at my own funeral. On December 9, 1945, Patton sustained serious injuries to his head and spine in a low-speed car accident; after 12 days of terrible pain, he died. And now, with the war over and her famous husband buried, Beatrice wanted to see Gordon. During their two-hour meeting Eisenhower was more excited than I have ever seen him, remembered Patton in his diary. If ever dog was suited to master this one was. Locals removed their hats as the casket passed. Gen. John J. Pershing and accompanied him on a punitive expedition into Mexico. The bugler played the soft, sad notes of Taps.. He was met by the officer temporarily holding the fortMaj. The more I see of people, the more I regret I survived the war. He even accused the U.S. Treasury Secretary of Semitic revenge against Germany., On July 16, the Potsdam Conference convened, and Patton, resplendent with 20 stars and ivory-handled pistols, was in Berlin to see Truman preside over the raising of the American flag in the U.S. sector of the divided former German capital. Neither driver was injured, and Gay received only slight bruises. My high school civics teacher (in 1960) told us a few stories about his WWII infantry service in Europe. The officers with few exceptions gave the appearance of recently civilized Mongolian bandits., The most notorious incident allegedly happened toward the end of May when an English-speaking Russian brigadier general arrived at Pattons headquarters to demand that some river boats on the Danube that had contained Germans who had surrendered to the Third Army be returned to the Russians. 3. And why? Those who knew the Pattons were aware of the vital role Beatrice played in his reaching his destiny, but few others . Beatrice spent most of the final afternoon with him but left to have supper when he fell asleep at about 1715 hours. So, how did Patton die? He was one of several notable personalities I briefly crossed paths. General George Patton once remarked that World War II undoubtedly would have lasted a lot longer were it not for his soldiers and his wife. His attempts to get an appointment in the Pacific had again failed. Adcocks civilian deputy, Walter Dorn, was a history professor on leave from Ohio State University. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. This great ovation by Boston is not for Patton the general, but Patton as a symbol of the Third Army. The following day, the Daily Record headlines announced: FRENZIED HUB HAILS PATTON and GEN PATTON IN TEARS AT HUB TRIBUTE. This latter headline referred to Patton breaking down in tears during a speech at a state dinner held in his honor that night; he was completely overcome by the glowing tributes. Fortunately, Pattons condition began to stabilize. It had a swimming pool, bowling alley, and two boats, and had once been owned by Max Amann, the publisher of Hitlers Mein Kampf. Out in the rain, an honor guard fired volleys. Pattons memoirs, War as I Knew It, appeared posthumously in 1947. The other issue is that I got Eisenhower and gave Mark Clark a pass in Italy. June 2009. Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), Patton organized the Desert Training Center near Indio, California, to simulate combat and maneuvers in the harsh North African climate. He was at his best when commanding his men and was extremely instrumental in the victory of the allies over the Germans. Best of regards, Sam Virzi, Hemet, CA. He told them, while his wife was out of the room, that he believed his luck had run out. Been reading a book about Patton and ran across this. Tributes were already beginning to flow in and would eventually include messages from President Truman, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, and the French National Assembly. Walter T. Patton met his end during the infamous ill-fated attack known as Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. He had a degenerative form of dementia. Brad and Courtney [Hodges] were both decorated for their failures in this operation., Patton arrived at his new headquarters in the early hours of October 8. YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE. Much has been made in the historical record of the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany in early March of 1945. German 10th army escaped to the defensive line and prolonged the war in Italy. My language was not particularly politic, but I have yet to find where politic language produces successful government. It was too late by 1945, the US had made the USSR a superpower. It is rather sad for me to think that my last opportunity for earning my pay has passed. My soldiers are fighting men and if I dismiss the sewer cleaners and the clerks my soldiers will have to take over those jobs, he reasoned. Patton is said to have predicted his own death to both his daughters, Ruth Ellen and Bee, during a visit to the latters home in Washington shortly before his return to Germany. A great man should be remembered for ever. Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes escorts Mrs. Beatrice Patton to her husbands funeral in Hamm, Luxembourg. However, such accusations tend to rely on circumstantial evidence, and no definitive proof of any conspiracy has emerged. Eisenhowers response is unrecorded. The black car stands at roughly the position of the USArmy truck, prior to it turning left into a depot, denoted by the cobblestone driveway. That limousine we know from pictures and records was a 1938 Series 75 Cadillac sedan, a rare type. Ike was playing politics and Bradley did not act on the intelligence he was given at the Ardennes. When asked why Nazis were being retained in governmental positions in Bavaria, he replied, I despise and abhor Nazis and Hitlerism as much as anyone. My dad was a classmate of Pattons son. Today's blog was written by David Langbart, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Family Name General Partin was the scientist who developed lasers, cluster bombs, cruise missiles and other precision-guided weapons. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. During that time the Third Army suffered roughly 137,000 casualties, but it had inflicted more than 10 times that on the enemy. One can start with O-Reillys book. Patton accepted with enthusiasm. He had little patience with the thousands of displaced persons (DPs), whom he described as too worthless to even cut wood to keep themselves warm, and his growing anti-Semitism coupled with despair over the fate of Germany led him to the depths of melancholia. Modern mechanized armies need a robust logistics chain to provide fuel, ammunition, and other sinews of war to sustain combat operations. He earned a Masters degree in American History from Villanova University and resides in Arlington, Virginia. The present internals of the EU certainly reflect that even today. Thank you for the long article. I have a months leave but dont intend to go back to Europe. At 1630 hours it began its journey to Luxembourg where it arrived at 0400 hours on the 24th. Such a feat was made possible in large part by Pattons intelligence officer, Col. Oscar Koch, who had predicted the German offensive on the basis of a shrewd analysis of enemy troop strength and disposition. He was promoted to colonel in 1938 and temporary brigadier general in 1940. A blood clot in his paralyzed body had worked its way to his heart, stopping it and ending the life of one of America's greatest battlefield commanders. No battle of the Bulge and probably a million plus lives saved, military and civilian. This article appears in: November 2007 By Major General Michael Reynolds The commander of the U.S. On the afternoon of the 23rd, Pattons coffin was taken on an Army half-track to the Protestant Christ Church in Heidelberg for a short Episcopalian service conducted by two Army chaplains during which there were no eulogies. The brief ceremony over, Beatrice exited the tent clasping the tri-folded flag that had covered her husbands casket. How could the deaths of so many more American solders made to day any better? This is the offical version of the accident and death. His academic performance improved, and, after graduating in June 1909, Patton was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the cavalry. Patton is my hero. So, for the time being we are compromising with the devil. If I can parse the weird grammar on the Wikipedia page correctly, she wasn't actually related to Patton. However, his brash actions and mercurial temper led to numerous controversies during his career. After satisfying himself about the correctness of the complaints, Patton immediately ordered action to rectify the situation and then went further, ordering that the starvation diet, which was described by one former senior German officer as not enough to live on, but too much to die on, should be supplemented by American Army rations. His father was a successful lawyer who served as the Los Angeles County district attorney, and his mother was the daughter of Benjamin D. Wilson, the first elected mayor of Los Angeles and a wealthy landowner. Sadly, generals have no say in the world when a war comes to an end. I think it is amusing that no one tries to get any [medals] for me. By the time the gap between Falaise and Argentan was closed on August 20, some 20,00040,000 Germans had escaped. General Patton belongs at West Point so that the cadets NEVER FORGET who he was, what he did for the Army and most importantly, their responsibility to the nation. Patton had taken so little interest in the new administration that he did not even recall meeting its Minister President, a Dr. Fritz Schaeffer. General Pattons belief that the United States military should have driven the Russians back within their pre-war borders would have changed the history of Europe for the better. After the German surrender, Patton campaigned vigorously for a command in the Pacific theatre in the ongoing war against Japan. Then, with the formalities over, he was finally able to embrace his wife Beatriceit was their first hug in nearly three years. They are a scurvy race and simply savages. The cemetery belongs to and is gifted to USA by Luxembourg and hence he is buried on American soil. Wikipedia Advertisement 11. His tragic death was the end of a great man to which the world owes a debt of gratitude beyond comprehension. Death: October 01, 1871 (89) Lincoln County, Kentucky, USA . During a visit to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, he rounded on the press reporters following him with the words, Ill bet you goddam buzzards are just following me to see if Ill slap another soldier, arent you? There, he was x-rayed, revealing two crushed vertebrae. (Video: National Archives and Records Administration), Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more. Photo Credit: A million people lined the 25-mile parade route leading to the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, where General Patton delivered a war bonds speech. We could beat hell out of them., The following day he in turn was entertained by Marshal F.I. Helen, In August of this year, I was at the American cemetery in Luxembourg where General George Payton is buried. The Augusta had been the flagship of the Western Task Force in the invasion of Morocco. He always said Patton saved my life, I would not be home by now, but a war prisoner in Russia. A horse with boots backwards in the stirrups joined the journey to the cemetery. None of todays generals could ever come close. It is also of interest that Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmlers wife had lived in another house on the lake, as had the wife of the infamous Waffen SS Kampfgruppe commander Jochen Peiper. Nobody would have thought anything unusual about it, and even would have thought it to be proper. Best personal history of Patton. America and warfare were never the same. This is the only language they understand and respect. Gen Patton's Clear Vision - Why He Was Murdered 12-5-9 At the end of World War II, one of America's top military leaders accurately assessed the shift in the balance of world power which that war had produced and foresaw the enormous danger of communist aggression against the West. If its a choice between them and the Russians, I prefer the Germans., Worse was to follow. Another was Sean Flynn, Erroll Flynns son, who was a combat photograher at the same time and who almost certainly would have photographed someone as significant as a Patton descendant in combat. Tolbukhin, a Soviet Army Group commander, who tried to get him drunk and whom he described as a very inferior man who sweated profusely. He did admit that the Russian soldiers put on a tremendous show [they] passed in review with a very good imitation of the goose step. He was an exceptional warrior and leader. George S. Patton (son) George S. Patton (grandson) Colonel George Patton Sr. (June 26, 1833 - September 25, 1864) was a Confederate colonel during the American Civil War. The apogee of Pattons career came with the dramatic sweep of his Third Army across northern France in the summer of 1944 in a campaign marked by great initiative, ruthless drive, and disregard of classic military rules. A New Jersey husband and wife are behind bars after a routine traffic stop turned into a demolition derby that resulted in charges of attempted murder of a police officer and aggravated assault. You seem to have forgotten that you lost the war! However, Hubert Meyer, the ex-Chief of Staff of the Hitlerjugend, recalled that on the occasion of Pattons visit things had been very different. His task was to keep a group of disparate actors on the same page while still planning a strategy to win a war. Dead and buried in Europe, few will look back at what went on in 1944, which is when the war could have ended had they of listened to him. Death 6 Oct 1928 (aged 67) San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Patton made a respectable showing, coming in fifth out of 42 contestants. Eisenhower returned to Bavaria a week later following reports of bad conditions in some of the DP camps there. I cant understand why Patton wasnt brought back to the US for burial at West Point, like his wife wanted. Neither he nor Gordon knew the purpose. Who Is George S. Patton's Wife? He announced that he intended to return to the States by March 1946 at the latest and that he expected all the necessary reports about the European campaign to be finished by then. Maybe because the Americans saved Europe (yes, but that was way before my time, I was born in 1965), maybe because they delivered Bxls and a tank stayed in my Moms courtyard for over a week, or maybe because every time I would visit my Godfather by Spangdahlem, I would pass the base and later on learn English, meet an airman, marry him and be stationed there for 4 yrs then go to Leipheim for 4 yrs? He accepted the job with the Fifteenth Army, explaining this away in his diary by writing that in resigning I would save my self-respect at the expense of my reputation but would become a martyr too soon. He went on in his diary to justify his acceptance of the Fifteenth Army command as follows: I was reluctant, in fact unwilling, to be party to the destruction of Germany under the pretense of denazification.

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