FREE ESSAY ON GEORGE S. PATTON

GEORGE S. PATTON

Presented to: Mr. Hawkins
Renaissance Fair
June 1st, 2000
GEORGE S. PATTON, "Old blood and Guts"
George Smith Patton is a very famous American because of his contributions in both World
War I and II. He was considered one of the greatest U.S. generals of World War II. This
war started in 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Hitler. Then, Italy, under the
leadership of Benito "el duce" Mussolini, unites with Germany. The United States wouldn't
enter this war until Japan declared war by destroying their naval base on the Pacific
Ocean called Pearl Harbor. It lasted 6 years and ended in1945 with the triumph of the
Allies and the use of the atomic bomb for the first time on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Because of Patton's great leadership, the U.S. was able to invade North Africa, capture
Sicily and halt the German counter attack in the Battle of Bulge.
Patton had a family with a long tradition of military service. His father, George Patton,
was the son of a brigadier general in command of the 22d Virginia Regiment who was killed
at the Battle of Winchester in the Civil War for the Confederacy. His mother, Ruth
Wilson, was the daughter of a savage fighter nicknamed "Don Benito" who was very well
known for once returning from a battle with Indians, with a basket full of the enemies
heads. George Smith Patton Junior was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel,
California. Even though George grew up on his father ranch, he learned a lot of things.
Here he was taught how to hunt, fish, sail, horseback ride and many things about
agriculture. His mother was an excellent horsewoman who taught Patton, while his father
read to him the works of Homer, Shakespeare and the Holy Bible. 
All that Patton could learn from his parents was very important because he was not able
to begin his formal education until he was 11. There is no known reason to why he
couldn't enter any school until he was this old. It has been stated that the cause may
have been his dyslexia. Not even the fact that Patton had memorization abilities could
get him on educational institutions. "Patton could quote long passages of books that
other students would not dare attempt to read. Though impressive, this ability did not
change the fact that he was illiterate." 
Patton studied at Dr. Stephen Cotter Clark's Classical School for Boys in Pasadena and
then passed on to the Pasadena High School. He had many learning problems and here he
learned things that many of the boys his age had learned a long time ago. Patton had many
great ideas and made many contributions to the class, but had problems with arithmetic
and other important themes. Later on Patton decided to leave this school and was accepted
at the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, VA. Patton had a year of preparation and
then was transferred to the respected West Point. He had problems graduating due to his
bad grades in French and Math classes, but he finally graduated in 1909 and was given the
rank of 2d Lieutenant in the 15th Cavalry.
While at West Point, Patton was a very skillful athlete. He played football and was not
only characterized for his amazing records, but also for his roughness while playing. He
played with so much passion that once he broke both his arms and broke records. He
participated in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. His event was the military
pentathlon, but he put so much effort in the swimming part that he had to be removed with
a boat hook.
Patton can be thought of one of the most successful leaders of his time. And he is not
only the best general because of his roughness or because of his techniques, but because
of his preparation. "His military career was one of the most colorful of all 20th century
military leaders." Patton's military career was one of the best of every other general in
the World War II. When Patton graduated, he was commissioned a second Lieutenant. Later
on in 1916, a Mexican bandit called Francisco "Poncho" Villa was causing some problems to
the U.S. and killed 16 Americans in New Mexico. President Woodrow Wilson assigned General
John Joseph Pershing to go after Villa. General Pershing chose Patton to aid him on his
special assignment. On his first days on this assignment, Patton took out three Villa's
followers. This was a great surprise for Pershing until Patton decided to strap two of
the bodies to some fences. General's Pershing response to this act by Patton was a very
brief statement. "We have a bandit in our ranks, this Patton boy! He's a real fighter!"
Patton left everyone amazed. With this, Patton demonstrated his passion while in a fight
and how tough he was.
Soon after Patton returned from Mexico, the United States entered World War I against
Germany and Austria- Hungary on 1914. General Pershing was assigned as the head of the
Expeditionary Forces and again decided to bring with him George Patton but this time he
was Captain George Patton. During this war Pershing was a great commander and helped
Patton a lot on what he was doing right or wrong, only that he always was against the
idea of promoting Patton to lead troops in battle. Patton decided to express himself and
went to talk to Pershing and gave him some arguments to support his discontent. Pershing
was so convinced of promoting Patton that he gave Patton the choice to choose either
command of an infantry battalion or an assignment to the Tank Corps. Patton was very
confused about what task to choose so he decided to ask for his father-in-law's advice.
After he took his father-in-law's recommendation, he informed General Pershing that he
had chosen the assignment to the Tank Corps. 
Patton started visiting French and English training centers and here he kept notes on the
tank's abilities and capabilities. By 1918, Patton was promoted to Major and made his
tank-training center in Langres, France. He had many soldiers signed up for the training
and the first delivery of 20 tanks arrived and they became the 304th Tank Brigade. Patton
was known all around Europe for the training he gave to his men. 
"The men of the 304th were worked hard by Patton. He would drill them hard and was a
stickler for discipline: "All human beings have an innate resistance to obedience.
Discipline removes this resistance and by constant repetition, makes obedience habitual
and unconscious." His men were considered the best trained in Europe." 
Patton gave the best training he could give to their men, and their men the best they
could give in response to Patton. On September 12, the Germans attacked but Patton failed
and 104 of his 174 tanks got trapped in the mud. General Rochenbacher was very
disappointed with Patton and he was threatened with being relieved of his position.
Patton had to do something to give satisfaction to his General so he decided to take his
tanks on an unauthorized mission the next day. Three of his tanks were able to break
through the Germans and the mission was accomplished. With this Patton could convince of
what he and his 304th were capable of. A few weeks later Patton was wounded in a mission
that had the objective of taking over a machine gun nest. Because of this he had to spend
the rest of the war at the hospital. He received the Service Cross and Medal, and the
Purple Heart (Appendix). 
Patton spent his years after the war going from base to base as a control officer for
mechanized maneuvers as a brigadier general. Patton was so harsh to everyone that during
this time he got nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts". Patton joined the Second Armored
Division at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1940. He was named commanding general in April 11,
1941, and later on was promoted to Major General George S. Patton Jr.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor. This attack
got the United States to fight in the World War II. On February 5, 1942, Patton was
assigned to create a Desert Training Center to train both men and machines to fight in
desert conditions. They were getting ready to fight some German troop under the command
of Marshal Erwin Rommel "The Desert Fox". Patton was asked to get his men trained well
and fast. Four months later Patton found out that he was being sent to North Africa. 
On November 8, 1942, General Patton and his Tank Force landed on the beaches of French
Morocco. Here the Americans had to fight the French who where under orders to resist.
Patton organized a fight, which included Naval, air and ground bombardment to Casablanca.
The same day the attack was scheduled for, the French were ordered to cease resistance.
In March 1943, Eisenhower transferred Patton to the American II Corps. Eisenhower, who
gave him many important assignments, considered Patton a great leader. 
"II Corps had a sub-par performance thus far in Operation Torch. "The troops had to be
picked up quickly," Eisenhower remarked, "For such a job Patton has no superior in the
Army... General Patton's buoyant leadership and strict insistence upon discipline rapidly
rejuvenated the II Corps and brought it up to fighting pitch."" 
The plan assigned to Patton was to work along with Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery's
British forces to break through German lines. Just when Patton found an opportunity to
break through the lines by the east side, the British General Sir Harold Alexander
ordered Patton to abort that mission and keep Africa Corps from running off while
Montgomery's Army broke through the line. After this, Patton was very frustrated, but he
was back in action when Eisenhower assigned him to plan Operation Husky, the invasion of
Sicily. By May 20, Northern Africa was under Allied control.
Allied forces landed on Sicily's coast on July 20, 1943. Patton's was moved to the
Seventh Army and while making plans, he was asked to double check with the British.
Montgomery criticized a lot Patton's plans, but Patton did not even care for him. The
invasion lasted 39 days of constant conflict. The Americans had already accomplished
their task but Montgomery had problems pushing north. A final push to the Northern city
of Palermo, which resulted in 6,000 German casualties and 44,000 prisoners, gave the
Allies the victory. By July 22, 1943, Western Sicily was under Allied occupation and
later on Patton aid Montgomery, who was stuck at the south in Mount Etna.
On August 3, while Patton was visiting the wounded at the 15th Evacuation Hospital, one
of the most legendary stories about Patton took place. He found a soldier very depressed
so he decided to ask what was going on. The soldier answered Patton by saying, "I guess I
just can't take it." Patton got enraged and struck the soldier on the face with his
gloves, called him a coward, cursed him and kicked him out of the tent. Seven days later,
while Patton was visiting the 93d Evacuation Hospital, a very similar incident happened.
Patton asked a soldier what was wrong and the soldier replied, "It's my nerves," and
began to cry. Patton screamed at him "What did you say?" And the soldier replied him
"It's my nerves, I can't stand the shelling anymore." Again Patton was furious and called
the man a coward, struck him and this time he even threaten to kill him. Patton was
ordered personally by Eisenhower to formally apologize to the soldiers.
Patton was given the command of the United States Third Army and on New Years Eve, 1943,
the Third Army was put on active duty. They traveled to England to prepare for the Allied
invasion of Europe. On June 5, 1944, Patton addressed the Third Army with a speech about
what he expected of every soldier.
"He also reassured the men, but told the truth. War is not a pretty thing. The speech was
very vulgar and very colorful, but in a rhetorical manner which got through to the
soldiers better."
On June 6, 1944, the biggest invasion in the history began.