All About George Patton
George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945) was a well-known and respected officer in the United States Army. George Patton began his prominent military career as a student at the Virginia Military Institute and later, the United States Military Academy, known as West Point. The illustrious biography of Patton’s military career took form in 1915 during the U.S. Army’s Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico. George Patton impressed his superiors – particularly General John J. Pershing – with his leadership and bravery, earning him a promotion and an important role in Pershing’s command when the United States entered World War I in 1917.
Patton carved out a name for himself during World War I, achieving command of the 304th Tank Brigade in 1918 and earning a Distinguished Service Cross. Patton’s rise to prominence continued when the United States entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Patton entered World War II as a major general and was instrumental to the success of the North African and Sicily campaigns, and later the success of the Allies in Europe. General George Patton is one of the many figures of U.S. history and World War II history that you can find at Potter’s Wax Museum in St. Augustine, Florida.
George Patton’s
Early Life
The first chapter of George Patton’s biography begins on November 11, 1885, in his hometown, San Gabriel, California, a Los Angeles suburb. He was born to George S. Patton, an attorney and rancher, and Ruth Wilson. George Patton had one sibling, a younger sister named Anne, who was once engaged to Patton’s military mentor, John J. Pershing.
Growing up wealthy, Patton had a tutor until the age of eleven, when he enrolled at the Classical School for Boys in Pasadena, California. Initially, Patton struggled with learning how to read and write, but grew into a much stronger reader with time. As a child, the future General George Patton loved to read about classical military history and military figures, including Joan of Arc, Scipio Africanus – a Roman general, and Napoleon Bonaparte.
DID YOU KNOW?
Patton struggled with learning how to read and write, but grew into a much stronger reader with time.
Throughout Patton’s history, he was intimately focused on his lineage. He traced his ancestry to an aristocratic Welsh family from the county of Glamorgan, who were known for their military history. Patton was also a distant descendant of the first U.S. President, George Washington, and King Edward I of England. More directly, Patton was related to several Confederate military officers, including his grandfather, George Smith Patton, and great-uncle, Waller T. Patton. An interesting fact about George Patton was that he had a long-held belief in reincarnation, particularly that he had been a soldier in a former life, contributing to his interest in his ancestry.
George Patton had plans for a military career throughout his young years. After graduating from the Classical School for Boys after six years of education, the future general applied to many schools with military cadet programs, but set his sights on a nomination to the United States Military Academy in New York, commonly known as West Point. Patton made the decision to attend the Virginia Military Institute, like his father and grandfather had done, but left after one year after receiving an appointment to West Point by Senator Thomas R. Bard. While attending the Virginia Military Institute, George Patton earned high marks for his appearance during uniform inspections and for military drills, skills that would define Patton’s history as the elite general he was during World War II. These skills continued to shine when Patton attended West Point, although he struggled with mathematics and was required to repeat his first year, the plebe year. Outside his West Point classes, Patton was an avid athlete, participating regularly in fencing and running. His athletic prowess earned him a spot at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, where George Patton placed fifth in the modern pentathlon.
Patton graduated from the United States Military Academy on June 11, 1909, when he was 23 years old. He received a commission into the 15th Cavalry of the Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. Patton quickly impressed his senior officers while stationed with the 15th Cavalry in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Outside of his early military career, George S. Patton married Beatrice Banning Ayer on May 26, 1910. The couple would go on to have three children: Beatrice Smith, Ruth Ellen, and George Patton IV.
After the 1912 Olympics, he went to study fencing in Saumur, France, with Charles Cléry. Cléry’s instruction to Patton revolutionized the U.S. Army’s Cavalry saber combat, adding another accomplishment to young George Patton’s biography.
Patton’s saber talents continued to improve under Cléry, resulting in Patton taking up a role as both a student and fencing instructor, where he was designated as “Master of the Sword” at the Mounted Service School in Kansas.
As a student and fencing instructor, Patton was designated “Master of the Sword”.
After his graduation in 1915, Patton was transferred to the 8th Cavalry in southern Texas. After Mexican forces commanded by Pancho Villa invaded southern New Mexico in 1916, Patton’s social capital enabled him to persuade leader John J. Pershing to assign Patton as his personal aide for the expedition into Mexico. It was on this expedition that George Patton’s notable biography as a commander began to take shape, as Pershing granted Patton command of troops within the 13th Cavalry during the Pancho Villa Expedition. His success as a leader and soldier during the expedition rewarded him with a promotion to first lieutenant while in Mexico before leaving the expedition in February of 1917.
Soon after the Pancho Villa expedition, the United States entered World War I (April 1917), with George Patton’s mentor, Major General Pershing, being assigned as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces into Europe. George Patton, now a captain, was once again assigned to Pershing’s staff as his aide. World War I was Patton’s introduction to tank warfare, and as a larger-scale commander in battle, leading the 304th Tank Brigade in 1918. The future General George Patton’s history of distinguished service during World War I as a leader and motivator among his men earned him multiple medals and a permanent promotion to major after the war.
George Patton’s Major Milestones & Achievements
The most celebrated chapter of George Patton’s biography is his contributions to the success of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, as well as his role in preparing American soldiers for a new era of tank warfare. The beginning of the Second World War in Europe in the late months of 1939 catalyzed a period of military training and mobilization in the United States. Recently promoted to brigadier general, General George Patton played a major role in preparing American troops and developing tank fighting doctrine within the newly created 2nd Armored Division of the U.S. Army.
After the United States entered World War II, General George Patton and the many other leaders within the U.S. military began planning the Allied invasion into Nazi occupied Europe and North Africa. General Patton was the commander of the Western Task Force during the Allied invasion of North Africa on November 8, 1942, known as Operation Torch. This invasion was a major chapter in Patton’s history as a World War II figurehead and hero.
Following the U.S. Army’s II Corps’ defeat at the hands of Nazi Germany’s Afrika Korps, led by Erwin Rommel, during the Battle of Kasserine Pass, General Patton began to shine as a leader as the U.S. Army’s replacement of General Lloyd Fredendall. Patton quickly restored the morale of his new troops by initiating high levels of strict military rigor and dress among his men, while also giving inspiring speeches and providing rewards to successful soldiers. Patton’s biography continued to grow as he led his troops in a series of successes while in North Africa, pushing back against the previously unstoppable Axis forces. Eventually, Patton was tapped to command troops in the next prong of the Allies’ plan to take Europe, Operation Husky – the invasion of Sicily.
During Operation Husky (July 9, 1943 – August 17, 1943), General Patton led the Seventh U.S. Army through a series of battles in what was ultimately considered to be a success, despite heavy losses and the escape of Axis troops to mainland Italy. The Allies liberated Sicily and learned valuable lessons about amphibious fighting and landings that would be vital during later operations, such as D-Day, when the Allies landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944.
General Patton’s actions during World War II faced criticism from many of his fellow military leaders due to his often harsh, impulsive behavior. These actions came to a head during the Sicily campaign when George Patton slapped and berated two of his troops who appeared shell-shocked and were diagnosed with battle fatigue, as he believed they were demonstrating cowardice in the face of adversity. Despite apologizing to those involved, George Patton’s behavior contributed to Omar Bradley being selected to lead Operation Overlord – the beginning of Allied liberation of mainland Europe from Axis control. Instead, General Patton was eventually given command of the Third Army.
DID YOU KNOW?
Patton’s actions during World War II faced criticism from many of his fellow military leaders due to his often harsh, impulsive behavior.
The legacy of Patton’s history during World War II can also be seen in how the German military feared and respected his leadership prowess in combat. So much so that Patton was used as a decoy during Operation Fortitude to disguise the landing location of the First Army during Operation Overlord at the beaches of Normandy, France. Soon following the June 6th invasion of Normandy in 1944, Patton and his Third Army joined the First Army and aggressively pushed through German forces towards Lorraine, France. With other Allied armies, Patton and his troops continued to push forward, helping win decisive battles like the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944 and overtaking many key German towns and strongholds before the Allied victory in Europe on May 8, 1945, known as V-E Day.
History demonstrates that General George Patton’s actions and leadership during World War II were integral to the success of the Allied forces in Europe. You can learn more about Patton’s contributions and see a wax figure of him in his heyday at Potter’s Wax Museum in St. Augustine, Florida.
Interesting Facts about George Patton
Patton was a highly offensive-minded general.
Among Allied soldiers, General George Patton acquired a reputation as a general who favored being on the offensive and pushing forward, earning him the nickname of “blood and guts.”
Patton was respected by his men, despite his controversial actions.
The troops under Patton’s command respected him for his dedication and leadership, especially the U.S. II Corps during the North African campaign.
Patton often carried an ivory-handled pistol.
Patton favored his custom Colt Single Action Army .45 during his early years as an officer during the Pancho Villa Expedition in Mexico.
Patton earned over 20 medals for his service.
Among the many awards he earned throughout his decades of service, Patton was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star. George Patton also received distinctions from other countries, such as the Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite from the King of Morocco and the designation as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his exemplary service during World War II.
George Patton was selected for two Olympic Summer Games.
Patton competed in the modern pentathlon during the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm, Sweden, and was selected for the 1916 Summer Games that were cancelled due to World War I in Europe.
Late in Life
Unable to receive an assignment to the Pacific Theater following the Allied victory in Europe, General George Patton briefly returned to the United States before once again returning to Europe in July of 1945. In Europe, Patton held the role of military governor of Bavaria, where he was in charge of denazification in Germany with the Third Army. During this period, George Patton faced criticism for his resistance to denazification and antisemitism towards Jewish people who had recently been liberated from concentration camps. As a result of his behavior, Patton was relieved of his military governorship by the future President, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Patton was then reassigned to command of the U.S. 15th Army that was stationed in Germany and also received a brief appointment as the interim commander of EUCOM, the U.S. Army Europe. In December of 1945, Patton made the decision that he wished to return to the United States and take up a stateside post or retire.
Tragically, Patton’s biography ended when he was seriously injured in a car accident while traveling on a pheasant hunting trip in Germany with Major General Hobart Gay, days before his return to the United States. He experienced significant head trauma and spinal injuries and died in his sleep 12 days later on December 21, 1945, at the age of 60. During his lifetime, Patton requested to be buried with his men, so he was buried among the deceased soldiers of the Third Army in Luxembourg after a military burial procession with a 17-gun salute.
FAQs
What is George Patton famous for?
George Patton is famous for his military prowess as a general during World War II, leading troops during the North African and Sicilian campaigns, as well as his support during the Allied invasion of mainland Europe.
What medals does George Patton have?
George Patton has over 20 medals for his distinguished service as a U.S. Army officer, including the Silver Star, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, and the Purple Heart.
How did George Patton die?
George Patton died after a car accident left him with fatal injuries.
What was George Patton’s military rank?
George Patton reached the rank of a four-star General in the U.S. Army.
Where is George Patton buried?
George Patton is buried in Luxembourg with soldiers that he commanded in the Third Army who fell in battle.
