By that time their armor was easily superior to ours, and their soldiers knew how to defeat a well trained enemy while sustaining millions of casualties. She shaped the man, fortified the soldier, and created the legend When Patton heard that Ikes likely successor was to be his deputy, General Joseph McNarney, he said he had no wish to serve under a man who had never heard a gun go off. December 21, 1945 - General Patton dies following mysterious car 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. He was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery under fire. One staff officer wrote later: It was obvious he was undergoing deep and gnawing turmoil.. May God bless you and your family the way HE has blesses your Grandpa! 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. Wholly ill-suited for the administrative position, Patton was on a hunting trip when he was critically injured in a low-speed car accident. Patton was offered command of the Fifteenth Army an army in name only since its sole mission was to prepare a history of the war in Europe! His wife came but he wa sunable to speak to her. General George S Patton Car Accident Crash Pictures Patton as a four-star general. George Smith Patton Jr. was born on November 11, 1885, in the Los Angeles suburb of San Gabriel, California, to George Smith Patton Sr. and his wife, Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, the second Mayor of Los Angeles. His task was to keep a group of disparate actors on the same page while still planning a strategy to win a war. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. They should have cut him loose with the Third army and the 7th and there would have never been an East Berlin! Truman wrote in his diary, Dont see how a country can produce such men as Robert E. Lee, John J. Pershing, Eisenhower and Bradley and at the same time produce Custers, Pattons and MacArthurs., Patton did not enjoy his time there and on the 21st wrote to Beatrice, We have destroyed what could have been a good race and we [are] about to replace them with Mongolian savages. At least, I have done my best as God gave me the chance.. This is a bit off topic but perhaps you might clarify something for me. Patton Museum: Death Car, Fort Knox, Kentucky Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Of German origin, he was determined to rid Germany of all vestiges of Nazism. His removal by General Eisenhower was an acknowledgement of that mistake. His cross faces those of the men he led, as if he were leading them again for one last battle. Now we are using them for lack of anyone better until we can get better people.. Patton, too, seems to have known that his injuries were irreversible, if not terminal. The road took us through Luxemburg and Dad showed us all about Pattons Tank and the history of the Ardennes since we were going through them Even in Bitburg and in the small villages around the B-50 that goes to Spangdahlem Air For Base like Dudeldorf you see traces of your Grandpas tanks on the sides of stones village entrance that were not much wider than the tanks. But over the years, certain circumstantial evidence has come forward from multiple sources that put that theory in a new light. 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? Gen. John K. Waters who is in Korea. However, his brash actions and mercurial temper led to numerous controversies during his career. How Did Patton Die? Here's A Summary Of The Events - History 43 Facts About General George Patton, The Great American Firebrand Laterwhile attending the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, KansasPatton was designated an instructor of swordsmanship and received the title Master of the Sword. [3] World War II Gen. Patton was in the right place at the right time in history, doing what he had trained for all his adult life. The attack garnered much publicity and was notable for being the first time that automobiles had been used in combat by the U.S. Army. Considered one of the most successful combat generals in US history, Gen. George S. Patton died on December 21, 1945, 12 days . (Chicago Tribune October 25, 1952) Mrs. Beatrice Ayer Patton Waters West Point, N. Y., Oct. 24 (AP)-- Mrs. Beatrice Ayer Patton Waters, 41, daughter of the late Gen. George S. Patton Jr., died yesterday of a heart attack in her home in nearby Highland Falls. He had just been removed from his command of the Third Army, which was in charge of governing the American sector of Germany . Gay counseled Patton to consult Beatrice and other family members before taking such a drastic step, but it seems his mind was made up. But like he said and probably thought deep in his heart, he was here to do what God wanted him to do, no more, no less! He was promoted to colonel in 1938 and temporary brigadier general in 1940. He often led from the front, and he almost always delivered victory. Ike was playing politics and Bradley did not act on the intelligence he was given at the Ardennes. Patton's wife Beatrice died on September 30, 1953, from a ruptured aneurysm . George Smith Patton, the first of his name, died in the Third Battle of Winchester while under the command of Jubal Early. shock and flaw (@sbwheat1) august 22, 2021. Gen. George Patton's wife put a Hawaiian curse on his ex-mistress. She He wrote in his diary, It gave me a very warm feeling in my heart to be back among soldiers. Even so, Patton was pessimistic about the future of Europe, reluctant to get involved in the complexities of military government, and, perhaps more importantly, reluctant to purge the Nazis. Robert Brown was an educator, civil rights activist, community leader, elected official, and a WWII combat veteran. Gen. Patton's Dog After His Death On the 69th anniversary of General Patton's death, . The first American home that I stayed in, back in 1988, was that of General Ben Partin (U.S. Air Force). Gen. George Pattons wife put a Hawaiian curse on his ex-mistress. Simply put: Patton had broken his neck. There is information (although perhaps not necessarily reaching the level of evidience, be that as it may) of foul play. Eisenhower returned to Bavaria a week later following reports of bad conditions in some of the DP camps there. After knowing how our Soldiers were treated in Japanese Prison Camps, old Gutless left our boys to rot. The previous afternoon it had been necessary to give him oxygen to restore his breathing and X-rays revealed that a small pulmonary embolism had obstructed his upper right lung. That includes Patton's own wife Beatrice, who believed George and Jean were a couple. For General Patton's Family, Recovered Ground Beatrice and an American neurosurgeon, Colonel Geoffrey Spurling, flew in from the States on the 11th. He was 60 years old.. In the case of Europe, he was convinced it would soon become Communist, and in the case of the Nazis he saw practical problems. The ambulance, which eventually arrived at the scene with two medical officers, took Patton to the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, 15 miles away, where he was admitted at 1245 hours. It was a wet day, and the ceremony was held, rather inappropriately, inside a gymnasium. His wife, Beatrice, flew in from Boston to be at his side and read him books and letters from well-wishers. George Patton's Widow Put a Deadly Hawaiian Curse on his Mistress Many historians have written about the famous Buffalo Soldiers of the all-Black 92nd Infantry Division, who fought with distinction during World War II. (I doubt it would have been possible standing up to that juggernaut, even with our Air Force, to push them back to their borders, though. On September 12, 1918, Patton, ignoring orders to stay in radio contact, personally led the first U.S. tank units into battle during the Saint-Mihiel offensive. Thanks for posting the article-overall, good information. I guess, he made me love the American Military so much that I decided to become American, get a high school degree, college, and enlisted myself into the military as Satellite and Wideband Communications until I retired from the Air National Guard. Patton was a "true leader in every sense of the . So, how much is George S. Patton worth at the age of 60 years old? I wish I were young enough to fight in the next one [war]. I have been a student of General George s. Patton for some 40-45 years and this is a well written article, very accurate. In a highly successful attempt to break the ice, Pattons first words were, There are occasions when I can truthfully say that I am not as much of a son-of-a-bitch as I may think I am. Two days later, Patton wrote his last letter to his wife telling her that he was coming home for Christmas. Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the Third Army to relieve Bastogne, and Patton repositioned his force with astonishing speed. He was no fan of the Atomic Bomb -or perhaps that it was largely a creation of Jewish minds His idea of what war was supposed to be was forever changed by atomic weapons.. His attack based agenda worked.. and yes had he been given sufficient resources, the war would have been much shorter and many lives would have been spared as a result The history of Europe since WWII would have been very different. 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 died from his injuries on Dec. 21, 1945. It was too late by 1945, the US had made the USSR a superpower. Politician were scared of him because he spoke the truth! At every block, sentinels at present arms kept the crowds at bay. Courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration. After the German surrender, Patton campaigned vigorously for a command in the Pacific theatre in the ongoing war against Japan. The intersection where Patton had his car accident. With the Generals passing, Beatrice had to decide where his remains would reside. My chief interest in establishing order in Germany was to prevent Germany from going communistic. If I get a really good job I will stay, otherwise I will retire. The plan was to fly to London and then sail from Southampton aboard the cruiser USS Augusta. Best personal history of Patton. Keyes had already thumbed a ride back to Patton's headquarters, but Patton didn't continue his ride until 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. Why does General Patton still lay in Europe? Patton saw his first combat soon after leaving Fort Riley. "May the Great Worm gnaw your vitals," Beatrice Patton declared to Jean Gordon. This picture of Willie, Patton's dog, was taken a few days after the General's death as preparations were made to send home his effects. While some have mourned what was a tragic loss at the time, others over the decades have theorized Patton's death was anything but an accident. My dad was a classmate of Pattons son. Death of General George S Patton - General George S Patton (Image source: WikiCommons) A Family Affair Jean Gordon. This was, of course, completely contrary to the political direction he had received from Eisenhower for the denazification of the American zone of Germany. However, the trip, which involved traveling on a special train once used by German President Paul von Hindenburg, turned out to be much more than just a speaking engagement. I was overwhelmed and prayed in front of his grave. Elizabeth Patton Crockett - Wikipedia Death car at the General George Patton Museum. A number of books and films have advanced conspiracy theories suggesting that the outspoken Patton was actually assassinated on orders from either Washington or Moscow. He led a series of wildly successful offensive operations in Europe during World War II, but his controversial and erratic behaviour off the battlefield damaged his reputation and hampered his own career advancement. Patton was rushed to the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, 12 miles away. The Augusta had been the flagship of the Western Task Force in the invasion of Morocco. His public criticisms of the Allied postwar denazification policy in Germany, coupled with ill-advised comments to the press, led to his removal from the command of the Third Army in October 1945. The General: Patton's grandson shares details of iconic leader Two days later he repeated his concern when he wrote his wife: "If we have to fight them, now is the time. She was the wife of Brig. There are many famous and controversial figures to emerge from World War II, but General S. Patton is arguably one of its most controversial. 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. His last diary entry, dated December 3, describes a luncheon hosted by Bedell Smith for Eisenhowers successor, McNarney. Been reading a book about Patton and ran across this. His strict discipline, toughness, and self-sacrifice elicited exceptional pride within his ranks, and the general was colourfully referred to as Old Blood-and-Guts by his men. His bitterness is very evident: General Clay [Ikes deputy] and General McNarney have never commanded anything, including their own self-respect. He told them, while his wife was out of the room, that he believed his luck had run out. Gen Patton's Clear Vision - Why He Was Murdered It is to be found on battlefields from Morocco to Bad Tlz. The Tragic Death Of General George S. Patton - Grunge And why? On the face of it, a conspiracy in the death of Patton might sound silly or inconceivable. I was stationed in Germany in the early 1970s and was hospitalized for several weeks at the US Army Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. This was despite the fact that an Army order banning dependents had prevented Beatrice from accompanying him. Eisenhauers job was both military and political. 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. General Patton was the greatest US Army combat general of WWII. The Real Story of General George Patton, Jr's Death & Final Days Following his campaign in Western Europe, George S. Patton had difficulty adjusting to peacetime and was fatally injured in an automobile accident. Patton is said to have told the American officers accompanying him that he thought it was sheer madness to intern these people.. George Smith Patton - Major General, United States Army His admiration for Germans was indeed troubling.. Courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration. She wanted the body returned to the United States and buried near their Massachusetts home. For the years that are left to me I am determined to be free to live as I want and say what I want. This inevitably worried Gay, who surmised, almost certainly correctly, that Patton planned to speak out against Eisenhowers handling of the campaign in Europe and against other senior officers, like Bedell Smith, Hodges, and even Bradley.