George Smith
- Patton, George Smith
U.S 3* General, Commander Third Army
- 11-11-1885, San Gabriël, California.
- USA.
- 21-12-1945, car accident, age 60, near Neckarstadt (Mannheim .
Luxemburg, Hamm, War Cemetery.
Patton, George Smith
George Patton, born 11-11-1885 in San Gabriel, California, like Omar Bradley (see Bradley) was educated at the American Military Academy. He graduated from here in 1909. In 1916, he served as an aide-de-camp to General Pershing in his expedition against the Mexican Pancho Villa who had crossed the American/Mexican border and sacked the town of Columbus in New Mexico. Many Americans were not aware that President Woodrow Wilson had even sanctioned this campaign and Patton was to be linked with such 'daring-do' throughout his military career. He was beloved by the actor Marlene Dietrich (see Dietrich). 
By the end of the First World War, Patton had established a tank training school and it was in armoured warfare that Patton was to make his name. One of the training officers at this camp was a young Dwight Eisenhower (see Eisenhower). Patton commanded American forces in Morocco, Tunisia and Sicily between 1942 and 1943 and in early 1944, he was given command of the American Third Army. Patton played a key role in the use of armour after the successful landings at D-Day. Armoured warfare speeded up the Allies advance across western Europe and Patton always seemed to be ahead of any other Allied armoured group. His tactics were uncompromising but undoubtedly successful. Montgomery (see Montgomery) was known to have commented that Eisenhower seemed to favour requests for equipment by Patton as opposed to British Generals in the thrust across Europe. But, if true, Eisenhower probably had the evidence to favour Patton, especially after the heroic failure at Arnhem. The 3rd Army 
Group broke through the Germans defences at Normandy and it cleared a path across northern France and in March 1945, it crossed the River Rhine 
and moved into mainland Germany and from there into Austria. After the war in Europe ended in May 1945, Patton was made military governor of Bavaria but was removed from this post when he was accused of being too soft on the Germans. Certainly, by the time the war in Europe had ended, Patton saw the might of the Russians as more of a threat than the defeated Nazis. Patton was killed, the result of a road crash, in late 1945, aged 60 and the circumstances are doubtful. On 09-12-1945, Patton was severely injured, was paralysed by a spinal chord lesion and died 21-12-1945. He and his Chief of Staff, General Hobart R. "Hap" Gay (see Gay), were on a one day trip to hunt pheasants in the country outside Mannheim General Patton was leaving on the next day to fly home on vacation and was considering either resigning or retiring from the army. Their 1938 Cadillac 75 was driven by Private First Class Horace Woodring (see Woodring) (1926–2003), with Patton sitting in the back seat on the right side, with General Gay on his left, as per custom. At 11:45 near Neckarstadt, Mannheim, a 2½ ton GMC truck driven by Technical Sergeant Robert L. Thompson made a left turn in front of Patton's Cadillac. Patton's car hit the front of the truck, at a low speed. The driver and General Gay were not injured.
By the end of the First World War, Patton had established a tank training school and it was in armoured warfare that Patton was to make his name. One of the training officers at this camp was a young Dwight Eisenhower (see Eisenhower). Patton commanded American forces in Morocco, Tunisia and Sicily between 1942 and 1943 and in early 1944, he was given command of the American Third Army. Patton played a key role in the use of armour after the successful landings at D-Day. Armoured warfare speeded up the Allies advance across western Europe and Patton always seemed to be ahead of any other Allied armoured group. His tactics were uncompromising but undoubtedly successful. Montgomery (see Montgomery) was known to have commented that Eisenhower seemed to favour requests for equipment by Patton as opposed to British Generals in the thrust across Europe. But, if true, Eisenhower probably had the evidence to favour Patton, especially after the heroic failure at Arnhem. The 3rd Army 
Group broke through the Germans defences at Normandy and it cleared a path across northern France and in March 1945, it crossed the River Rhine and moved into mainland Germany and from there into Austria. After the war in Europe ended in May 1945, Patton was made military governor of Bavaria but was removed from this post when he was accused of being too soft on the Germans. Certainly, by the time the war in Europe had ended, Patton saw the might of the Russians as more of a threat than the defeated Nazis. Patton was killed, the result of a road crash, in late 1945, aged 60 and the circumstances are doubtful. On 09-12-1945, Patton was severely injured, was paralysed by a spinal chord lesion and died 21-12-1945. He and his Chief of Staff, General Hobart R. "Hap" Gay (see Gay), were on a one day trip to hunt pheasants in the country outside Mannheim General Patton was leaving on the next day to fly home on vacation and was considering either resigning or retiring from the army. Their 1938 Cadillac 75 was driven by Private First Class Horace Woodring (see Woodring) (1926–2003), with Patton sitting in the back seat on the right side, with General Gay on his left, as per custom. At 11:45 near Neckarstadt, Mannheim, a 2½ ton GMC truck driven by Technical Sergeant Robert L. Thompson made a left turn in front of Patton's Cadillac. Patton's car hit the front of the truck, at a low speed. The driver and General Gay were not injured.
Patton could be too much?? A forceful and outspoken man, Patton made as many enemies as friends. Popular among his troops for his uncompromising leadership, he could also be harsh and only expected results from the men under his command. Some of his quotes give an insight in Patton:
"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."
"We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me or get out of my way."
"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow."
"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won with men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads, that gains the victory."
"I do not fear failure. I only fear the ‘slowing up’ of the engine inside of me which is pounding, saying, "Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?"
"A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood."
"If a man does his best, what else is there?" 
Patton is buried between his men on the American war cemetery of Hamm, in Luxembourg.
