Patton followed the growing hostility and conquest aspirations of the militant Japanese leadership. Do you want me to give it back? There, he met Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, who was so impressed with him that Marshall considered Patton a prime candidate for promotion to general. [254] Many German field commanders were generous in their praise of Patton's leadership following the war,[c] and many of its highest commanders also held his abilities in high regard. [7] Frederick Ayer (1888-1969) [8] [9] Mary Katherine "Kay" Ayer (1890-1981). He had attended the games at his own expense and afterward, with permission from the War Department, he stayed in Europe to attend special fencing classes offered by the French Army School at Saumur, France. For other uses, see, Denazification controversy and antisemitism. The jeep because we have so many God-awful drivers. Fresno County. He was also frequently in disagreement with Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. though often then conceding, to their relief, in line with Bradley's view.[132]. She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a little dimple in her chin just like her mother. [37] Patton placed twenty-first on the pistol range, seventh in swimming, fourth in fencing, sixth in the equestrian competition, and third in the footrace, finishing fifth overall and first among the non-Swedish competitors.[38]. He emigrated to Culpeper, Virginia, from Glasgow, in either 1769 or 1770. [147] This decision had been made before the slapping incidents were made public, but Patton blamed them for his being denied the command. His sending the doomed Task Force Baum to liberate his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters, from a prisoner-of-war camp further damaged his standing with his superiors. 1913-1915 Instructor in weapons, United States Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kans. His firearm discharged accidentally one night in a saloon, so he swapped it for an ivory-handled Colt Single Action Army revolver, a weapon that would later become an icon of Patton's image. [141] Criticism of Patton in the United States was harsh, and included members of Congress and former generals, Pershing among them. For his leadership of the tank brigade and tank school, he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Tank Corps) George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. By God! An Army nurse is the only woman buried at the American Cemetery and memorial. She was born Beatrice Banning Ayer in Haverhill, Massachusetts the daughter of Frederick Ayer an industrialist who owned a woolen mill. [72], In August 1918, he was placed in charge of the U.S. 1st Provisional Tank Brigade (redesignated the 304th Tank Brigade on November 6, 1918). He personified the offensive spirit, the ruthless drive, and the will for victory in battle.As the outstanding exponent of combat effectiveness, particularly with respect to the employment of armored forcesthat is, the combined use of tanks, motorized infantry, and self-propelled artillery, closely supported by tactical aircraftPatton brought the blitzkrieg concept to perfection. Topics include the saber, cavalry, casualty information, denazification of Germany, and displaced persons. Then he went to Stockholm, where he reunited with other athletes from the 1912 Olympics. [80] Trying to move his reserve tanks forward, Patton relates that he might have killed one of his own men, stating: "Some of my reserve tanks were stuck by some trenches. [49], In 1915, Lieutenant Patton was assigned to border patrol duty with A Troop of the 8th Cavalry, based in Sierra Blanca. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984. The 15th Army at this point consisted only of a small headquarters staff working to compile a history of the war in Europe. All non-medical visitors except Patton's wife Beatrice, who had flown from the U.S., were forbidden. [193] Fuller's review of Third Army records differs only in the number of enemy killed and wounded, stating that between August 1, 1944, and May 9, 1945, 47,500 of the enemy were killed, 115,700 wounded, and 1,280,688 captured, for a total of 1,443,888. [208] When Eisenhower ordered him to hold a press conference correcting his statements, Patton instead repeated them. [30][31], Patton's first posting was with the 15th Cavalry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois,[32] where he established himself as a hard-driving leader who impressed superiors with his dedication. [178] Eisenhower was incredulous: "Don't be fatuous, George. President Woodrow Wilson forbade the expedition from conducting aggressive patrols deeper into Mexico, so it remained encamped in the Mexican border states for much of that time. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the "Patton Saber". His division executed a 400-mile (640km) end run around the Red Army and "captured" Shreveport, Louisiana. He died on March 14, 1918, in Thomasville, Georgia, and is interred at Lowell Cemetery. [209], On September 28, 1945, after a heated exchange with Eisenhower over the denazification controversy, Patton was relieved of his military governorship. He named Patton commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade, part of the 2nd Armored Division. [196] Patton was particularly upset when learning of the end of the war against Japan, writing in his diary, "Yet another war has come to an end, and with it my usefulness to the world. Fearing this assignment would dead-end his career, Patton travelled to Washington, D.C. during 11 days of leave and convinced influential friends to arrange a reassignment for him to the 8th Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas, anticipating that instability in Mexico might boil over into a full-scale civil war. [54] He left Paris and reported to the French Army's tank training school at Champlieu near Orrouy, where he drove a Renault FT light tank. "I had never heard," he wrote to his wife Bea, "that we fought to de-Nazify Germany - live and learn. Patton rather caustically replied: "Have taken Trier with two divisions. She loved Lieutenant Patton, and he loved her. So I went back and made some Americans hiding in the trenches dig a passage. In this speech he aroused some controversy among the Gold Star Mothers when he stated that a man who dies in battle is "frequently a fool",[195] adding that the wounded are heroes. [27][28][29] Patton is also a descendant of French Huguenot Louis DuBois. This is not a duplicate memorial. [127], Initially ordered to protect the British forces' left flank, Patton was granted permission by Alexander to take Palermo after Montgomery's forces became bogged down on the road to Messina. We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinaman or a Japanese, and from what I have seen of them, I have no particular desire to understand them, except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. Following the 1912 Olympics, Patton traveled to Saumur, France, where he learned fencing techniques from Adjutant Charles Clry, a French "master of arms" and instructor of fencing at the cavalry school there. [196], On June 14, 1945, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson decided that Patton would not be sent to the Pacific but would return to Europe in an occupation army assignment. [212], Patton spent most of the next 12 days in spinal traction to decrease the pressure on his spine. [39][40] If his assertion was correct, Patton would likely have won an Olympic medal in the event. [71] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 3, 1918, and attended the Command and General Staff College in Langres. Sep 1885 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, Jan 12 1886 - Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA, Jan 12 1886 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Beatrice A Patton, Ruth Ellen Patton, George Smith Iv Patton, Sep 1885 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Beatrice A Patton, Gen George Smith Patton, Frederick Fanning Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer, Ellen Wheaton Wood, James Cook Ayer, Charles Fanning Ayer, Louise Raynor Ayer, Frederick Ayer, Mary Katherine Merrill, Beatrice Smith Waters, Ruth Ellen Totten, George Smith Patton, Jan 12 1886 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Frederick Albert Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer (born Banning), Ellen Wheaton Ayer, James Cook Ayer, Charles Fanning Ayer, Louise Raynor Ayer, Frederick Ayer, Mary Katherine Merrill (born Ayer), Beatrice Ayer Waters (born Patton), Ruth Ellen Totlen (born Patton), George Smith (General) Patton, William The Conqueror (Willie) Patton, Jan 12 1886 / Sept 1885 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, Frederick Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer (born Banning), Beatrice "bee" Patton, Ruth Ellen Patton, George Smith Patton, Beatrice Waters (born Patton), Ruth Ellen Totten (born Patton), Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, Jan 12 1886 - Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, Beatrice Patton, Ruth Ellen Totten (born Patton, Iii), Major-gen George S. Patton, Iv, Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States, Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, Hamilton, Essex county , Massachusetts, United States of America, Birth of Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, IV. Overview Plans and . <br><br>I am passionate about working in my community and giving back wherever possible. She covered the country during WWII raising money during bond drives. Patton was given temporary duty in Washington D.C. that year to serve on a committee writing a manual on tank operations. [10], In his plebe (first) year at West Point, Patton adjusted easily to the routine. [156], Sailing to Normandy throughout July, Patton's Third Army formed on the extreme right (west) of the Allied land forces,[156][b] and became operational at noon on August 1, 1944, under Bradley's Twelfth United States Army Group. [166], Patton's offensive came to a halt on August 31, 1944, as the Third Army ran out of fuel near the Moselle River, just outside Metz. [85], Patton left France for New York City on March 2, 1919. This has led . [208] Patton decided that he would leave his post at the 15th Army and not return to Europe once he left on December 10 for Christmas leave. Historical Society Dedicated to the Life, Career, and Achievements of General George S. Patton, Jr. George S. Patton Papers: Diaries, 19101945, Newspaper clippings about George S. Patton, Five Famous Locals Who Were Veterans: Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. (18851945) at Pasadena now.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_S._Patton&oldid=1152693032, Honorary Companions of the Order of the Bath, Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Modern pentathletes at the 1912 Summer Olympics, Olympic modern pentathletes of the United States, Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium), Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France), Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army), Recipients of the Order of the White Lion, United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni, United States Army generals of World War II, United States Army personnel of World War I, United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [140], Patton's niece Jean Gordon spent some time together with him in London in 1944, and in Bavaria in 1945. The Patton and Banning Families, both prominent in the history of Southern California, shared a close relationship; Benjamin Wilson and Phineas Banning (founder of the Port of Los Angeles and of Wilmington, California) were business partners. Observing derelict cars along the side of the road, Patton said, "How awful war is. She married Major General James Willoughby Totten on 6 July 1940, in Hamilton, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. After Patton accompanied Eisenhower to a Yom Kippur service in one of the camps, he referred to the Jews at the service as a "stinking mass of humanity," and complaining about their hygiene, said: "Of course, I have seen them since the beginning and marveled that beings alleged to be made in the form of God can look the way they do or act the way they act. Still, 40,000 German and 70,000 Italian troops escaped to Italy with 10,000 vehicles. He would not work so I hit him over the head with a shovel". Patton's Light Tank Brigade was part of Colonel Samuel Rockenbach's Tank Corps, part of the American First Army. Patton wrote in a letter to his wife: "The bullet went into the front of my left leg and came out just at the crack of my bottom about two inches to the left of my rectum. The nickname would follow him for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, he was known to be admired widely by the men under his charge. [136], Word of the incident reached Eisenhower, who privately reprimanded Patton and insisted he apologize. [221] Other actors who have portrayed Patton include Stephen McNally in the 1957 episode "The Patton Prayer" of the ABC religion anthology series, Crossroads, John Larch in the 1963 film Miracle of the White Stallions, Kirk Douglas in the 1966 film Is Paris Burning?, George Kennedy in the 1978 film Brass Target, Darren McGavin in the 1979 miniseries Ike, Robert Prentiss in the 1988 film Pancho Barnes, Mitchell Ryan in the 1989 film Double Exposure: The Story of Margaret Bourke-White, Lawrence Dobkin in a 1989 episode of the miniseries War and Remembrance, Edward Asner in the 1997 film The Long Way Home, Gerald McRaney in the 2004 miniseries Ike: Countdown to D-Day, Dan Higgins in a 2006 episode of the miniseries Man, Moment, Machine, Kelsey Grammer in the 2008 film An American Carol,[221] and Ed Harris in Resistance (2020). An example of Patton's sarcastic wit was broadcast when he received orders to bypass Trier, as it had been decided that four divisions would be needed to capture it. Speaking later of the German pilots who had struck, Patton remarked, "if I could find the sons of bitches who flew those planes, I'd mail each of them a medal. [189], By April, resistance against the Third Army was tapering off, and the forces' main efforts turned to managing some 400,000 German prisoners of war. One of them occurred in 1912 after George had placed fifth in the Military Pentathlon in the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. Patton, Robert H. The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family. Soon thereafter, he had Major General Omar Bradley reassigned to his corps as its deputy commander. [217], Patton's colorful personality, hard-driving leadership style, and success as a commander, combined with his frequent political missteps, produced a mixed and often contradictory image. German commanders interviewed after the war noted he could have bypassed the city and moved north to Luxembourg where he would have been able to cut off the German Seventh Army. Brief Life History of George Smith. Patton left this office in 1931, returned to Massachusetts and attended the Army War College, becoming a "Distinguished Graduate" in June 1932. [117][118] The Sultan of Morocco was so impressed that he presented Patton with the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, with the citation "Les Lions dans leurs tanires tremblent en le voyant approcher" (The lions in their dens tremble at his approach). [86] While on duty in Washington, D.C., in 1919, Patton met Dwight D. Eisenhower,[87] who would play an enormous role in Patton's future career. July 7 Patton participated in Modern Pentathlon, Olympic Games. [13], Patton graduated number 46 out of 103 cadets at West Point on June 11, 1909,[14] and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry branch of the United States Army. Royalty-free Creative Video Editorial Archive Custom Content Creative Collections Contributor support. Records have not been acquired for Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Modoc, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare and Ventura counties. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [177] When Eisenhower asked Patton how long it would take him to disengage six divisions of his Third Army and commence a counterattack north to relieve the U.S. 101st Airborne Division which had been trapped at Bastogne, Patton replied, "As soon as you're through with me. [95] He used profanity heavily in his speech, which generally was enjoyed by troops under his command, but it offended other generals, including Bradley. [5] Patton was described as an intelligent boy and was widely read in classical military history, particularly the exploits of Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as those of family friend John Singleton Mosby, who frequently stopped by the Patton family home when George was a child. The schooner was designed by famous naval architect John G. Alden and built in 1939. He wrote a plan to intern the Japanese living in the islands in the event of an attack as a result of the atrocities carried out by Japanese soldiers on the Chinese in the Sino-Japanese war. [232], As a leader, Patton was known to be highly critical, correcting subordinates mercilessly for the slightest infractions, but also being quick to praise their accomplishments. Wife of Gen. George S. Patton [120], On March 6, 1943, following the defeat of the U.S. II Corps by the German Afrika Korps, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, at the Battle of Kasserine Pass, Patton replaced Major General Lloyd Fredendall as Commanding General of the II Corps and was promoted to lieutenant general. [163] Its attached close air support group was XIX Tactical Air Command, commanded by Brigadier General Otto P. Weyland. The Third Army claimed to have killed, wounded, or captured 1,811,388 German soldiers, six times its strength in personnel. He served in the position until relieved by General Joseph T. McNarney on November 26th. [68] At the conclusion of his tour on December 1, Patton went to Albert, 30 miles (48km) from Cambrai, to be briefed on the results of this attack by the chief of staff of the British Tank Corps, Colonel J. F. C. [173] With supplies low and priority given to Montgomery until the port of Antwerp could be opened, Patton remained frustrated at the lack of progress of his forces. Banning, CA 92220 Phone: (951) 588-2553. Charles Fanning Ayer , Heidelberg,. Beatrice Banning Ayer Birth Sep 1885 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Death 30 Sep 1953 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Mother Ellen Barrows Banning Father Frederick Fanning Ayer (Ayers/ Eyre) Quick access Family tree 2160 New search Beatrice Banning Ayer family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents Note: The rows 14 are American medals unless otherwise noted. [190] Patton later said he felt the correct decision would have been to send a Combat Command, which is a force about three times larger. [224] Historian Hugh Cole notes that Patton was the first to integrate black and white soldiers into the same rifle companies. Patton sent notes and assistance to help Eisenhower graduate from the General Staff College. [48] In the meantime, Patton was selected to participate in the 1916 Summer Olympics, but that Olympiad was cancelled due to World War I. [152], The German High Command had more respect for Patton than for any other Allied commander and considered him to be central to any plan to invade Europe from England. I feel compelled, therefore, to compare him with Generalfeldmarschall Rommel, who likewise had mastered the art of tank warfare. Everyone has their eyes on you and is expecting great things from you. 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. [239], In spite of his views, Patton called heavily on the black troops under his command. In response, the U.S. launched the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico. In that time, it crossed 24 major rivers and captured 81,500 square miles (211,000km2) of territory, including more than 12,000 cities and towns. [52][222] He was usually seen wearing a highly polished helmet, riding pants, and high cavalry boots. Later he rallied a force of disorganized infantry and led it forward, behind the tanks, under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire until he was wounded. The U.S. Army had more trucks, more reliable tanks, and better radio communications, all of which contributed to a superior ability to operate at a rapid offensive pace. After the course had ended, Beatrice had spent many hours packing their belongings and finally had everything crated, sealed, and ready to board the ship. There was some controversy concerning his performance in the pistol shooting competition, in which he used a .38 caliber U.S. Army-issue pistol while most of the other competitors chose .22 caliber firearms. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Advancing on Gabs, Patton's corps pressured the Mareth Line. Patton took command of the 600 troops of the 3rd Cavalry, and on July 28, MacArthur ordered Patton's troops to advance on protesting veterans known as the "Bonus Army" with tear gas and bayonets. Most of all, your race is looking forward to you. [227] When speaking, he was known for his bluntness and witticism; he once said, "The two most dangerous weapons the Germans have are our own armored halftrack and jeep. Patton entered combat during the Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916, the United States' first military action using motor vehicles. Eisenhower called a meeting of all senior Allied commanders on the Western Front at a headquarters near Verdun on the morning of December 19 to plan strategy and a response to the German assault. At age 24, Patton married Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer, on May 26, 1910, in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. While he was at VMI, Senator Thomas R. Bard nominated him for West Point. The next day news accounts misquoted Patton by leaving off the Russians. Among the opinions of Patton's abilities. [124][125], For Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, Patton was to command the Seventh United States Army, dubbed the Western Task Force, in landings at Gela, Scoglitti and Licata to support landings by General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army. [183], Once again, Patton found other commands given priority on gasoline and supplies. [233] Patton reportedly had the utmost respect for the men serving in his command, particularly the wounded. [219] Patton's impact on armored warfare and leadership were substantial, with the U.S. Army adopting many of Patton's aggressive strategies for its training programs following his death. [252] Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was apparently an admirer, stating that the Red Army could neither have planned nor executed Patton's rapid armored advance across France. [19], The Patton family was of English, Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish, French and Welsh ancestry. She enjoyed the life of privilege & attended prestigious finishing schools. "Patton" and "George Patton" redirect here. This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 18:50. He married Beatrice Banning Ayer on 25 May 1910, in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. [94] He was temporarily appointed to the General Staff Corps in Boston, Massachusetts, before being reassigned as G-1 and G-2 of the Hawaiian Division at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu in March 1925. Patton supported the M1919 tank design created by J. Walter Christie, a project which was shelved due to financial considerations. Patton reported this attempt to liberate Oflag XIII-B as the only mistake he made during World War II. He intended to discuss with his wife whether he would continue in a stateside post or retire from the Army.[211]. "[228], As media scrutiny on Patton increased, his bluntness stirred controversy. She married Gen. George Smith Patton Jr. on 25 May 1910, in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. She met George Patton for the first time as children. [153] Because of this, Patton was made a prominent figure in the deception scheme Operation Fortitude during the first half of 1944. The major U.S. and Allied advantages were in mobility and air superiority. [213] He began bleeding from a gash to the head, and complained that he was paralyzed and having trouble breathing. In an incident on July 22, while a U.S. armored column was under attack from German aircraft, he shot and killed a pair of mules that had stopped while pulling a cart across a bridge. [142][143] The views of the general public remained mixed on the matter,[144] and eventually Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson stated that Patton must be retained as a commander because of the need for his "aggressive, winning leadership in the bitter battles which are to come before final victory. He married Joanne Stanley Holbrook on 14 June 1952, in Washington, District of Columbia . [12] He competed in this sport in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, and he finished in fifth placeright behind four Swedes. Patton's ability to disengage six divisions from front line combat during the middle of winter, then wheel north to relieve Bastogne was one of his most remarkable achievements during the war. [41] The judges' ruling was upheld. Third Army was ordered toward Bavaria and Czechoslovakia, anticipating a last stand by Nazi German forces there. Following General Dwight Eisenhower's return to the United States to become the Chief of Staff of the US Army, Patton was appointed interim commander of US Army Europe on November 11th, 1945. The schooner's name comes from Patton saying he would sail it "when and if" he returned from war. Patton cultivated a flashy, distinctive image in the belief that this would inspire his troops.
