[254], Referring to the escape of the Afrika Korps after the Battle of El Alamein, Fritz Bayerlein opined that "I do not think that General Patton would let us get away so easily. Patton expected that the theater commander would keep fuel and supplies flowing to support successful advances, but Eisenhower favored a "broad front" approach to the ground-war effort, believing that a single thrust would have to drop off flank protection, and would quickly lose its punch. Lgendes hawaiiennes by Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton, 1932, Socit d'dition "Les Belles lettres" edition, in French / franais This is not a duplicate memorial. Patton replied that his staff already had a contingency operations order ready to go. She was born Beatrice Banning Ayer in Haverhill, Massachusetts the daughter of Frederick Ayer an industrialist who owned a woolen mill. German losses in the fighting against the Third Army totaled 20,100 killed, 47,700 wounded, and 653,140 captured. [52][222] He was usually seen wearing a highly polished helmet, riding pants, and high cavalry boots. [185] Between January 29 and March 22, the Third Army took Trier, Koblenz, Bingen, Worms, Mainz, Kaiserslautern, and Ludwigshafen, killing or wounding 99,000 and capturing 140,112 German soldiers, which represented virtually all of the remnants of the German First and Seventh Armies. [54] Patton was promoted to captain on May 15, 1917, and left for Europe, among the 180 men of Pershing's advance party which departed May 28 and arrived in Liverpool, England, on June 8. In the meantime, on April 5, he removed Major General Orlando Ward, commanding the 1st Armored Division, after its lackluster performance at Maknassy against numerically inferior German forces. The best thing that has ever happened to me thus far is the honor and privilege of having commanded the Third Army. Nonetheless, he was known to be admired widely by the men under his charge. During this time he developed a belief that tanks should be used not as infantry support, but rather as an independent fighting force. He would not work so I hit him over the head with a shovel". She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a little dimple in her chin just like her mother. [a] He was tutored from home until the age of eleven, when he was enrolled in Stephen Cutter Clark's[4] Classical School for Boys, a private school in Pasadena, for six years. [24] Patton believed in reincarnation, stating that he had fought in previous battles and wars before his time, additionally, his ancestry was very important to him, forming a central part of his personal identity. [100] Patton was promoted to colonel on July 24, 1938, and given command of the 5th Cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas, for six months, a post he relished, but he was reassigned to Fort Myer again in December as commander of the 3rd Cavalry. Developed originally by General Elwood Quesada of IX Tactical Air Command for the First Army in Operation Cobra, the technique of "armored column cover", in which close air support was directed by an air traffic controller in one of the attacking tanks, was used extensively by the Third Army. 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. One of them occurred in 1912 after George had placed fifth in the Military Pentathlon in the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. During maneuvers the Third Army conducted in 1940, Patton served as an umpire, where he met Adna R. Chaffee Jr. and the two formulated recommendations to develop an armored force. 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. Straddling the line between the home-and-war front, Lady of the Army tells the story of the General's greatest champion in life and fiercest defender in death while shedding new light on a complex personality who wanted nothing more than to die a glorious death on the battlefield. She met George Patton for the first time as children. Beatrice Banning Patton formerly Ayer Born 12 Jan 1886 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts Ancestors Daughter of Frederick Ayer and Ellen Barrows (Banning) Ayer Sister of Ellen Wheeton (Ayer) Wood [half], James Cook Ayer [half], Charles Fanning Ayer [half], Louise Raynor (Ayer) Hathaway [half], Frederick Ayer II and Katharine (Ayer) Merrill [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. [248] President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared to greatly esteem Patton and his abilities, stating "he is our greatest fighting general, and sheer joy". [180] Within a few days, more than 133,000 Third Army vehicles were rerouted into an offensive that covered an average distance of over 11 miles (18km) per vehicle, followed by support echelons carrying 62,000 tonnes (61,000 long tons; 68,000 short tons) of supplies.[181]. Patton's maternal grandfather was Benjamin Davis Wilson, a merchant who had been the second Mayor of Los Angeles. [83] For his actions in Cheppy, Patton received the Silver Star, which was later upgraded to the DSC, with the citation for the medal reading: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Armor) George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Tank Corps, A.E.F., near Cheppy, France, 26 September 1918. [57], In mid-April, Patton asked Pershing for the opportunity to command troops, and was assigned to Troop C of the 13th Cavalry to assist in the manhunt for Villa and his subordinates. [46], Patton graduated from this school in June 1915. From November 8 to December 15, his army advanced no more than 40 miles (64km). Martin Blumenson, Patton, George Smith in John Garraty, ed., Encyclopedia of American Biography (1974) p 839. "The noise against me is only the means by which the Jews and the Communists are attempting and with good success the further dismemberment of Germany." 1912 June 14 Patton sailed for Europe to participate in the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. They had been slaughtered" Patton is reported to have said: "Try the bastards. "[228] During the Battle of the Bulge, he famously remarked that the Allies should "let the sons-of-bitches [Germans] go all the way to Paris, then we'll cut them off and round them up. His emphasis on rapid and aggressive offensive action proved effective, and he was regarded highly by his opponents in the German High Command. [203] Patton decided to keep the Jews detained, according to his diary, because he thought releasing them could lead to violence and re-arrests. [239], In spite of his views, Patton called heavily on the black troops under his command. [95], In July 1932, Patton (still a Major) was executive officer of the 3rd Cavalry, which was ordered to Washington by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur. [129] A third landing was completed on August 16, and by 22:00 that day Messina fell to his forces. [170], The halt of the Third Army during the month of September was enough to allow the Germans to strengthen the fortress of Metz. Their son, George S. Patton III continued the West Point tradition and became a general. [234] Many of his directives showed special trouble to care for the enlisted men under his command, and he was well known for arranging extra supplies for battlefield soldiers, including blankets and extra socks, galoshes, and other items normally in short supply at the front.[235]. Patton's only comment on the matter was: The high spirit of sportsmanship and generosity manifested throughout speaks volumes for the character of the officers of the present day. Third Army was ordered toward Bavaria and Czechoslovakia, anticipating a last stand by Nazi German forces there. General Bradley and the Army Air Forces General Carl Spaatz shared the number one position, Walter Bedell Smith was ranked number three, and Patton number four. Find Beatrice Patton stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. [115][116] Patton commanded the Western Task Force, consisting of 33,000 men in 100 ships, in landings centered on Casablanca, Morocco. Their friendship resulted in marriage on May 26, 1910, in Beverly . At least that was the consensus among many family friends. [178] Eisenhower was incredulous: "Don't be fatuous, George. His grandmother Beatrice Banning Ayer and Patton were married in 1910. [199] D'Este agrees that Patton's "behavior suggests that in both 1936 [in Hawaii] and 194445, the presence of the young and attractive Jean was a means of assuaging the anxieties of a middle-aged man troubled over his virility and a fear of aging. Patton reported this attempt to liberate Oflag XIII-B as the only mistake he made during World War II. This code phrase initiated a prearranged operational order with Patton's staff, mobilizing three divisionsthe 4th Armored Division, the 80th Infantry Division, and the 26th Infantry Divisionfrom the Third Army and moving them north toward Bastogne. She met George Patton for the first time as children. After sailing back to Los Angeles for extended leave in 1937, he was kicked by a horse and fractured his leg. [50] Patton remained in Mexico until the end of the year. FUSAG was in reality an intricately constructed fictitious army of decoys, props, and fake radio signal traffic based around Dover to mislead German reconnaissance planes and to make Axis leaders believe that a large force was massing there. [50][51] During his time in the town, Patton took to wearing his M1911 Colt .45 in his belt rather than a holster. He was relieved of command of the Third Army on October 7, and in a somber change of command ceremony, Patton concluded his farewell remarks, "All good things must come to an end. I Corps in the MeuseArgonne offensive on September 26. Various explanations beyond his disappointments have been proposed for Patton's behavior at this point. Patton was dissatisfied with the post and began to take an interest in tanks, as Pershing sought to give him command of an infantry battalion. [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. [155] So strong was their conviction that this was the main landing area that the German army held its position there even after the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, believing it to be a diversionary force. Patton, Beatrice Banning Ayer, 1886-1953. Patton's great oratory skill is seen as integral to his ability to inspire troops under his command. [1] Central Star Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) 4411 E Kings Canyon Rd., Bldg. Patton sent notes and assistance to help Eisenhower graduate from the General Staff College. Whenever he speaks to groups in. Records have not been acquired for Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Modoc, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare and Ventura counties. 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 friendship resulted in marriage in 1910 which lasted over thirty years and . 319 Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it. Royalty-free Creative Video Editorial Archive Custom Content Creative Collections Contributor support. Patton knew that one of the inmates was his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters. [76], Patton was a staunch fatalist,[224] and he believed in reincarnation. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984. [71] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 3, 1918, and attended the Command and General Staff College in Langres. During the September Louisiana Maneuvers, his division was part of the losing Red Army in Phase I, but in Phase II was assigned to the Blue Army. [48] In the meantime, Patton was selected to participate in the 1916 Summer Olympics, but that Olympiad was cancelled due to World War I. "[254] Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring said that, Patton had developed tank warfare into an art, and understood how to handle tanks brilliantly in the field. When Ruth Ellen Patton was born on 28 February 1915, in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States, her father, Gen. George Smith Patton Jr., was 29 and her mother, Beatrice Banning Ayer, was 29. On November 20, the British launched an offensive towards the important rail center of Cambrai, using an unprecedented number of tanks. [77][78] His orderly, Private First Class Joe Angelo, saved Patton, for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). If you try to go that early you won't have all three divisions ready and you'll go piecemeal." Don't let them down and, damn you, don't let me down! [224] Historian Hugh Cole notes that Patton was the first to integrate black and white soldiers into the same rifle companies. STARS Community Services 400 Estudillo Ave., Ste. Patton had accepted the post because of his love of history, but quickly lost interest. Patton chose a 10,000-acre (40km2) expanse of desert area about 50 miles (80km) southeast of Palm Springs. 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. He compared Nazis to Democrats and Republicans, bringing negative press stateside and angering Eisenhower. In the interwar period, Patton became a central figure in the development of the army's armored warfare doctrine, serving in numerous staff positions throughout the country. 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. Once located, the armored infantry would attack using tanks as infantry support. [214] The 1986 film The Last Days of Patton tells the story of his last few months. [175], At the time, Patton's Third Army was engaged in heavy fighting near Saarbrcken. [139] Eisenhower suppressed the incident in the media,[140] but in November journalist Drew Pearson revealed it on his radio program. Moments later the 1938 Cadillac limousine they were riding in collided with an American army truck at low speed. In October Patton briefly retired to California after being burned by an exploding gas lamp. Edit your search or learn more Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents Pictures I don't care what color you are, so long as you go up there and kill those Kraut sonsabitches! The raid was a failure, and only 35 men made it back; the rest were either killed or captured, and all 57 vehicles were lost. This was the last straw for Beatrice, and her temper flared. He named Patton commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade, part of the 2nd Armored Division. [61] The incident garnered Patton both Pershing's good favor and widespread media attention as a "bandit killer". Some city and towns records are also included. [85], Patton left France for New York City on March 2, 1919. She enjoyed the life of privilege & attended prestigious finishing schools.
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