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After the German Surrender - George Patton Biography
In the aftermath of the victory in Europe, George Patton was disappointed by the Army's refusal to give him another combat command in the Pacific. Unhappy in his role as as the military governor of Bavaria and depressed by his belief that he would never fight in another war, Patton's behavior and statements became increasingly erratic.
Carlo D'Este, in Patton: A Genius for War, writes that "it seems virtually inevitable . . . that Patton experienced some type of brain damage from too many head injuries" from a lifetime of numerous auto- and horse-related accidents, especially one suffered while playing polo in 1936.
Whatever the cause, George Patton found himself once again in trouble with his superiors and the American people. While speaking to a group of reporters, he compared the Nazis to losers in American political elections. Patton was soon relieved of his Third Army command and transferred to the Fifteenth Army, a paper command preparing a history of the war.
Bitter and intending to soon resign from the Army, in October 1945 General George Patton assumed control of the Fifteenth Army. However, on December 9 he suffered serious injuries from an auto accident. Patton died on December 21, 1945 and was buried in the American War Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg.
Dates of rank - George Patton Biography
The following is the promotion history of General Patton:
Second Lieutenant, United States Army: June 11, 1909
First Lieutenant,United States Army: May 23, 1916
Captain, United States Army: May 15, 1917
Major, National Army: January 26, 1918
Lieutenant Colonel, National Army: March 30, 1918
Colonel, National Army: October 17, 1918
Captain, Regular Army (reverted to permanent rank): June 30, 1920
Major, Regular Army: July 1, 1920
Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: March 1, 1934
Colonel, Regular Army: July 1, 1938
Brigadier General, Regular Army: October 1, 1940 (made permanent September 1, 1943)
Major General, Regular Army: April 4, 1941 (made permanent September 2, 1943)
Lieutenant General, Army of the United States: March 12, 1943
General, Army of the United States: April 14, 1945
Notes regarding components:
United States Army: U.S. Army components prior to World War I
National Army: Combined conscript and regular forces during World War I
Regular Army: Peacetime forces prior to World War II. During World War II, considered the "career" soldiers.
Army of the United States: Combined draft and regular forces during World War II. AUS officers held temporary rank for the duration of the conflict.
Awards and decorations - George Patton Biography
At the time of General George Patton's death, he was authorized the following awards and decorations.
Distinguished Service Cross with one oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Silver Lifesaving Medal
World War I Victory Medal with five battle clasps
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars
Mexican Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
British Order of the Bath
Order of the British Empire
Belgium Order of Leopold
Belgian Croix de Guerre
French Legion of Honor
French Croix de Guerre
French Liberation Medal
Czechoslovakian Military Cross
Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia
Grand Luxemburg Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Luxemburg War Cross
Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite of French Morocco
General Patton was also awarded numerous commemorative medals, badges, and pins that were not meant for display on a military uniform or were not considered official military decorations.
In 1955, the U.S. Army posthumously presented General Patton with the Army of Occupation Medal for service as the first occupation commander of Bavaria.
The movie - George Patton Biography
General George Patton was the focus of the 1970 Academy Award-winning movie Patton, with the title role played by George C. Scott. As a result of the movie and its now-famous opening monologue (based on a real speech he often made to Third Army troops before the Normandy invasion), in popular culture Patton has come to symbolize a warrior's fierceness and aggressiveness. Patton scholars, however, have often disparaged the movie's accuracy, noting the heavy influence of Omar Bradley as senior military advisor and writer. Bradley, played in the movie by Karl Malden, had a tumultuous relationship with Patton and the movie's treatment of him is blatantly hagiographic.
Patton the legend and Patton the man - George Patton Biography
The fame which came from the movie is somewhat misleading since the opening monologue is delivered from a stage in front of what sounds like a very large audience. The real George Patton was not known as a good public speaker. He was very self-conscious and knew that his high-pitched voice risked making him sound like an old grandmother. He was fascinated with military history and loved to expound on it, regaling those who were amateurs in the subject but boring all others. This is in sharp contrast to the gravelly voice of George C. Scott, and his confident delivery of a finely-tuned and concise speech.
Even more ironic was his coming to symbolize a fierce and aggressive warrior. George Patton was certainly a very persistent individual who reached his goal of becoming a great general after having overcome disabilities which are often overlooked by some of his more flattering biographers. Contrary to popular belief, Patton was a career officer and a team player who supported and was supported by his brother officers, within the context of a large military bureaucracy.
From an early age George Patton dreamt of becoming a great general, and did everything necessary to become one. His focus made him ignore civilian life to the point where, in World War II, he did not realize that he was commanding an army of civilians who would be returning to civilian life after the war, and who did not see Army life exactly as he did. His brother officers, who were by then his brother generals, were more astute about such problems and managed to keep him out of trouble most of the time. The soldier-slapping incident of August 1943, which is described above, was one instance where they were unable to manage things in time. They were more successful in keeping him from throwing corporal Bill Mauldin in jail since they realized that his sometimes-sarcastic cartoons were good for morale. They also kept their brother general from outlawing the Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of the U.S. soldiers, when its editorial policy and reporting did not suit him.
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