A Brief Biography of George S. Patton Jr.

George S. Patton Jr.; born November 11th 1885 in San Gabriel California was born into a family of long military service. Over the course of his life he would follow this tradition and become a driving force of the allied victory in World War II. He was also a descendent of the revolutionary war brigadier general Hugh Mercer. Some family also fought for the confederacy. Along his adventures as a child he found an old confederate raider by the name of John S. Mosby. He told Patton old war stories and this drove him to carry on his family tradition and want to become a soldier. Leaving home he went to the Virginia Military Institute in 1903. (Province) After he was in the institute for a year he transferred to West Point in 1904. (Province) He repeated his plebe year at West Point due to his deficiency in math; he then graduated at the rank of cadet adjutant in 1909. (Hickman)

After his graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the cavalry in 1909 and reports to the 15th cavalry in Fort Sheridan Illinois. (Province) Later in 1910 he married Beatrice Ayer, the daughter Frederick Ayer of Boston who was the owner of the American Woolen Company. (Province) A year later in 1911 their first child Beatrice Patton, Jr. is born. (Province) In 1912 he competed in the first modern pentathlon, representing the United States, he did surprising well for the twenty-six year old. The events consisted of pistol shooting from 25 meters, sword fencing, 800 meter horseback ride, 300 meter free style swim, and a 4-kilometer cross country run. He placed fifth overall despite his non stellar performance in the shooting portion. While most contestants chose a .22 revolver Patton felt the event should return to its military roots so he chose a ...

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... Czechoslovakia. Later when Germany surrendered on May 8th (also known as Victory in Europe Day) he starts an argument that the Allies have just traded the Nazis for the Communists in Eastern Europe, which for the most part were true. He begins his duties as the Military Governor of Bavaria returning to the United States Briefly for a Bond drive. But he was removed from command of the 3rd army for his criticism of “de-nazification’ policies and given command of the 15th army which only existed on paper. Later in December 9th he suffered a neck injury in the automobile accident near Mannheim, Germany. He hangs on for over a week before finally sucumbing to his injuries later on December 21th at the 130th Station Hospital in heidelberg, Germany. He is later buried in the American Military Cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg along with the men that served with him. (Province)