General George Smith Patton Jr.

General George Smith Patton Jr.

General George Smith Patton Jr. is one of the most interesting military men in the History of the United States. He was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California and is known as one of the most successful US commanders in any war. During his childhood Patton’s inspiration and personal goal in life was to be a hero of war. Apparently, it may have been in his genes, as several of his ancestors had fought in many wars before him to include the Revolutionary war, Mexican war and the Civil war. After High School Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute for a year (“General George S Patton”). The story goes that while a Cadet there he was disciplined for riding a horse down a flight of stairs. From there he went on to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point New York, after which he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Fifteenth Calvary regiment.

Shortly after graduation, Patton married a young lady named Beatrice Ayer whom he dated while a Cadet at West Point. In 1912, Patton represented the US in the Stockholm Olympics, competing in the first modern pentathlon. This event was originally open to military officers and was considered a rigorous test, of the skills, a soldier should possess. It consisted of a 25 meter pistol shoot, sword fencing, a 300 meter swim, an 800 meter horseback ride and a 4 kilometer run (“General George S Patton”). Twenty six year old Patton excelled in the multi event competition. However, during the competition Patton was docked points for missing the target. He placed 5th overall even after failing miserably in the shooting portion. Instead of using a .22 caliber revolver like everyone else, he chose a .38 caliber revol...

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...held sharply different opinions on him he was regarded highly by his opponents in the German high command”( “George S Patton” History.com).

“On December 9 he suffered injuries as the result of an automobile accident. He died 12 days later, on December 21, 1945 and is buried among the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Bulge in Hamm, Luxenburg”( “George S Patton” History.com).

Gitlin, Marty. George S. Patton: World War II General & Military Innovator . Edina, MN: ABDO Pub.Co.2010.

Hirshon, Stanley P. General Patton: A Soldiers Life. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.

Wikipedia: General George S Patton Jr. Wikimedia Foundation. Inc. 22 July 2004. 19 May 2014.

Staff, History.com. "History.com. George S Patton. American & World." . A+E Networks, 1 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 May 2014. .