George S. Patton

George S. Patton
George S. Patton as a lieutenant general
Nickname(s)Bandito, Old Blood and Guts, The Old Man
Born(1885-11-11)November 11, 1885
San Gabriel, California
DiedDecember 21, 1945(1945-12-21) (aged 60)
Heidelberg, Occupied Germany
Place of burial
American Cemetery and Memorial
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
49°36′42″N 06°11′08″E / 49.61167°N 6.18556°E / 49.61167; 6.18556
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army
Years of service1909–1945
Rank General
CommandsMachinegun Platoon/3/15th Cavalry Regiment
K/3/15th Cavalry Regiment
A/1/7th Cavalry Regiment
HQs Troop/American Expeditionary Force
302nd Tank Center
1st Light Tank Battalion
1st Light Tank Regiment
1st Tank Brigade
304th Tank Brigade
3/3rd Cavalry Regiment
5th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2/2nd Armored Division
2nd Armored Division
US 1st Armored Corps
Desert Training Center
US 1st Armored Corps
U.S. II Corps
US 1st Armored Corps
U.S. Seventh Army
U.S. Third Army
U.S. Fifteenth Army
Battles / warsMexican Revolution
  • Battle of San Miguelito

World War I

  • Saint Mihiel Campaign
  • Meuse-Argonne Campaign

World War II

AwardsDistinguished Service Cross (2)
Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Legion of Honor (Fr)
Order of the White Lion (Cz)
RelationsMajor General George Patton IV (son)
General John K. Waters (Son in law)

George Smith Patton, Jr. (also George Smith Patton III) (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a U.S. Army officer who was in the army from 1909 to his death.[1] He was in charge of many soldiers and worked to defeat Nazi Germany during World War II in Europe.

He was sent to the North African Campaign in 1942 after the United States, led by Franklin D. Roosevelt, declared war on Nazi Germany after he Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 because Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party supported Japanese Emperor Hirohito after Luftwaffe Commander Hermann Göring and Kriegsmarine Admiral Erich Raeder urged him to declare war on America.

Patton was also involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Allied invasion of Italy, and the Normandy landings in some of the most severe fighting in the war. However, he also was involved in a series of slapping incidents.

Patton was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He was married to Beatrice Banning Ayer from 1910 to his death; they had a son.

Patton died on December 21, 1945 after a car crash in Heidelberg, Germany, aged 60. He was later buried at American Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. In the movie Patton, he was portrayed by George C. Scott.

References

  1. Carlo D'Este. Patton : A Genius for War HarperCollins, (1995).