Ricardo Reyes 2-28-13

Gen. George S. Patton

Mostly recognized for being one of the most complicated men in military history, General George Smith Patton was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He was known for carrying two ivory handled pistols and for his intemperate manner, he is also regarded as one of the most successful United States field commanders of any war. He held his troops to a high standard of excellence, and also persevered to train his troops to achieve excellence. During his childhood Patton decided that his life goal was to become a war hero. He was inspired by the stories he was told during his childhood about his ancestors in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. An education was a key part to Pattons success; in 1904 he enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute. A year after enrolling to the Virginia Military Institute, he enrolled to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and went on to graduate on June 11, 1909. Patton married Beatrice Ayer, whom he met at West Point, on May 26, 1910.In 1912 he represented the United States at the Stockholm Olympics in the first Modern Pentathlon. Patton did remarkably well in the multi-event sport, which consisted of pistol shooting, sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters horseback riding and a 4-kilometer cross country run. The twenty-six year old Patton placed fifth overall in the Olympics. Sometime after he took part in the Olympics, Patton attended the French Cavalry School; during his time there he practiced French sword drills. Patton received orders to report to the commandant of the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas in 1913,

where he became the school's first Master of the Sword. He designed and taught a course in swordsmanship while he was a student at the school. Despite his grace with a sword Patton was known for being an accident prone man. Paton was fist exposed to battle when he served as a member of General John J. Pershing's staff during the expedition to Mexico. In 1915, Patton was sent to Fort Bliss along the Mexican border; there he led routine cavalry patrols. A year later, he accompanied Pershing as an aide on his expedition against Francisco "Pancho" Villa into Mexico, where he gained recognition from press for his attacks on Villas army. He was later promoted to captain by Pershing. During 1917 Patton became the first member of the newly established U.S. Tank Corps. He took full control of the Tank Corps along with British tankers, and had a victory in Cambrai, France, during the world's first major tank battle in 1917. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism, and for taking a bullet in the leg during battle. Paton was at the high point of his military career during WWII. In 1943 he used daring assault and defense tactics to lead the 7th U.S. army to victory at the invasion of Sicily. On D-Day in 1944, when the allies invaded Normandy, President Eisenhower granted Patton command of the 3rd U.S. Army and Under Pattons leadership, the 3rd Army swept across France, liberating town after town. Patton pushed his troops to keep advancing, by any means possible. He was nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts" due to his ruthless drive and desire for battle, he wrote home to his wife, "When Im not attacking, I get bilious." In 1945, Patton and his troops crossed the Rhine and charged straight into

the heart of Germany, capturing 10,000 miles of enemy territory in the course of a 10day march, while liberating Germany from the Nazis in the process. In December of 1945, General George S. Patton broke his neck in a car crash near Mannheim, Germany. He died at the hospital in Heidelberg 12 days after, on December 21, 1945.

WORKS CITED "The Official Website of General George Patton - Biography." The Official General George S. Patton Jr. Website. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://www.generalpatton.com/biography/index.html.
"George Patton Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Accessed February 17, 2013. http://www.biography.com/people/georgepatton-9434904.

"Badass of the Week: John Basilone." Accessed February 20, 2013. http://www.badassoftheweek.com/basilone.html.