8/14/2023 0 Comments Western tank force patton![]() The plebe began working with a tutor and redoubled his efforts to receive adequate grades for the remainder of his tenure at West Point, eventually graduating 46th in his class of 103 cadets. Military Academy and was required to repeat his first year after failing mathematics. Patton struggled academically during his initial year at the U.S. Patton Was Forced to Repeat His First Year at West Point Before the 1943 invasion of Sicily, British General Harold Alexander told Patton, “You know, George, you would have made a great marshal for Napoleon if you had lived in the 19th century.” Patton replied, “But I did.” The general believed that after he died he would return to once again lead armies into battle. Patton claimed he had seen combat many times before in previous lives, including as a Roman legionnaire and as part of the 14th-century army of John the Blind of Bohemia. Patton was also selected for the 1916 Olympic team, but the Games were canceled due to World War I. While the judges believed Patton missed the target with one of his shots, he argued that he was so fine a marksman that one of his bullets actually traveled through a bullet hole he had already made. Of the 42 competitors, he finished in fifth place, although he might have medaled if not for controversy in the pistol-shooting event. ![]() Patton Was an Olympic AthleteĪs a 26-year-old Army Cavalry Officer, Patton was selected as the sole American competitor in the first-ever Olympic modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm. The following are ten additional facts about the outspoken American General nicknamed “Old Blood and Guts.” To this day, Patton is considered one of the most successful field commanders in U.S history. ![]() In 1947, his memoir, “War as I Knew It”, was published posthumously. He died at the hospital in Heidelberg 12 days after, on December 21, 1945. Patton broke his neck in a car crash near Mannheim, Germany. In 1945, Patton and his army managed to cross the Rhine and charge straight into the heart of Germany, capturing 10,000 square miles of enemy territory along the course of the 10-day march, and liberating Germany from the Nazis in the process. Nicknamed “Old Blood and Guts” due to his ruthless drive and apparent lust for battle, he wrote home to his wife, “When I’m not attacking, I get bilious.” “Keep on advancing – whether we go over, under, or through the enemy,” Patton told his troops. Under Patton’s leadership, the 3rd Army swept across France, capturing town after town. On D-Day in 1944, when the allies invaded Normandy, President Roosevelt granted Patton command of the 3rd U.S. Army to victory at the invasion of Sicily. ![]() In 1943 he used daring assault and defense tactics to lead the 7th U.S. It was during WWII that Patton hit the high point of his military career. He was later wounded in the battle of Meuse-Argonne and later earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of the tank brigade and for establishing the tank school. He organized the American tank school in Bourg, France, and trained American tankers to pilot the French Renault tanks. Patton studied this battle and established himself as one of the leading experts in tank warfare. Tanks had proven effective in France at the Battle of Cambria. In 1917, during WWI, Patton was the first officer assigned to the new American Expeditionary Force Tank Corps. Pershing promoted Patton to captain and invited him to lead Pershing’s Headquarters Troop once they left Mexico. In Mexico, Patton impressed Pershing by personally shooting Mexican leader Julio Cardenas during the Battle of Columbus. ![]() Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Mexico. Patton had his first real taste of battle in 1915 when leading cavalry patrols against Poncho Villa at Fort Bliss along the Mexican border. ![]()
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