[190] On April 14, 1945, Patton was promoted to general, a promotion long advocated by Stimson in recognition of Patton's battle accomplishments during 1944. "[196] Unhappy with his position and depressed by his belief that he would never fight in another war, Patton's behavior and statements became increasingly erratic. PDF George S. Patton Papers In 1937 he wrote a paper with the title "Surprise" which predicted, with what D'Este termed "chilling accuracy", a surprise attack by the Japanese on Hawaii. To this house, completed in 1902, the Ayers brought their younger children, including Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953), who would become engaged to a young Army lieutenant - the future General George Smith Patton, Jr. - in the library of 395 Commonwealth Avenue in December 1909. . [98], Patton was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular Army on March 1, 1934, and was transferred to the Hawaiian Division in early 1935 to serve as G-2. He died on March 14, 1918, in Thomasville, Georgia, and is interred at Lowell Cemetery. [95], In July 1932, Patton (still a Major) was executive officer of the 3rd Cavalry, which was ordered to Washington by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur. And he did. Straddling the line between the home-and-war front, Lady of the Army tells the story of the General's greatest champion in life and fiercest defender in death while shedding new light on a complex personality who wanted nothing more than to die a glorious death on the battlefield. General Patton's Second in Command - Minnegate Press - The Cereal Reader [122] His uncompromising leadership style is evidenced by his orders for an attack on a hill position near Gafsa which are reported to have ended by him saying, "I expect to see such casualties among officers, particularly staff officers, as will convince me that a serious effort has been made to capture this objective. Patton knew that one of the inmates was his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters. Historical Society Dedicated to the Life, Career, and Achievements of General George S. Patton, Jr. George S. Patton Papers: Diaries, 19101945, Newspaper clippings about George S. Patton, Five Famous Locals Who Were Veterans: Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. (18851945) at Pasadena now.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_S._Patton&oldid=1152693032, Honorary Companions of the Order of the Bath, Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Modern pentathletes at the 1912 Summer Olympics, Olympic modern pentathletes of the United States, Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium), Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France), Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army), Recipients of the Order of the White Lion, United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni, United States Army generals of World War II, United States Army personnel of World War I, United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. George came running into their flat with a couple of new French swords that he had just purchased. Marshall said he would be able to do so only if the Chinese secured a major port for his entry, an unlikely scenario. [81], Patton stopped at a rear command post to submit his report before heading to a hospital. He responded with: Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. As part of a provisional corps under Major General Geoffrey Keyes, the 3rd Infantry Division under Major General Lucian Truscott covered 100 miles (160km) in 72 hours, arriving at Palermo on July 21. He served in the position until relieved by General Joseph T. McNarney on November 26th. Self-propelled artillery moved with the spearhead units and was sited well forward, ready to engage protected German positions with indirect fire. In an incident on July 22, while a U.S. armored column was under attack from German aircraft, he shot and killed a pair of mules that had stopped while pulling a cart across a bridge. [242] Eisenhower revealed his reasoning in a 1946 review of the book Patton and His Third Army: "George Patton was the most brilliant commander of an Army in the open field that our or any other service produced. [26] His paternal grandfather was George Smith Patton, who commanded the 22nd Virginia Infantry under Jubal Early in the Civil War and was killed in the Third Battle of Winchester, while his great-uncle Waller T. Patton was killed in Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. When Beatrice Banning Ayer was born on 12 January 1886, in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, her father, Frederick F Ayer, was 63 and her mother, Ellen Barrows Banning, was 32. 1913-1915 Instructor in weapons, United States Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kans. [3] He was also a devoted horseback rider.[6]. Half sister of Ellen Wheaton Wood (Ayer); James Cook Ayer; Charles Fanning Ayer and Louise Raynor Ayer. Fearing U.S. troops would be sidelined, he convinced British commanders to allow them to continue fighting through to the end of the Tunisia Campaign before leaving on this new assignment. "I had never heard," he wrote to his wife Bea, "that we fought to de-Nazify Germany - live and learn. "[145], Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months. However, his academic performance was so poor that he was forced to repeat his first year after failing mathematics. [198] Showalter believes that Patton, under severe physical and psychological stress, made up claims of sexual conquest to prove his virility. When their Sicilian owner protested, Patton attacked him with a walking stick and had his troops push the two mule carcasses off the bridge. He also stated that performance was more important than race or religious affiliation: I don't give a damn who the man is. [173] With supplies low and priority given to Montgomery until the port of Antwerp could be opened, Patton remained frustrated at the lack of progress of his forces. Patton followed the growing hostility and conquest aspirations of the militant Japanese leadership. He continuously moved throughout the command talking with men, seeking to shape them into effective soldiers. Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton (1886-1953) - Find a . The cart was blocking the way of the column. Patton's only comment on the matter was: The high spirit of sportsmanship and generosity manifested throughout speaks volumes for the character of the officers of the present day. Shortly after Beatrice Patton buried her husband, Gen. George S. Patton Jr., on Christmas Eve 1945, she summoned a woman named Jean Gordon to her hotel room in Boston. [106] His exploits earned him a spot on the cover of Life magazine. The U.S. Army had more trucks, more reliable tanks, and better radio communications, all of which contributed to a superior ability to operate at a rapid offensive pace. [73] Personally overseeing the logistics of the tanks in their first combat use by U.S. forces, and reconnoitering the target area for their first attack himself, Patton ordered that no U.S. tank be surrendered. [86], In July 1921 Patton became a member of the American Legion Tank Corps Post No. [30][31], Patton's first posting was with the 15th Cavalry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois,[32] where he established himself as a hard-driving leader who impressed superiors with his dedication. [215], On December 24, Patton was buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in the Hamm district of Luxembourg City, alongside some wartime casualties of the Third Army, in accordance with his request to "be buried with [his] men." The Third Army claimed to have killed, wounded, or captured 1,811,388 German soldiers, six times its strength in personnel. For other uses, see, Denazification controversy and antisemitism. Patton was given temporary duty in Washington D.C. that year to serve on a committee writing a manual on tank operations. On December 16, 1944, it massed 29 divisions totaling 250,000 men at a weak point in the Allied lines, and during the early stages of the ensuing Battle of the Bulge, made significant headway towards the Meuse River during a severe winter. Patton was dissatisfied with MacArthur's conduct, as he recognized the legitimacy of the veterans' complaints and had himself earlier refused to issue the order to employ armed force to disperse the veterans. [72][74] Patton commanded American-crewed Renault FT tanks at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel,[75] leading the tanks from the front for much of their attack, which began on September 12. [177] When Eisenhower asked Patton how long it would take him to disengage six divisions of his Third Army and commence a counterattack north to relieve the U.S. 101st Airborne Division which had been trapped at Bastogne, Patton replied, "As soon as you're through with me. [165] Equally important to the advance of Third Army columns in northern France was the rapid advance of the supply echelons. "[124] By the time his force reached Gabs, the Germans had abandoned it. Historians such as Charles Whiting have criticized this strategy as unnecessarily aggressive. Patton then returned to Saumur to learn advanced techniques before bringing his skills to the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he would be both a student and a fencing instructor. He was originally intended to return to the 15th Cavalry,[47] which was bound for the Philippines. <br><br>I am passionate about working in my community and giving back wherever possible. [197], Patton was appointed as military governor of Bavaria, where he led the Third Army in denazification efforts. "[186], The Third Army began crossing the Rhine River after constructing a pontoon bridge on March 22, two weeks after the First Army crossed it at Remagen, and Patton slipped a division across the river that evening. [213] He began bleeding from a gash to the head, and complained that he was paralyzed and having trouble breathing. Patton's ability to disengage six divisions from front line combat during the middle of winter, then wheel north to relieve Bastogne was one of his most remarkable achievements during the war. [7] Frederick Ayer (1888-1969) [8] [9] Mary Katherine "Kay" Ayer (1890-1981). The Strange and Shocking Similarities Between Donald Trump and "Old Patton wrote in a letter to his wife: "The bullet went into the front of my left leg and came out just at the crack of my bottom about two inches to the left of my rectum. [80] Trying to move his reserve tanks forward, Patton relates that he might have killed one of his own men, stating: "Some of my reserve tanks were stuck by some trenches. He wrote a plan to intern the Japanese living in the islands in the event of an attack as a result of the atrocities carried out by Japanese soldiers on the Chinese in the Sino-Japanese war. She met George Patton for the first time as children. Third Army was ordered toward Bavaria and Czechoslovakia, anticipating a last stand by Nazi German forces there. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911), Ruth Ellen (born February 1915), and George Patton IV (born December 1923). Casablanca fell on November 11 and Patton negotiated an armistice with French General Charles Nogus. Patton reported this attempt to liberate Oflag XIII-B as the only mistake he made during World War II. In the employment of Tank Corps troops in combat he displayed high military attainments, zeal, and marked adaptability in a form of warfare comparatively new to the American Army. "[176] Patton then argued that his Third Army should attack toward Koblenz, cutting off the bulge at the base and trap the entirety of the German armies involved in the offensive. [64], After the Villa Expedition, Patton was detailed to Front Royal, Virginia, to oversee horse procurement for the army, but Pershing intervened on his behalf. The jeep because we have so many God-awful drivers. [164], In its advance from Avranches to Argentan, the Third Army traversed 60 miles (97km) in just two weeks. The incident almost forced Patton out of active service, but a six-month administrative assignment in the Academic Department at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley helped him to recover. Patton spent time in Boston before visiting and speaking in Denver and visiting Los Angeles, where he spoke to a crowd of 100,000 at the Memorial Coliseum. After she had "treed" him on top of the crates, stabbing at his legs, and making him dance quite a jig, he pleaded, "G-- D--- it, Bea, I'm sorry! [113] He was known to oversee training maneuvers from atop a tank painted red, white and blue. [54] Patton was promoted to captain on May 15, 1917, and left for Europe, among the 180 men of Pershing's advance party which departed May 28 and arrived in Liverpool, England, on June 8. The division was one of few organized as a heavy formation with many tanks, and Patton was in charge of its training. Patton wore the ring, and it's visible in numerous photos during his life and the war years. On Thursday, May 26, 1910, a lovely Spring day, Beatrice Ayer and George Patton were married at Beverly Farms Episcopal Church near Boston, Massachusetts. Their son, George S. Patton III continued the West Point tradition and became a general. Beatrice Patton Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 . The Third Army simultaneously attacked west into Brittany, south, east toward the Seine, and north, assisting in trapping several hundred thousand German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket between Falaise and Argentan. Emma Rose - Social Media Coordinator - Cogent Environmental Solutions [52], In March 1916, Mexican forces loyal to Pancho Villa crossed into New Mexico and raided the border town of Columbus. Edit your search or learn more Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents Pictures of 1. This has led . [234] Many of his directives showed special trouble to care for the enlisted men under his command, and he was well known for arranging extra supplies for battlefield soldiers, including blankets and extra socks, galoshes, and other items normally in short supply at the front.[235]. [232], As a leader, Patton was known to be highly critical, correcting subordinates mercilessly for the slightest infractions, but also being quick to praise their accomplishments. Following the 1912 Olympics, Patton traveled to Saumur, France, where he learned fencing techniques from Adjutant Charles Clry, a French "master of arms" and instructor of fencing at the cavalry school there. Beatrice Banning Ayer was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the daughter of Frederick Ayer, an industrialist who owned a woolen mill. The first American tank designed after the war became the M46 Patton.[220]. [140], Patton's niece Jean Gordon spent some time together with him in London in 1944, and in Bavaria in 1945. Please see the last paragraph for information regarding the other site. [24] He was also descended from England's King Edward I through Edward's son Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent. "[200] Whether or not Gordon was sexually involved with Patton, she also loved a young married captain, who returned to his wife in September 1945, leaving Gordon despondent. [150][151] This duty kept Patton busy during the first half of 1944. [27] His father was a wealthy rancher and lawyer who owned a one-thousand-acre (400ha) ranch near Pasadena, California. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911), Ruth Ellen (born February 1915), and George Patton IV (born December 1923). She married Gen. George Smith Patton Jr. on 25 May 1910, in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. The halftrack because the boys in it go all heroic, thinking they are in a tank. [34] Patton had a high-pitched voice and worried that this would make it impossible for him to inspire his troops. If you try to go that early you won't have all three divisions ready and you'll go piecemeal." The major U.S. and Allied advantages were in mobility and air superiority. [64] After the United States entered World War I, in April 1917, and Pershing was named commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front, Patton requested to join his staff. [72], In August 1918, he was placed in charge of the U.S. 1st Provisional Tank Brigade (redesignated the 304th Tank Brigade on November 6, 1918). [233] Patton reportedly had the utmost respect for the men serving in his command, particularly the wounded. Rows 57 are foreign medals and noted where required. The name index for death . Computed Name Heading. He intended to discuss with his wife whether he would continue in a stateside post or retire from the Army.[211]. Still, 40,000 German and 70,000 Italian troops escaped to Italy with 10,000 vehicles. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911),[8] Ruth Ellen (born February 1915),[9] and George Patton IV (born December 1923). She married Major General James Willoughby Totten on 6 July 1940, in Hamilton, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Registers, records and certificates of county birth and death records acquired from county courthouses. She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a little dimple in her chin just like her mother. Immediate Family Jean Gordon partner Beatrice Banning Ayer wife Beatrice "Bee" Patton daughter Ruth Ellen "Nell" Patton daughter Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, IV son George Smith Patton, II father Ruth Patton mother Anne Wilson Patton sister Private stepchild About Gen. George S. Patton Biography [36] Patton was the only American among the 42 pentathletes, who were all officers. Its losses were 2,102 killed, 7,954 wounded, and 1,591 missing. [122] During this time, he reported to British General Sir Harold Alexander, commander of the 18th Army Group, and came into conflict with Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham about the lack of close air support being provided for his troops. "[133] Bradley refused Patton's suggestions. Fresno County. The Patton and Banning Families, both prominent in the history of Southern California, shared a close relationship; Benjamin Wilson and Phineas Banning (founder of the Port of Los Angeles and of Wilmington, California) were business partners. The schooner was designed by famous naval architect John G. Alden and built in 1939. [190] Patton later said he felt the correct decision would have been to send a Combat Command, which is a force about three times larger. "[244] As Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy told Eisenhower: "Lincoln's remark after they got after Grant comes to mind when I think of Patton'I can't spare this man, he fights'. This code phrase initiated a prearranged operational order with Patton's staff, mobilizing three divisionsthe 4th Armored Division, the 80th Infantry Division, and the 26th Infantry Divisionfrom the Third Army and moving them north toward Bastogne. [229] His public image was more seriously damaged after word of the slapping incidents broke. United States. Modern competitions at this level frequently now employ a moving backdrop specifically to track multiple shots through the same hole. General Henri Giraud was incredulous when he heard of Patton's dismissal by Eisenhower in late 1945, and invited him to Paris to be decorated by French President, Charles de Gaulle, at a state banquet. The only US soldier with tank-driving experience, Patton personally backed seven of the tanks off the train. At the United States' entry into World War II, he commanded the 2nd Armored Division. Patton's great oratory skill is seen as integral to his ability to inspire troops under his command. [67] He received the first ten tanks on March 23, 1918, at the tank school at Bourg, a small village close to Langres, Haute-Marne dpartement. "[133], Two high-profile incidents of Patton striking subordinates during the Sicily campaign attracted national controversy following the end of the campaign. By the end of the battle, the 200,000-man Seventh Army had suffered 7,500 casualties, and killed or captured 113,000 Axis troops and destroyed 3,500 vehicles. Chaffee was named commander of this force,[104] and created the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions as well as the first combined arms doctrine. Patton, Robert H. The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family. In peacetime, though, he would remain a colonel to remain eligible to command a regiment. Ellie named her daughter Beatrice not because of a family connection, but because of its meaning. Don't let them down and, damn you, don't let me down! [153] Because of this, Patton was made a prominent figure in the deception scheme Operation Fortitude during the first half of 1944. [41] The judges' ruling was upheld. Patton left this office in 1931, returned to Massachusetts and attended the Army War College, becoming a "Distinguished Graduate" in June 1932. 19. [139] Eisenhower suppressed the incident in the media,[140] but in November journalist Drew Pearson revealed it on his radio program. While Eisenhower and Marshall both considered Patton to be a skilled combat commander, they felt Bradley was less impulsive and less prone to making mistakes. [128] He sought an amphibious assault, but it was delayed by lack of landing craft, and his troops did not land at Santo Stefano until August 8, by which time the Germans and Italians had already evacuated the bulk of their troops to mainland Italy. Brief Life History of George Smith. Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953) FamilySearch [63] He returned from the expedition permanently in February 1917. Patton's father, who graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), became a lawyer and later the district attorney of Los Angeles County. She was a fine writer complyling three books. She was born Beatrice Banning Ayer in Haverhill, Massachusetts the daughter of Frederick Ayer an industrialist who owned a woolen mill. [33] In late 1911, Patton was transferred to Fort Myer, Virginia, where many of the Army's senior leaders were stationed. Many military officers claim inspiration from his legacy. She enjoyed the life of privilege & attended prestigious finishing schools. Charles Fanning Ayer , Heidelberg,. [54][60] It was not clear if Patton personally killed any of the men, but he was known to have wounded all three. [166], Patton's offensive came to a halt on August 31, 1944, as the Third Army ran out of fuel near the Moselle River, just outside Metz. His division executed a 400-mile (640km) end run around the Red Army and "captured" Shreveport, Louisiana. FUSAG was in reality an intricately constructed fictitious army of decoys, props, and fake radio signal traffic based around Dover to mislead German reconnaissance planes and to make Axis leaders believe that a large force was massing there. [106] He repeated the exercise with his entire division of 1,300 vehicles the next month. Several actors have portrayed Patton on screen, the most famous being George C. Scott in the 1970 film Patton, for which he won (and refused) the Academy Award for Best Actor. [102], Patton had a personal schooner named When and If. [176] In all, Patton would reposition six full divisions, U.S. III Corps and U.S. XII Corps, from their positions on the Saar River front along a line stretching from Bastogne to Diekirch and to Echternach, the town in Luxembourg that had been at the southern end of the initial "Bulge" front line on December 16. Patton later changed his mind. He began traveling, visiting Paris, Rennes, Chartres, Brussels, Metz, Reims, Luxembourg, and Verdun. [204] He also resisted Eisenhower's orders to evict Germans from their homes in order to house Jews. [240], Patton admired Russia as a political entity, but was disdainful of Russians as a people, saying, The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. The friendship resulted in marriage in 1910 which lasted over thirty years and . [54][62] Shortly after, he was promoted to first lieutenant while a part of the 10th Cavalry on May 23, 1916. After the war, he was assigned to Camp Meade, Maryland, and reverted to his permanent rank of captain on June 30, 1920, though he was promoted to major again the next day. Patton had a younger sister, Anne, nicknamed "Nita. I feel compelled, therefore, to compare him with Generalfeldmarschall Rommel, who likewise had mastered the art of tank warfare. Some city and towns records are also included. [90] Maj. Patton led the rescue effort after a January 1922 blizzard destroyed the Knickerbocker Theatre in D.C.[91][92] From 1922 to mid-1923 he attended the Field Officer's Course at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, then he attended the Command and General Staff College from mid-1923 to mid-1924,[88] graduating 25th out of 248. Beatrice Banning Ayer dating history - Who's Dated Who? [68] At the conclusion of his tour on December 1, Patton went to Albert, 30 miles (48km) from Cambrai, to be briefed on the results of this attack by the chief of staff of the British Tank Corps, Colonel J. F. C. [115][116] Patton commanded the Western Task Force, consisting of 33,000 men in 100 ships, in landings centered on Casablanca, Morocco. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. There is another woman's presence: The ashes of the general's widow, Beatrice Ayer Patton were strewn over his grave by their children several years after her death. An attempt by Patton to seize Fort Driant just south of Metz was defeated, but by mid-November Metz had fallen to the Americans. [24] Family belief held the Pattons were descended from sixteen barons who had signed Magna Carta. Beatrice Banning Ayer was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the daughter of Frederick Ayer, an industrialist who. Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it. [54] He left Paris and reported to the French Army's tank training school at Champlieu near Orrouy, where he drove a Renault FT light tank. [142][143] The views of the general public remained mixed on the matter,[144] and eventually Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson stated that Patton must be retained as a commander because of the need for his "aggressive, winning leadership in the bitter battles which are to come before final victory. They had been slaughtered" Patton is reported to have said: "Try the bastards. [196] Privately, Patton expressed a soldier's respect for the Germans as adversaries and a resistance to removing Nazi party members from power. Chagrined to discover that his unit would not participate, Patton appealed to expedition commander John J. Pershing, and was named his personal aide for the expedition. [196] His final media blowup occurred in September 1945, when goaded by reporters about denazification, he said "[d]enazification would be like removing all the Republicans and all the Democrats who were in office, who had held office or were quasi-Democrats or Republicans and that would take some time." [127], Initially ordered to protect the British forces' left flank, Patton was granted permission by Alexander to take Palermo after Montgomery's forces became bogged down on the road to Messina. He competed in the modern pentathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition to his other Asiatic characteristics, the Russian has no regard for human life and is an all out son of bitch, barbarian, and chronic drunk. Severely injured in an auto accident, he died in Germany twelve days later, on December 21, 1945. [76], Patton was a staunch fatalist,[224] and he believed in reincarnation. [175], At the time, Patton's Third Army was engaged in heavy fighting near Saarbrcken. Advancing on Gabs, Patton's corps pressured the Mareth Line. He refused to have Jewish chaplains at his headquarters. He commenced these exercises in late 1941 and continued them into the summer of 1942. [17] Patton's wife Beatrice died on September 30, 1953, from a ruptured aneurysm[18] after falling while riding her horse in a hunt with her brother and others at the Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Patton never seriously considered a career other than the military. Historian Carlo D'Este later wrote that the Lorraine campaign was one of Patton's least successful, faulting him for not deploying his divisions more aggressively and decisively. The friendship resulted in marriage in 1910 which lasted over thirty years and . Patton family - Social Networks and Archival Context He then relinquished command of II Corps to Bradley, and returned to the I Armored Corps in Casablanca to help plan Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. While he was at VMI, Senator Thomas R. Bard nominated him for West Point.
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