George S. Patton

"Patton" redirects here. For other uses, see Patton (disambiguation).

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. He was in charge of many soldiers and worked to defeat Nazi Germany during World War II in Europe.

George S. Patton
George S. Patton as a lieutenant general
Nickname	Bandito, Old Blood and Guts, The Old Man
Born	(1885-11-11)November 11, 1885 San Gabriel, California
Died	December 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)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1909–1945
Rank	General
Commands held	Machinegun 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/wars	Mexican Revolution Battle of San Miguelito World War I Saint Mihiel Campaign Meuse-Argonne Campaign World War II North Africa Campaign Sicily Campaign Normandy Campaign Lorraine Campaign Ardennes Campaign
Awards	Distinguished 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)
Relations	Major General George Patton IV (son) General John K. Waters (Son in law)

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.

George S. Patton Media

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  Patton at the Virginia Military Institute

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  Patton (right) fencing in the modern pentathlon of the 1912 Summer Olympics

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  Image of the Model 1913 Cavalry Sword, commonly called the Patton Sword after its designer, Second Lieutenant George S, Patton, Jr.

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  Patton on his steeplechase horse, Wooltex, in 1914

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  The durability of the 1915 Dodge Brothers Model 30-35 touring car won renown for the new automaker following its use in the 1916 Pancho Villa Expedition

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  Major General John J. Pershing, accompanied by Captain George S. Patton, inspecting men of Patton's headquarters troop at American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) headquarters, Chaumont, France, 1917

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  Patton at Bourg in France in 1918 with a Renault FT light tank

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  Tank Corps School near Langres, France, 15 July 1918. Tank crew receiving instruction from officers, from left to right: Captain Ranulf Compton, Chief Instructor, and Lieutenant Colonel George S. Patton (center, with back towards the camera), the Commanding Officer

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  Patton as a temporary colonel at Camp Meade, Maryland, 1919