George S. Patton

“Patton is indispensable to the war effort – one of the guarantors of our victory,” General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Allen).  General George Patton was one of the most brilliant military leaders to ever exist, influencing US tank warfare for years to come and winning victory after victory in both world wars, even in impossible situations. Patton was born in San Gabriel, CA, in 1885. Born into an influential family, his father was the District Attorney of Los Angeles. His grandfather had been mayor of the city and owned the largest producer of wine and brandy in the state. Many of his ancestors fought in the Confederate Army. Patton also had one sister and no other siblings, growing up on a ranch and schooled at the United States Military Academy. To be a hero, a person must possess leadership and determination. Leadership is required to rally your troops and assistants to further your cause, and determination is required to push through even through the most stressful and impossible circumstances. Through General George S. Patton’s successful commandership of tanks and armies during both world wars, he displays his determination and leadership in getting the job done. Patton is undeniably a hero.

General Patton as a colonel in 1919; commons.wikimedia.orgU.S. Army [Public domain]General Patton was determined, advancing and weathering out the storm even through the most difficult and impossible circumstances. In WWII, General Patton was at war in Italy fighting the Italians and Germans. Under orders from the Allied command, he brought to bear the full force of his army against the enemy forces and prevailed. “Patton took command of the Seventh Army for the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. In 39 days, his army and the British Eighth Army captured the island” (Stokesbury). The general’s forces took 39 days, through hard passages and rough terrain to conquer a piece of land and destroy an enemy force. His feat at Sicily was instrumental in enabling the Allied forces to occupy Italy. General Patton's assault on Sicily also brought him to fame and recognition among Allied forces. “In July 1942, Patton, now a lieutenant general, turned his attention to Sicily. By the end of the Sicilian campaign, he was recognized as the best, most experienced, and most senior battle general the U.S. Army had” (¨George Patton¨ UXL) His tactics sent him to new heights and gave him valuable experience. Truly an asset to the US Army, he was the firefighter when things went wrong. Through the Sicilian campaign General Patton effectively and efficiently used his assets to neutralize the enemy force, showing a determination to do so even through the roughest campaigns and hardened enemy resistance.

General Patton showed leadership in invading France through his commandership of the Third Army. In 1944 Operation Overlord was ordered, the largest amphibious operation in military history. Patton began there, eventually conquering France and making it to Germany at the war’s end. “By May 1945, when the war ended, the Third Army covered more distance, captured more prisoners, crossed more rivers, and liberated more friendly territory, and had done so in less time, than any similar army in history. The Germans, outwitted and outmaneuvered, surrendered in the tens of thousands.” (George S.). General Patton commanding, the Third Army had done the impossible, doing the work of army groups in the process. Without the brilliant tactical genius of General Patton, the Third Army never would have been in a position to conquer so much land, capture so many prisoners, and outwit so many enemy generals. General Patton was a true leader. He gave the credit not to himself, but to his soldiers for achieving so much. The result of his leadership was playing a crucial role in the surrender of Germany. “Patton accomplished the seemingly impossible. His May 9, 1945, victory order to his troops read: "During the 281 days of incessant and victorious combat, your penetrations have advanced further in less time than any other army in history. You have fought your way across 24 major rivers and innumerable lesser streams. You have liberated or conquered more than 82,000 square miles of territory, including 1500 towns and cities, and some 12,000 inhabited places. Prior to the termination of active hostilities, you had captured in battle 956,000 enemy soldiers and killed or wounded at least 500,000 others” (George Patton UXL). General Patton is a true tactician, and therefore he is a leader. Even though his no-nonsense attitude drew some criticism, his brilliant command superseded the accomplishments of any other military force that ever fought in any war. Tanks and other armor in front, his forces blasted the enemy to smithereens, not slowed down one bit in the process. Under any other general, this would not have been possible. General Patton’s effective and efficient management of his command and his skillful direction of the Third’s large forces demonstrated leadership through the thick and thin of the war.

General Patton manning a machine gun; commons.wikimedia.orgno data [Public domain]General George S. Patton’s determination and leadership is clearly displayed in his eminent command of armored and infantry forces and determination to effectively do so. General George Patton epitomizes what determination and leadership is. His Third and Seventh Armies were propelled to legendary status only because of his adept governance of them. Patton is a true inspiration for soldiers and civilians, proving that things can be done regardless of any other circumstances. “Almost incidentally do we realize that George S. Patton could well have been the greatest combat general of the 20th century. On the battlefield, Patton performed brilliantly time and again, and no one can derogate his landings near Casablanca, triumphs in Tunisia, victory in Sicily, counterattack at Bastogne, and leap across the Rhine” (¨George S.¨). Through his military accomplishments, we know General Patton is an inspirational person. No other commander could have so coherently led his forces in the manner that he did, efficiently combining armor and infantry, taking advantage of air attacks from the US Army Air Corps, and delegating responsibilities to his staff. Due to General Patton’s creativity, his roughness, and his tough love as well as ability to marshal his forces to do the impossible, the general is widely known to be the most successful combat general in military history, standing among great leaders such as Alexander the Great and August von Mackensen. General Patton led his forces faithfully, independently, and in a determined fashion. No other general in the United States armed forces is in a position to, was in a position to, and will be in a position to measure up to the great accomplishments he made. He has made his statement to the world, at the bleeding edge of armored warfare. The greatest leader of all time, generations of Americans across the world will and should remember his crucial part in bringing peace to the world, and military tacticians will forever put in the textbooks his legendary advances throughout Italy, France and Germany. Though the general is deceased, his legacy will remain a shining light through the ages.

Works Cited

     “George Patton.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 18 Apr. 2019, www.biography.com/military-figure/george-patton.

"George S. Patton." Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire, Gale, 1994. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1616000462/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=aa91b334. Accessed 13 May 2019.

Stokesbury, James L. "Patton, George Smith, Jr.." World Book Advanced, World Book, 2019,

www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar417960. Accessed 13 May 2019

"George Patton." UXL Biographies, UXL, 2011. Research in Context,     https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2108101777/MSIC?u=powa9245&sid=MSIC&xid=22c35f6a. Accessed 9 May 2019.

Allen, Arthur, et al. “The Problem With Trump's Admiration of General Patton.” POLITICO Magazine, 26            Dec. 2016, www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/trump-general-patton-admiration-214545.