The fake news that haunted George Washington. A blood clot in his paralyzed body had worked its way to his heart, stopping it and ending the life of one of Americas greatest battlefield commanders. During the demobilization that followed World War I, Patton reverted to the permanent rank of captain. It is hell to be old and pass and know it., In his despondency, Patton reverted to the things he liked and did bestoverseeing the training and discipline of his Army, riding, hunting, and readingand for exercise he added a squash court to his residence. Gordon turned gray, and Ayer ran from the room. Before it departed, seventeen Army cannons roared a salute to the fallen general. But the end of the war with Japan only added to his low morale; on August 10 he wrote in his diary, Another war has ended and with it my usefulness to the world. He complained that some Germans were being interned there as political prisoners without justification. Pall bearers, including Master Sergeant George Meeks, carry Pattons casket on its last leg of the journey to his burial spot in the American cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. . Woodring was unable to stop in time, and the two vehicles collided at a 90-degree angle, with the right front bumper of the truck smashing the radiator and bumper of the Cadillac. events, and resources, The Real Story of General George Patton, Jrs Death & Final Days. A plane was sent to London to fetch them, and after they arrived on the morning of the 10th, they advised some changes that turned out to be equally painful. Courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration. Join historians and history buffs alike with our Unlimited Digital Access pass to every military history article ever published (over 3,000 articles) in Sovereigns military history magazines. Pattons final command was to head the Fifteenth U.S. Army in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where he oversaw the writing of a history of the war in Europe, a role Patton described as serving as an undertaker at my own funeral. On December 9, 1945, Patton sustained serious injuries to his head and spine in a low-speed car accident; after 12 days of terrible pain, he died. Why does General Patton still lay in Europe? Patton, too, seems to have known that his injuries were irreversible, if not terminal. But he was ignored. I am afraid that our foolish and utterly stupid policy will certainly cause them to join the Russians and thereby ensure a communistic state throughout Western Europe. June 2009. Hitlers mother was the only person he ever genuinely loved. Cancer killed her decades before he became a monster. You seem to have forgotten that you lost the war! However, Hubert Meyer, the ex-Chief of Staff of the Hitlerjugend, recalled that on the occasion of Pattons visit things had been very different. Patton Museum: Death Car. George S. Patton (son) George S. Patton (grandson) Colonel George Patton Sr. (June 26, 1833 - September 25, 1864) was a Confederate colonel during the American Civil War. A number of books and films have advanced conspiracy theories suggesting that the outspoken Patton was actually assassinated on orders from either Washington or Moscow. The more I see of people, the more I regret I survived the war. He even accused the U.S. Treasury Secretary of Semitic revenge against Germany., On July 16, the Potsdam Conference convened, and Patton, resplendent with 20 stars and ivory-handled pistols, was in Berlin to see Truman preside over the raising of the American flag in the U.S. sector of the divided former German capital. Behind them are Beatrices brother, Frederick Ayer, and Major General Hobart Hap Gay, who was with Patton at the time of his car accident. No one was hurt except Patton, who, despite a nasty gash on his head, immediately realized he had been paralyzed. He was to return to the States for a 30-day bond sales tour. 3. That limousine we know from pictures and records was a 1938 Series 75 Cadillac sedan, a rare type. Patton obviously saw into the future and what the world would be like in our time with Russia and china. Following his campaign in Western Europe, George S. Patton had difficulty adjusting to peacetime and was fatally injured in an automobile accident. In that role he designed the U.S. Model 1913 Enlisted Cavalry Saber, known as the Patton Sword. Patton also loved polo, and he played it, like he pursued so many things, with a violent, reckless abandon, frequently injuring himself in the process. There were, of course, no seat belts in those days, and whereas Gay and Woodring, having seen the oncoming truck, had braced themselves for the impact, Patton, who had been looking out the side window, had not. Camp 24 at Auerbach, 100 miles northeast of Munich, held former members of the 1st Leibstandarte and 12th Hitlerjugend SS Panzer Divisions, and there had already been complaints by the senior German officer of unbearable treatment of seriously disabled comrades.. But Eisenhowers mind was made up. One of Pattons last acts before handing over command was to award a Silver Star to his driver of more than four years, Master Sergeant John Mims. She asked her brother, Fred Ayer, to set up the meeting. When Patton was a young adult, he was kicked by a horse, who broke his leg in three places. I despise them. Do you want me to give it back? Over the next 10 days, they cleared the entire region north of the Moselle River, trapping thousands of Germans. There he competed against military officers from around the world in the modern pentathlon, an event that included swimming, pistol shooting, running, fencing, and riding. Then, with the formalities over, he was finally able to embrace his wife Beatriceit was their first hug in nearly three years. His wife came but he wa sunable to speak to her. By that time their armor was easily superior to ours, and their soldiers knew how to defeat a well trained enemy while sustaining millions of casualties. His academic performance improved, and, after graduating in June 1909, Patton was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the cavalry. The black car stands at roughly the position of the USArmy truck, prior to it turning left into a depot, denoted by the cobblestone driveway. He reaped no laurels from the peace, but those he won in war will remain green for a long time., Pattons letter to Beatrice, written the day after his meeting with Ike, indicates the turmoil in his mind: The noise against me is the only means by which Jews and Communists are attempting and with good success to implement a further dismemberment of Germany. He ended it by saying that he had no wish to be executioner to the best race in Europe., With regard to the fateful September 22 press conference, Patton later wrote: This conference cost me the command of the Third Army, or rather, of a group of soldiers, mostly recruits, who then rejoiced in that historic name, but I was intentionally direct, because I believed that it was then time for people to know what was going on. Patton is my hero. The French government, grateful for Pattons role in liberating their country, offered to bury him in Napoleons tomb, where a number of great marshals were laid to rest. After nearly two weeks in the hospital, Patton died on this day in 1945. The official cause of death was pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure. Three days after VE-Day, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower called a conference of all his U.S. Army commanders and told them that they were not to criticize publicly any of the campaigns that had won the war and of the need for solidarity in the event that any of them were called before any congressional committees. May the Great Worm gnaw your vitals, Beatrice pronounced, uttering what DEste said was a feared curse she had learned in Hawaii years before. The American press had guaranteed him a heros welcome. Of course, she declared, he should be buried here. His wife is Beatrice Banning Ayer (26 May 1910 - 21 December 1945) ( his death) ( 3 children) George S. Patton Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. On his return to Bavaria, Patton, as military governor as well as Third Army commander, moved into his new headquarters, a former Waffen SS officers training school at Bad Tlz, 30 miles south of Munich. His swift conquest of Sicily, his race across France, his relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and his drive into Germany destroyed German armies, saved American lives, and captured the collective imagination of the American public. His personal ambitions, however, had not been achieved. If ever dog was suited to master this one was. Fortunately, the official aim of Pattons month-long leave was achievedhis enthusiastic oratory helped to sell millions of war bonds and he received a letter of thanks from Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau. The weather was too bad to fly, and when Patton arrived on the 28th, after a seven-hour car journey in heavy rain, he was uncharacteristically dressed in an ordinary khaki jacket and GI trousers. He was, indeed, the consummate warrior, steeped in military and well trained for the terrible combat which followed. It took the form of a gala evening in the ballroom of the Spa Hotel in Bad Nauheim, and Patton found himself once again surrounded by friends and the center of attention. Patton was educated at The Hill School. The first American home that I stayed in, back in 1988, was that of General Ben Partin (U.S. Air Force). . The Real Story of General George Patton, Jr's Death & Final Days Following his campaign in Western Europe, George S. Patton had difficulty adjusting to peacetime and was fatally injured in an automobile accident. Although George Pattons formal education did not begin until after his 11th birthday, he was an eager student of history. Patton began his military career . Patton and Gay left Bad Nauheim at about 0900 hours on December 9 in Pattons 1939 Model 75 Cadillac driven by Pfc. Gordon was 21, and the daughter of Beatrices half sister. Patton may have been a great war general, but the business of politics and running a country would not have been his cup of tea. My language was not particularly politic, but I have yet to find where politic language produces successful government. After the shaken Russian was escorted out, Patton is said to have exclaimed, Sometimes you have to put on an act Thats the last well hear from those bastards. And apparently it was. James Patton was killed in 1813 after he was wounded in the Creek Indian War. Gen. George Pattons wife put a Hawaiian curse on his ex-mistress. Bless you. Pattons personal residence was a palatial house on nearby Lake Tegernsee. Patton had wanted to push on to Berlin, but Eisenhower rejected the idea, deeming the cost too high for a city already allotted to the Soviets by the terms of the Yalta agreement. YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE. funny. This is a wonderful account of his final days when his transition from a powerful general to a peacetime administrator showed that that was never going to be a role which he was able to do. His death resulted from complications with his injuries and congestive heart failure. And now, with the war over and her famous husband buried, Beatrice wanted to see Gordon. Out in the rain, an honor guard fired volleys. Many historians have written about the famous Buffalo Soldiers of the all-Black 92nd Infantry Division, who fought with distinction during World War II. By: Martin Blumenson (author of: The Patton Papers). Mr. Hymel has also worked as the director of research for WWII Historyand WWII Quarterlymagazines, as well as the associate editor of ARMY magazine. Also Known As: George Smith Patton Jr. Died At Age: 60 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Beatrice Banning Ayer (m. 1910-1945) father: George S. Patton mother: Ruth Wilson children: Beatrice Smith, George Patton IV, Ruth Ellen Born Country: United States Military Leaders American Men Height: 6'2" (188 cm ), 6'2" Males Died on: December 21, 1945 Photo Credit: A million people lined the 25-mile parade route leading to the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, where General Patton delivered a war bonds speech. Greg Wehner. Modern mechanized armies need a robust logistics chain to provide fuel, ammunition, and other sinews of war to sustain combat operations. For accurate reading concerning Patton, read Patton The Man Behind The Legend, 1885-1945. This is the only language they understand and respect. My soldiers are fighting men and if I dismiss the sewer cleaners and the clerks my soldiers will have to take over those jobs, he reasoned. Two days later, Patton wrote his last letter to his wife telling her that he was coming home for Christmas. Locals removed their hats as the casket passed. Benjamin W. Patton stands with his father, Gen. George Patton in 1978 at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunisia. Girish Thakar (412)901-0039. Theyd have to run the telephone exchanges, the power facilities, the street cars, and thats not what soldiers are for. In short, provided a German had the right qualifications for a particular job, Patton was prepared to ignore his former Nazi background. This is the offical version of the accident and death. He should have been president. The complaint landed on the desk of Ikes civil affairs officer, Brig. Pattons opening words were, Well, you know damn well I didnt ask for this job, dont you?, The headquarters was in an old hotel in Bad Nauheim, and Pattons arrival in the mess for lunch was greeted by some 100 officers standing to attention. Our database is searchable by subject and updated continuously. Fortunately, Pattons condition began to stabilize. He did his job and did it well. The officers with few exceptions gave the appearance of recently civilized Mongolian bandits., The most notorious incident allegedly happened toward the end of May when an English-speaking Russian brigadier general arrived at Pattons headquarters to demand that some river boats on the Danube that had contained Germans who had surrendered to the Third Army be returned to the Russians. Most of his time, however, was spent preparing his book War As I Knew It. America could use a great leader like him today! He did both quite well. A great man should be remembered for ever. It is to be found on battlefields from Morocco to Bad Tlz. Gen. John J. Pershing and accompanied him on a punitive expedition into Mexico. He made emotional speeches in all three places, with 100,000 people, including many Hollywood stars, turning out to hear him in the Los Angeles Coliseum. (Read Sir John Keegans Britannica entry on the Normandy Invasion.). Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), Patton organized the Desert Training Center near Indio, California, to simulate combat and maneuvers in the harsh North African climate. Some of the politics then was similar to what we see now in the general ranks. A Cadillac similar to that in which General George S. Patton was traveling when struck by a waiting 2.5 ton U.S. Army truck. General George Patton once remarked that World War II undoubtedly would have lasted a lot longer were it not for his soldiers and his wife. Just like Churchill was a great war leader. Robert Brown was an educator, civil rights activist, community leader, elected official, and a WWII combat veteran. He earned a Masters degree in American History from Villanova University and resides in Arlington, Virginia. Too bad it should have been the future President who really did do as much as Patton but got the credit. On the afternoon of the 23rd, Pattons coffin was taken on an Army half-track to the Protestant Christ Church in Heidelberg for a short Episcopalian service conducted by two Army chaplains during which there were no eulogies. This was. General George S Patton's wife is pictured . Pattons diary entry ended with the words, I took the train., The following day Bedell Smith phoned Patton and read a letter to him from Eisenhower. She wanted the body returned to the United States and buried near their Massachusetts home. His plane, escorted by a formation of fighters and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, touched down at an airfield near Boston on June 7, where an honor guard, a 17-gun salute, and the governor of Massachusetts greeted him. For all his showmanship he was a scientific soldier, a thorough military student. He was promoted to colonel in 1938 and temporary brigadier general in 1940. At the beginning of June came the news that Patton had been dreading. Pattons armoured units were not operational until August 1, almost two months after D-Day, but by the end of the month, they had captured Mayenne, Laval, Le Mans, Reims, and Chlons. There, he was x-rayed, revealing two crushed vertebrae. His formal education did not begin until age 11, but, in time, he became a voracious reader and later in life published numerous articles on military subjects. To his superiors, though, General George Patton remained, as in the past, a potential embarrassmenta missile that might go off track at any moment a missile that needed to be kept under tight control. At the first, in Frankfurt on August 27, he spoke out against the Russians and signed a letter proposing the release of some Nazi internees. This apparently so angered Eisenhower that he is said to have demanded that Patton carry out the denazification program as ordered instead of mollycoddling the goddamn Nazis. But Patton was not going to change; two days later he wrote in his diary, The Germans are the only decent people left in Europe. At every block, sentinels at present arms kept the crowds at bay. My whole youth, my family traveled from Bxls to Spangdahlem because part of my German family lived there. In September, Patton returned to Berlin for a military review hosted by the legendary Marshal Georgi Zhukov. George Smith Patton Jr. was born on November 11, 1885, in the Los Angeles suburb of San Gabriel, California, to George Smith Patton Sr. and his wife, Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, the second Mayor of Los Angeles. His wife preferred to have him buried along with his men who died in Battle of Bulge. With Patton, you always knew where you stood with him, no doubt or grey areas! I am inclined to think he over-cooperated..
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