[176] At the Supreme Command conference, Eisenhower led the meeting, which was attended by Patton, Bradley, General Jacob Devers, Major General Kenneth Strong, Deputy Supreme Commander Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder, and several staff officers. He died in his sleep of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure at about 6:00pm on December 21, 1945, at the age of 60. [88], Patton was made G-3 of the Hawaiian Division for several months, before being transferred in May 1927 to the Office of the Chief of Cavalry in Washington, D.C., where he began to develop the concepts of mechanized warfare. I Corps in the MeuseArgonne offensive on September 26. [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 only US soldier with tank-driving experience, Patton personally backed seven of the tanks off the train. Third Army logistics were overseen by Colonel Walter J. Muller, Patton's G-4, who emphasized flexibility, improvisation, and adaptation for Third Army supply echelons so forward units could rapidly exploit a breakthrough. [193] Fuller's review of Third Army records differs only in the number of enemy killed and wounded, stating that between August 1, 1944, and May 9, 1945, 47,500 of the enemy were killed, 115,700 wounded, and 1,280,688 captured, for a total of 1,443,888. Both of them had a kind of second sight in regard to this type of warfare. The friendship resulted in marriage in 1910 which lasted over thirty years and . In spite of their love for each other, there were many explosive episodes during the Pattons' 30 years together. Soon thereafter, he had Major General Omar Bradley reassigned to his corps as its deputy commander. By God! Snippet - The Birth of Beatrice Banning Ayer - Minnegate Press We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinaman or a Japanese, and from what I have seen of them, I have no particular desire to understand them, except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. "[145], Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months. of 1. Think of the waste." Speaking later of the German pilots who had struck, Patton remarked, "if I could find the sons of bitches who flew those planes, I'd mail each of them a medal. He lived in Fort Myer, Alexandria, District of Columbia, United States in 1940 and Heidelberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire in 1945. Then he went to Stockholm, where he reunited with other athletes from the 1912 Olympics. [100] This supposed affair distressed his wife and nearly resulted in their separation. [45] Arriving in September 1913, he taught fencing to other cavalry officers, many of whom were senior to him in rank. I am a quick learner, always keen to develop new skills, and strive for continuous personal growth. Erwin Rommel credited Patton with executing "the most astonishing achievement in mobile warfare". In the interwar period, Patton became a central figure in the development of the army's armored warfare doctrine, serving in numerous staff positions throughout the country. I love him.[238]. He served in the position until relieved by General Joseph T. McNarney on November 26th. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911),[8] Ruth Ellen (born February 1915),[9] and George Patton IV (born December 1923). He pushed them hard, and sought to reward them well for their accomplishments. Patton never seriously considered a career other than the military. She was the wife of Brig. 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! In December 1940, he staged a high-profile mass exercise in which 1,000 tanks and vehicles were driven from Columbus, Georgia, to Panama City, Florida, and back. [201], Patton attracted controversy as military governor when it was noted that several former Nazi Party members continued to hold political posts in the region. Patton followed the growing hostility and conquest aspirations of the militant Japanese leadership. He registered for military service in 1914. [70] In the post, Patton trained tank crews to operate in support of infantry, and promoted its acceptance among reluctant infantry officers. [183], Once again, Patton found other commands given priority on gasoline and supplies. The first American tank designed after the war became the M46 Patton.[220]. Please see the last paragraph for information regarding the other site. Official date of rank of September 2, 1943. Observing derelict cars along the side of the road, Patton said, "How awful war is. He commanded the U.S. The friendship resulted in marriage in 1910 which lasted over thirty years and . [17] I have nothing but the best in my army. [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. [189] When Eisenhower learned of the secret mission, he was furious. [158][159], Patton's strategy with his army favored speed and aggressive offensive action, though his forces saw less opposition than did the other three Allied field armies in the initial weeks of its advance. [7] The two wed on 26 May 1910 in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. [140], Patton's niece Jean Gordon spent some time together with him in London in 1944, and in Bavaria in 1945. There, he met Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, who was so impressed with him that Marshall considered Patton a prime candidate for promotion to general. Patton's chief of staff, Major General Hobart Gay, invited him on a December 9, 1945 pheasant hunting trip near Speyer to lift his spirits. [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. [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. [50][51] During his time in the town, Patton took to wearing his M1911 Colt .45 in his belt rather than a holster. [182] He later wrote that the relief of Bastogne was "the most brilliant operation we have thus far performed, and it is in my opinion the outstanding achievement of the war. [167] Combined with other demands on the limited resource pool, this resulted in the Third Army exhausting its fuel supplies. The General: Patton's grandson shares details of iconic leader "[208] According to Anthony Cave Brown in Bodyguard of Lies, Patton "Patton was relieved of command of the 3rd Army by Eisenhower just after the end of the war for stating publicly that America had been fighting the wrong enemy - Germany instead of Russia". [57], In mid-April, Patton asked Pershing for the opportunity to command troops, and was assigned to Troop C of the 13th Cavalry to assist in the manhunt for Villa and his subordinates. He carried an ivory-gripped, engraved, silver-plated Colt Single Action Army .45 caliber revolver on his right hip, and frequently wore an ivory-gripped Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum on his left hip. "[206] Patton also stirred a hostile antisemitism into his often-fractious relationship with newspaper reporters. Guessing the intent of the Allied command meeting, Patton ordered his staff to make three separate operational contingency orders to disengage elements of the Third Army from its present position and begin offensive operations toward several objectives in the area of the bulge occupied by German forces. [93] In August 1923, Patton saved several children from drowning when they fell off a yacht during a boating trip off Salem, Massachusetts. He was an admirer of Admiral Horatio Nelson for his actions in leading the Battle of Trafalgar in a full dress uniform. She was only so in appearance, though, because the worldly sixteen-year-old was mature beyond her years and exuded an air of confidence which dwarfed her unsophisticated seventeen-year-old escort. [69] On the way back to Paris, he visited the Renault factory to observe French tanks being manufactured. Patton was ordered to keep a low profile to deceive the Germans into thinking that he was in Dover throughout early 1944, when he was actually training the Third Army. 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. . Befriending Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Patton served as his aide at social functions on top of his regular duties as quartermaster for his troop. 1912 June 14 Patton sailed for Europe to participate in the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. Patton reported this attempt to liberate Oflag XIII-B as the only mistake he made during World War II. [119] Patton oversaw the conversion of Casablanca into a military port and hosted the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. [219] Patton's impact on armored warfare and leadership were substantial, with the U.S. Army adopting many of Patton's aggressive strategies for its training programs following his death. He began traveling, visiting Paris, Rennes, Chartres, Brussels, Metz, Reims, Luxembourg, and Verdun. 1910 Married Beatrice Banning Ayer 1912 Member, American team, XII Olympiad, Stockholm, Sweden, finishing fifth in modern pentathlon 1912-1913 Attended French cavalry school, Saumur, France 1913 Graduated, United States Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kans. [84], In addition, he was also awarded the Purple Heart for his combat wounds after the decoration was created in 1932. Severely injured in an auto accident, he died in Germany twelve days later, on December 21, 1945. CONTENT. [128], When informed of the Biscari massacre of prisoners, which was by troops under his command, Patton wrote in his diary, "I told Bradley that it was probably an exaggeration, but in any case to tell the officer to certify that the dead men were snipers or had attempted to escape or something, as it would make a stink in the press and also would make the civilians mad. [106], The historian Alan Axelrod wrote that "for Patton, leadership was never simply about making plans and giving orders, it was about transforming oneself into a symbol". Beatrice Ayer and George Patton met for the first time as children. [65] Taken as Pershing's personal aide, Patton oversaw the training of American troops in Paris until September, then moved to Chaumont and was assigned as a post adjutant, commanding the headquarters company overseeing the base. This has led . [11] He excelled at military drills, though his academic performance remained average. This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 18:50. I think I killed one man here. [109] Patton intentionally expressed a conspicuous desire for glory, atypical of the officer corps of the day which emphasized blending in with troops on the battlefield. An Army nurse is the only woman buried at the American Cemetery and memorial. [160] The Third Army typically employed forward scout units to determine enemy strength and positions. She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a little dimple in her chin just like her mother. [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. He also applied to several universities with military corps of cadet programs, and was accepted to Princeton College, but eventually decided on Virginia Military Institute (VMI), which his father and grandfather had attended. General Patton's Second in Command - Minnegate Press - The Cereal Reader [243], Historian Carlo D'Este insisted that Bradley disliked Patton both personally and professionally,[246][247] but Bradley's biographer Jim DeFelice noted that the evidence indicates otherwise. The cart was blocking the way of the column. Fresno County. Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953) FamilySearch Patton, Beatrice Banning Ayer, 1886-1953 - SNAC She met George Patton for the first time as children. Sep 1885 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, Jan 12 1886 - Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA, Jan 12 1886 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Beatrice A Patton, Ruth Ellen Patton, George Smith Iv Patton, Sep 1885 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, Beatrice A Patton, Gen George Smith Patton, Frederick Fanning Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer, Ellen Wheaton Wood, James Cook Ayer, Charles Fanning Ayer, Louise Raynor Ayer, Frederick Ayer, Mary Katherine Merrill, Beatrice Smith Waters, Ruth Ellen Totten, George Smith Patton, Jan 12 1886 - Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Frederick Albert Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer (born Banning), Ellen Wheaton Ayer, James Cook Ayer, Charles Fanning Ayer, Louise Raynor Ayer, Frederick Ayer, Mary Katherine Merrill (born Ayer), Beatrice Ayer Waters (born Patton), Ruth Ellen Totlen (born Patton), George Smith (General) Patton, William The Conqueror (Willie) Patton, Jan 12 1886 / Sept 1885 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, Frederick Ayer, Ellen Barrows Ayer (born Banning), Beatrice "bee" Patton, Ruth Ellen Patton, George Smith Patton, Beatrice Waters (born Patton), Ruth Ellen Totten (born Patton), Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, Jan 12 1886 - Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, Sep 30 1953 - Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, Beatrice Patton, Ruth Ellen Totten (born Patton, Iii), Major-gen George S. Patton, Iv, Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States, Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, Hamilton, Essex county , Massachusetts, United States of America, Birth of Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, IV. Addressing the 761st Tank Battalion Patton also said, Men, you are the first Negro tankers ever to fight in the American Army. [86], In July 1921 Patton became a member of the American Legion Tank Corps Post No. [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. [239], In addition to all that, the one man Patton spent the most time with during World War II was his aide and personal valet, Sergeant Major William George Meeks, an African-American career soldier, and personal confidant and friend of General Patton. Topics include the saber, cavalry, casualty information, denazification of Germany, and displaced persons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunnybrook100/1116573449/, Patton met Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer. [66] While in a hospital for jaundice, Patton met Colonel Fox Conner, who encouraged him to work with tanks instead of infantry. [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. Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton (1886-1953) - Find a Sereno E. Brett, commander of the U.S. 326th Tank Battalion, took command of the brigade in Patton's absence. [140], When the weather cleared soon after, Patton awarded O'Neill a Bronze Star Medal on the spot. He compared Nazis to Democrats and Republicans, bringing negative press stateside and angering Eisenhower. At the start of the Western Allied invasion of France, Patton was given command of the Third Army, which conducted a highly successful rapid armored drive across France. This meant that Patton would have some role in organizing the effort, and his eagerness and dedication to the task impressed Pershing. HISTORY | Ayer Mansion [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. Banning, CA 92220 Phone: (951) 588-2553. [113] He was known to oversee training maneuvers from atop a tank painted red, white and blue. [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. "[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. [39][40] If his assertion was correct, Patton would likely have won an Olympic medal in the event. When the message arrived, Trier had already fallen. Patton's Light Tank Brigade was part of Colonel Samuel Rockenbach's Tank Corps, part of the American First Army. ", Once when a gasoline lantern had exploded in his face and he was badly burned, he wrote to her on October 7, 1916, "I love you with all my heart and would have hated worst to have been blinded because I could not have seen you.". [52][222] He was usually seen wearing a highly polished helmet, riding pants, and high cavalry boots. George S. Patton - Wikipedia Ellie named her daughter Beatrice not because of a family connection, but because of its meaning. Gen. George Smith Patton Jr. (1885-1945) FamilySearch 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. At age 24, Patton married Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer, on May 26, 1910, in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. The Strange and Shocking Similarities Between Donald Trump and "Old [7][8] He attended the school from 1903 to 1904 and, though he struggled with reading and writing, performed exceptionally in uniform and appearance inspection, as well as military drill. Beatrice had many talents. [184] To obtain these, Third Army ordnance units passed themselves off as First Army personnel and in one incident they secured thousands of gallons of gasoline from a First Army dump. She shaped the man, fortified the soldier, and created the legend The Patton family resided at Lake Vineyard, built by Benjamin Wilson, on 128 acres (52ha) in present-day San Marino, California. Still unconvinced, Eisenhower ordered Patton to attack the morning of December 22, using at least three divisions. [20][21][22][23] Though not directly descended from George Washington, Patton traced some of his English colonial roots to George Washington's great-grandfather. "[178] Patton then clarified that he had already worked up an operational order for a counterattack by three full divisions on December 21, then only 48 hours away. 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. An example of Patton's sarcastic wit was broadcast when he received orders to bypass Trier, as it had been decided that four divisions would be needed to capture it. Bio by John R. Bacak. She was an expert equestrian, a fine lecturer and an able sailor with a sloop of her own. [147] This decision had been made before the slapping incidents were made public, but Patton blamed them for his being denied the command. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. 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. He was reportedly appalled to learn that the Red Army would take Berlin, feeling that the Soviet Union was a threat to the U.S. Army's advance to Pilsen, but was stopped by Eisenhower from reaching Prague, Czechoslovakia, before V-E Day on May 8 and the end of the war in Europe. The General George S. Patton, Jr. Select from premium Beatrice Patton of the highest quality. Light aircraft such as the Piper L-4 Cub served as artillery spotters and provided airborne reconnaissance. [101], Patton continued playing polo and sailing in this time. The schooner's name comes from Patton saying he would sail it "when and if" he returned from war. [5] Patton was described as an intelligent boy and was widely read in classical military history, particularly the exploits of Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as those of family friend John Singleton Mosby, who frequently stopped by the Patton family home when George was a child. [230] Another controversy occurred prior to Operation Overlord when Patton spoke at a British welcoming club at Knutsford in England, and said, in part, "since it is the evident destiny of the British and Americans, and of course, the Russians, to rule the world, the better we know each other, the better job we will do." She enjoyed the life of privilege & attended prestigious finishing schools. Records have not been acquired for Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Modoc, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare and Ventura counties. Their son, George S. Patton III continued the West Point tradition and became a general. She enjoyed a life of privilege and attended prestigious finishing schools. [61] The incident garnered Patton both Pershing's good favor and widespread media attention as a "bandit killer". Patton remained outspoken but unabashed in his racism throughout his life. An award-winning biographical film released in 1970, Patton, helped popularize his image. [25] The first Patton in America was Robert Patton, born in Ayr, Scotland. Beatrice Banning Ayer Don't let them down and, damn you, don't let me down! While he was initially buried in the middle of a plot like every other service member, the large number of visitors to his grave damaged the cemetery grounds, and his remains were moved to their current location at the front of the grave plots. On Thursday, May 26, 1910, a lovely Spring day, Beatrice Ayer and George Patton were married at Beverly Farms Episcopal Church near Boston, Massachusetts. [102], Patton had a personal schooner named When and If. He would not work so I hit him over the head with a shovel". Name Components. Grant us fair weather for Battle. He returned to duty on October 28 but saw no further action before hostilities ended on his 33rd birthday with the armistice of November 11, 1918. After briefly considering this, Bradley vetoed it, since he was less concerned about killing large numbers of Germans than he was in arranging for the relief of Bastogne before it was overrun. When Ruth Ellen Patton was born on 28 February 1915, in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States, her father, Gen. George Smith Patton Jr., was 29 and her mother, Beatrice Banning Ayer, was 29. 100 San Leandro, CA, 94577 Phone: (510) 352-9200. [148] Eisenhower felt the invasion of Europe was too important to risk any uncertainty, and that the slapping incidents had been an example of Patton's inability to exercise discipline and self-control. Patton was promoted to major on January 26, 1918. Patton cultivated a flashy, distinctive image in the belief that this would inspire his troops. [192], In its advance from the Rhine to the Elbe, Patton's Third Army, which numbered between 250,000 and 300,000 men at any given time, captured 32,763 square miles (84,860km2) of German territory. [124][125], For Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, Patton was to command the Seventh United States Army, dubbed the Western Task Force, in landings at Gela, Scoglitti and Licata to support landings by General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army. 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. Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it. Colonel Patton displayed conspicuous courage, coolness, energy, and intelligence in directing the advance of his brigade down the valley of the Aire. Unable to advance further, Colonel Patton continued to direct the operations of his unit until all arrangements for turning over the command were completed.[84].