-
Joined Army
In 1904 Patton joined West Point. And Graduating on June 11th 1909. -
Married
In 1910 he married Beatrice Ayer a childhood friend. -
Skills
Patton competed in the Pentathlon at the Stockholm Olympics. Master of the Sword at the Mounted Service School in Kansas -
First feel for battle
In 1915 he was leading cavalry patrols against Pancho Villa at Fort Bliss along the Mexican border. -
Promotion
In 1916 he was selected to aide John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Mexico. In Mexico Patton impressed Pershing by personally shooting Mexican leader Julio Cardenas during the Battle of Columbus. Pershing promoted Patton to captain and invited him to lead Pershing’s Headquarters Troop once they left Mexico. -
Pattons introduction to tanks
In 1917 during WWI Patton was the first officer assigned to the new American Expeditionary Force tank corps. -
Pattons first battle
Patton’s first battle was at St. Mihiel in September 1918. He was later wounded in the battle of Meuse-Argonne and later earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of the tank brigade and establishing the tank school. -
D-Day
On D-Day in 1944, when the allies invaded Normandy, President Roosevelt granted Patton command of the 3rd U.S. Army. Under Patton’s leadership, the 3rd Army swept across France capturing town after town. "Keep on advancing… whether we go over under or through the enemy" Patton told his troops. Nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts" due to his ruthless drive and apparent lust for battle. -
Patton dies
In December of 1945 General George S. Patton broke his neck in a car crash near Mannheim, Germany. He died at the hospital in Heidelberg 12 days after, on December 21, 1945. -
War as I Knew It
In 1947 his memoir, "War as I Knew It". was published posthumously.
