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George Patton, one of the most distinguished and highly decorated
military leaders ever to serve in the United States Army, graduated
from West Point in 1909. A fine sportsman, Patton represented
the USA in the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics Games in
Sweden.
He served in Mexico under General John Pershing and, leading
the newly formed Tank Corps, saw action on the Western Front
during World War One.
In 1942 he commanded the Western Task Force during Operation
Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, later taking charge
of the US II Corps. He commanded the US Seventh Army during the
invasion of Sicily in June 1943, a post he held until 1944 when
General Eisenhower placed him in command of the fictional First
US Army Group, an army the Germans believed would invade France
through Calais.
Following the D-Day landings, Patton was given command of
the US Third Army, which he unleashed from Normandy west into
Brittany, and south then eastwards in a rapid push towards Germany.
During the Battle of the Bulge he relieved
the beleaguered 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, in an outstanding
tactical operation. The Third Army crossed into Germany, liberating
the Nazi death camp at Buchenwald, thence to Austria and finally
into Czechoslovakia.
In December 1945, George S. Patton was seriously injured in
a car accident, and died of his injuries on 21st. December. |