Amen. [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. [24] Patton believed in reincarnation, stating that he had fought in previous battles and wars before his time, additionally, his ancestry was very important to him, forming a central part of his personal identity. [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 Ayer and George Patton met for the first time as children. He registered for military service in 1914. Chaffee was named commander of this force,[104] and created the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions as well as the first combined arms doctrine. [203] Patton decided to keep the Jews detained, according to his diary, because he thought releasing them could lead to violence and re-arrests. [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. It represents one of two burial sites where the ashes of Beatrice (Ayer) Patton were interred. There was some controversy concerning his performance in the pistol shooting competition, in which he used a .38 caliber U.S. Army-issue pistol while most of the other competitors chose .22 caliber firearms. [127], Initially ordered to protect the British forces' left flank, Patton was granted permission by Alexander to take Palermo after Montgomery's forces became bogged down on the road to Messina. [54] He left Paris and reported to the French Army's tank training school at Champlieu near Orrouy, where he drove a Renault FT light tank. By God! He was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal for this action. Still, 40,000 German and 70,000 Italian troops escaped to Italy with 10,000 vehicles. [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. Immediate Family Jean Gordon partner Beatrice Banning Ayer wife Beatrice "Bee" Patton daughter Ruth Ellen "Nell" Patton daughter Maj. Gen. George Smith Patton, IV son George Smith Patton, II father Ruth Patton mother Anne Wilson Patton sister Private stepchild About Gen. George S. Patton Biography [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. [162], The speed of the advance forced Patton's units to rely heavily on air reconnaissance and tactical air support. [88] With Christie, Eisenhower, and a handful of other officers, Patton pushed for more development of armored warfare in the interwar era. In an incident on July 22, while a U.S. armored column was under attack from German aircraft, he shot and killed a pair of mules that had stopped while pulling a cart across a bridge. He began traveling, visiting Paris, Rennes, Chartres, Brussels, Metz, Reims, Luxembourg, and Verdun. [241], On February 1, 1945, Eisenhower wrote a memo ranking the military capabilities of his subordinate American generals in Europe. While he was at VMI, Senator Thomas R. Bard nominated him for West Point. Fresno County. . [254] Many German field commanders were generous in their praise of Patton's leadership following the war,[c] and many of its highest commanders also held his abilities in high regard. [196], On June 14, 1945, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson decided that Patton would not be sent to the Pacific but would return to Europe in an occupation army assignment. "[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. His division executed a 400-mile (640km) end run around the Red Army and "captured" Shreveport, Louisiana. The jeep because we have so many God-awful drivers. of 1. July 7 Patton participated in Modern Pentathlon, Olympic Games. His instinctive preference for offensive movement was typified by an answer Patton gave to war correspondents in a 1944 press conference. These thoughts resonated with Secretary of War Dwight Davis, but the limited military budget and prevalence of already-established Infantry and Cavalry branches meant the U.S. would not develop its armored corps much until 1940. German commanders interviewed after the war noted he could have bypassed the city and moved north to Luxembourg where he would have been able to cut off the German Seventh Army. [188], On March 26, 1945, Patton sent Task Force Baum, consisting of 314 men, 16 tanks, and assorted other vehicles, 50 miles (80km) behind German lines to liberate the prisoner of war camp OFLAG XIII-B, near Hammelburg. [102], Patton had a personal schooner named When and If. [95], In July 1932, Patton (still a Major) was executive officer of the 3rd Cavalry, which was ordered to Washington by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur. 1994, pages 35. Patton then set his sights on Messina.
George S. Patton and Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton wore the ring, and it's visible in numerous photos during his life and the war years. On November 20, the British launched an offensive towards the important rail center of Cambrai, using an unprecedented number of tanks. [72], In August 1918, he was placed in charge of the U.S. 1st Provisional Tank Brigade (redesignated the 304th Tank Brigade on November 6, 1918). [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. Includes family papers consisting mainly of Patton's letters to his wife, Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton, and his father, George S. Patton (1856-1927). "[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". He also stated that performance was more important than race or religious affiliation: I don't give a damn who the man is. [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. 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. [236] Privately he wrote of black soldiers: Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor.[237]. "[202], Patton, in his new role, oversaw the displaced persons camps in Bavaria, which contained a majority of Jews who had survived Germany's concentration camps in the Holocaust. 1910 May 26 Patton and Beatrice Banning Ayer were married; they would later have three children. "[200] Whether or not Gordon was sexually involved with Patton, she also loved a young married captain, who returned to his wife in September 1945, leaving Gordon despondent. [169] In late September, a large German Panzer counterattack sent expressly to stop the advance of Patton's Third Army was defeated by the U.S. 4th Armored Division at the Battle of Arracourt. Taken to a hospital in Heidelberg, Patton was discovered to have a compression fracture and dislocation of the cervical third and fourth vertebrae, resulting in a broken neck and cervical spinal cord injury that rendered him paralyzed from the neck down. [189] When Eisenhower learned of the secret mission, he was furious. "[181], By February, the Germans were in full retreat. [50][51] During his time in the town, Patton took to wearing his M1911 Colt .45 in his belt rather than a holster. General Henri Giraud was incredulous when he heard of Patton's dismissal by Eisenhower in late 1945, and invited him to Paris to be decorated by French President, Charles de Gaulle, at a state banquet. His sending the doomed Task Force Baum to liberate his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters, from a prisoner-of-war camp further damaged his standing with his superiors. Patton, Beatrice Banning Ayer, 1886-1953. Geni requires JavaScript! I am a quick learner, always keen to develop new skills, and strive for continuous personal growth. Overview Plans and . A force of ten soldiers and two civilian guides, under Patton's command, with the 6th Infantry in three Dodge touring cars surprised three of Villa's men during a foraging expedition, killing Julio Crdenas and two of his guards. An award-winning biographical film released in 1970, Patton, helped popularize his image. [113] He was known to oversee training maneuvers from atop a tank painted red, white and blue. Nonetheless, he was known to be admired widely by the men under his charge. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. [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. While Eisenhower and Marshall both considered Patton to be a skilled combat commander, they felt Bradley was less impulsive and less prone to making mistakes. Help us build our profile of Beatrice Banning Ayer! Patton sent notes and assistance to help Eisenhower graduate from the General Staff College. Grant us fair weather for Battle. [122] His uncompromising leadership style is evidenced by his orders for an attack on a hill position near Gafsa which are reported to have ended by him saying, "I expect to see such casualties among officers, particularly staff officers, as will convince me that a serious effort has been made to capture this objective. Beatrice Banning Ayer Patton Birth 12 Jan 1886 Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Death 30 Sep 1953 (aged 67) Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Burial Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg Plot In that time, it crossed 24 major rivers and captured 81,500 square miles (211,000km2) of territory, including more than 12,000 cities and towns. [161] The Third Army had by far more military intelligence (G-2) officers at headquarters specifically designated to coordinate air strikes than any other army. [80] Trying to move his reserve tanks forward, Patton relates that he might have killed one of his own men, stating: "Some of my reserve tanks were stuck by some trenches. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911), Ruth Ellen (born February 1915), and George Patton IV (born December 1923). Name : "[207], When he faced questions from the press about his reluctance to denazify post-war Germany, Patton noted that most of the people with experience in infrastructure management had been compelled to join the party in the war. [215], On December 24, Patton was buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in the Hamm district of Luxembourg City, alongside some wartime casualties of the Third Army, in accordance with his request to "be buried with [his] men." She met George Patton for the first time as children. [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. [36] Patton was the only American among the 42 pentathletes, who were all officers. Some of his biographers are skeptical. [129] A third landing was completed on August 16, and by 22:00 that day Messina fell to his forces. She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a little dimple in her chin just like her mother. [149] On January 26, 1944, Patton was formally given command of the U.S. Third Army in England, a newly formed field Army, and he was assigned to prepare its inexperienced soldiers for combat in Europe. [15][16], At age 24, Patton married Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer, on May 26, 1910, in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. [45] Arriving in September 1913, he taught fencing to other cavalry officers, many of whom were senior to him in rank. Around 09:00, Patton was wounded while leading six men and a tank in an attack on German machine guns near the town of Cheppy. In 1937 he wrote a paper with the title "Surprise" which predicted, with what D'Este termed "chilling accuracy", a surprise attack by the Japanese on Hawaii. [33] In late 1911, Patton was transferred to Fort Myer, Virginia, where many of the Army's senior leaders were stationed. I don't care what color you are, so long as you go up there and kill those Kraut sonsabitches! Note: The rows 14 are American medals unless otherwise noted.
PDF George S. Patton Papers [79] Patton commanded the battle from a shell hole for another hour before being evacuated. [217], Patton's colorful personality, hard-driving leadership style, and success as a commander, combined with his frequent political missteps, produced a mixed and often contradictory image. She enjoyed the life of privilege & attended prestigious finishing schools. Patton's Light Tank Brigade was part of Colonel Samuel Rockenbach's Tank Corps, part of the American First Army.
Ruth Ellen Patton (1915-1993) FamilySearch Gen. George Patton's wife put a Hawaiian curse on his ex-mistress. She His great-grandmother came from an aristocratic Welsh family, descended from many Welsh lords of Glamorgan,[6] which had an extensive military background. Please see the last paragraph for information regarding the other site. [41] The judges' ruling was upheld. Patton flew to France a month later, and then returned to combat command. [120], On March 6, 1943, following the defeat of the U.S. II Corps by the German Afrika Korps, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, at the Battle of Kasserine Pass, Patton replaced Major General Lloyd Fredendall as Commanding General of the II Corps and was promoted to lieutenant general. He believed that he might have been a military leader killed in action in Napoleon's army or a Roman legionary in a previous life.
California Missing Persons | State of California - Department of Mrs. Beatrice Ayer Patton Waters, 41, daughter of the late Gen. George S. Patton Jr., died yesterday of a heart attack in her home in nearby Highland Falls. [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. [108], General Patton led the division during the Tennessee Maneuvers in June 1941, and was lauded for his leadership, executing 48 hours' worth of planned objectives in only nine. I did not form any high opinion of him, nor had I any reason to alter this view at any later date. Computed Name Heading. [24] He was also descended from England's King Edward I through Edward's son Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent. Patton's colorful image, hard-driving personality, and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by his controversial public statements. [81], Patton stopped at a rear command post to submit his report before heading to a hospital. I think I killed one man here. "[228], As media scrutiny on Patton increased, his bluntness stirred controversy. When Alexander sent a transmission on July 19 limiting Patton's attack on Messina, his chief of staff, Brigadier General Hobart R. Gay, claimed the message was "lost in transmission" until Messina had fallen. 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. [189], By April, resistance against the Third Army was tapering off, and the forces' main efforts turned to managing some 400,000 German prisoners of war. [106] Although he garnered a reputation as a general who was both impatient and impulsive and had little tolerance for officers who had failed to succeed, he fired only one general during World War II, Orlando Ward, and only after two warnings, whereas Bradley sacked several generals during the war. The 15th Army at this point consisted only of a small headquarters staff working to compile a history of the war in Europe. The raid was a failure, and only 35 men made it back; the rest were either killed or captured, and all 57 vehicles were lost. Beatrice Banning Ayer (left) was born in one of the upstairs bedrooms at the Ayer Mansion in Lowell on January 12, 1886. [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. [119] Patton oversaw the conversion of Casablanca into a military port and hosted the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the "Patton Saber". General Sir Alan Brooke, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS)the professional head of the British Armynoted in January 1943 that, I had heard of him, but I must confess that his swashbuckling personality exceeded my expectation.
The General: Patton's grandson shares details of iconic leader Registers, records and certificates of county birth and death records acquired from county courthouses. 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. The next day news accounts misquoted Patton by leaving off the Russians. [196] Patton was particularly upset when learning of the end of the war against Japan, writing in his diary, "Yet another war has come to an end, and with it my usefulness to the world. "[145], Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months. The division was one of few organized as a heavy formation with many tanks, and Patton was in charge of its training. At age 24, Patton married Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer, on May 26, 1910, in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. Beatrice Banning Ayer boyfriend, husband list. Waters was graduated from Foxcroft school in Virginia. [141] Criticism of Patton in the United States was harsh, and included members of Congress and former generals, Pershing among them. Patton followed the growing hostility and conquest aspirations of the militant Japanese leadership. Many military officers claim inspiration from his legacy. [239], In spite of his views, Patton called heavily on the black troops under his command. This has led . [66] While in a hospital for jaundice, Patton met Colonel Fox Conner, who encouraged him to work with tanks instead of infantry. [212], Patton spent most of the next 12 days in spinal traction to decrease the pressure on his spine. Developed originally by General Elwood Quesada of IX Tactical Air Command for the First Army in Operation Cobra, the technique of "armored column cover", in which close air support was directed by an air traffic controller in one of the attacking tanks, was used extensively by the Third Army. They had three children, Beatrice Smith (born March 1911), Ruth Ellen (born February 1915), and George Patton IV (born December 1923). Patton repeatedly boasted of his sexual success with Gordon, and his wife and family plainly believed that the two were lovers. [140], When the weather cleared soon after, Patton awarded O'Neill a Bronze Star Medal on the spot. Royalty-free Creative Video Editorial Archive Custom Content Creative Collections Contributor support. [175], At the time, Patton's Third Army was engaged in heavy fighting near Saarbrcken. Patton's force was supplemented by Ultra intelligence for which he was briefed daily by his G-2, Colonel Oscar Koch, who apprised him of German counterattacks, and where to concentrate his forces. [183], Once again, Patton found other commands given priority on gasoline and supplies. German losses in the fighting against the Third Army totaled 20,100 killed, 47,700 wounded, and 653,140 captured. Patton, Beatrice Banning Ayer, 1886-1953 Title Close Social Networks and Archival Context SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions. After a brief Episcopal service, she was cremated. The Missing and Unidentified Persons Section in the California Department of Justice assists law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in locating missing persons and identifying unknown live and deceased persons through the comparison of physical characteristics, fingerprints and dental/body X-rays. At the United States' entry into World War II, he commanded the 2nd Armored Division. Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953), who married future World War II general George S. Patton. In the employment of Tank Corps troops in combat he displayed high military attainments, zeal, and marked adaptability in a form of warfare comparatively new to the American Army. [178] Eisenhower was incredulous: "Don't be fatuous, George. [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. Various explanations beyond his disappointments have been proposed for Patton's behavior at this point. [98], Patton was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular Army on March 1, 1934, and was transferred to the Hawaiian Division in early 1935 to serve as G-2. FUSAG was in reality an intricately constructed fictitious army of decoys, props, and fake radio signal traffic based around Dover to mislead German reconnaissance planes and to make Axis leaders believe that a large force was massing there. While recuperating from his wound, Patton was brevetted to colonel in the Tank Corps of the U.S. National Army on October 17. [153] Adolf Hitler reportedly called him "that crazy cowboy general". [86], In July 1921 Patton became a member of the American Legion Tank Corps Post No. At least that was the consensus among many family friends. "[254] In an interview conducted for Stars and Stripes just after his capture, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt stated simply of Patton, "He is your best."[257]. [19], The Patton family was of English, Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish, French and Welsh ancestry. [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. [171], Patton's decisions in taking this city were criticized. [7] The two wed on 26 May 1910 in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. She met George Patton for the first time as children. 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. . "[133], Two high-profile incidents of Patton striking subordinates during the Sicily campaign attracted national controversy following the end of the campaign. Patton cultivated a flashy, distinctive image in the belief that this would inspire his troops. 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. I am pursuing double minors in Economics and French. He continuously moved throughout the command talking with men, seeking to shape them into effective soldiers. [128] He sought an amphibious assault, but it was delayed by lack of landing craft, and his troops did not land at Santo Stefano until August 8, by which time the Germans and Italians had already evacuated the bulk of their troops to mainland Italy. Patton had insisted upon an immediate crossing of the Saar River against the advice of his officers. [67], On November 10, 1917, Patton was assigned to establish the AEF Light Tank School.