Patton at the Crossroads
By Carlo D’Este

In the nearly sixty years since General George S. Patton’s tragic death in December 1945 the technology of warfare has changed spectacularly. Weapons and equipment have become high tech and incredibly lethal, state-of-the art computers have become an integral part of warfare and the weapons that a commander can call upon in support of a military operation is not only unprecedented, but is the most deadly array of battlefield firepower in the history of warfare.

What have not changed since World War II (and never will) are the principles of good leadership that remain the epitome of any successful military organization. The training of a modern soldier is more important than ever, and as a result today’s GI is far better equipped and trained than his World War II counterpart, most of whom were citizen soldiers. Thus, it is even more remarkable to recall what Patton accomplished in the era of the citizen soldier. The challenges he faced from 1940-1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and commanding the Desert Training Center in California were staggering.

Patton encourages troops on his inspection tours between September and November 1944.

I have long believed that Patton’s battlefield exploits, for which he is legendary, do not begin to reflect the full measure of his remarkable professional success. Training and preparation for combat are neither glamorous nor newsworthy, yet they remain the bedrock of success. As a trainer of troops Patton was unmatched in not one, but in two world wars. During his brief tenure as commander of the Desert Training Center in 1942, Patton refined his principles of war, which were actually lessons for living.

His exhortations to his troops were a series of “nevers”: never give up; never dig-in; never defend, always attack; never worry about defeat; think and plan only of victory; you win by never losing. He would caution that to win a battle a man had to make his mind run his body because the body will always give up from exhaustion. But when you are tired, the enemy is just as exhausted. “Never let the enemy rest.”

His critics, such as CBS pundit Andy Rooney, have misjudged and criticized him largely on the basis of his public theatrics, and never appreciated the extraordinary lengths Patton went to in order to prepare his soldiers for battle. They did not witness Patton crawling under a broken down truck in the California desert in order to learn why they were failing in desert conditions. Nor did they see him repeatedly put into practice his principle that: “I shall never ask any man to undergo risks, which I, myself, do not incur.”

His success during his brief tenure in command of II Corps in Tunisia in March and April 1943 was a testament that good leadership is an indispensable ingredient of success. In early March 1943, after the disastrous American defeats at Sidi Bou Zid and Kasserine Pass, Patton was hastily summoned by Eisenhower to take command of the flagging II Corps, the American fighting contingent in Tunisia. A scant ten days after assuming command, Patton led the corps to its first victory of the war at El Guettar. During his brief six-week tenure in Tunisia, Patton brought about a dramatic improvement in the combat performance of the corps.

LTG Patton landing in Gela, Sicily (July 1943)

Patton was appointed the commander of the Seventh U.S. Army during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, then the largest amphibious operation ever mounted. During the brief but bitterly fought thirty-seven day campaign, Patton’s flamboyant leadership was instrumental in removing the stigma of Kasserine and establishing once and for all that the U.S. Army could not only fight, but that it was now the equal of the British Army. Hailed as the conqueror of Sicily, during a single week in July Patton appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek.

Prior to Sicily the Germans knew virtually nothing of Patton. After Sicily they were unwavering in their conviction that he was the most competent and formidable of all the Allied generals against whom they fought in the West. Patton was clearly poised to assume even higher command and responsibility in the cross-Channel invasion of Northwest France, when his triumph not only turned to ashes, but his career was nearly ruined by the two self-destructive acts.

Visiting the wounded is one of the most traumatic but important duties of a commander. An emotional man, Patton was distressed by the sight of badly wounded and dying men, some missing limbs, but nevertheless he faithfully visited aid stations and field hospitals on a regular basis. In early August, during visits to separate U.S. Army field hospitals, Patton slapped two soldiers whom he believed were malingering by feigning battle fatigue. He did so in the passionate belief that there was no such thing as battle fatigue, and those who claimed it dishonored men actually wounded in battle. In the German army slapping a soldier was a commander’s prerogative; in the U.S. Army it was tantamount to professional suicide.

Eisenhower was deeply concerned that the inevitable revelation would end Patton’s military career. Torn between loyalty to an old friend and his professional duty, Eisenhower’s primary consideration was the best interests of the U.S. Army. Clearly, that meant retaining Patton. “Patton is indispensable to the war effort–one of the guarantors of our victory,” he said. Eisenhower sternly reprimanded Patton and directed him to apologize to the soldiers and medical personnel in the two field hospitals. On the advice of his friend and advisor, Maj. Gen. John P. Lucas, Patton extended his apology to every unit of Seventh Army.

His reception ranged from stony silence to bewilderment as to why Patton was even there in the first place. One of the most memorable days of his life occurred in a dusty field where a regiment of the 9th Infantry Division drowned him with spontaneous cheers as he attempted to render his apology to them.

When the incidents became public in the United States in late November 1943 there was a storm of criticism of Patton in the press and in Congress that might have ended his military career. However, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson refused to bow to the pressure, while overseas Eisenhower reaffirmed his decision that it was vital to retain Patton for an important role in the forthcoming battles in 1944.

The real tragedy of the Sicily incidents was that Patton’s name would certainly have topped the list of those being considered to command the American invasion force in the forthcoming cross-Channel invasion. Instead, in September 1943 Patton’s subordinate, Omar Bradley, was selected to command First U.S. Army, the designated American ground force for Overlord, while Patton remained behind in lonely exile in Sicily as his Seventh Army was gradually shifted away to meet Allied commitments in Italy and in England.

Although dispirited, he soldiered on, convinced there would yet be a role for him in the war and that he would achieve his lifelong dream of commanding a great army in a desperate battle.

Deliverance came in early 1944, when Eisenhower summoned him to England to take command of the Third Army. In the campaigns in Northwest Europe in 1944 and 1945, Sicily would be all but forgotten as Patton firmly cemented his place in military history. Had Patton been a lesser general his career would have ended ignominiously after Sicily. That his superiors elected to retain him was best affirmed by Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy who told Eisenhower: “Lincoln’s remark when they got after Grant comes to mind when I think of Patton – ‘I can’t spare this man – he fights.’”

About the Author

Carlo D’Este is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and a distinguished military historian. He is the author of many highly praised books on World War II, including Patton: A Genius for War and Decision in Normandy. His most recent book is Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life.

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Number One Fan Helps Bring Elvis Exhibit To Museum

Patti Tucker discovered her passion for Elvis at the movies. When her husband Major General Terry Tucker, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Armor Center at Fort Knox, was stationed in Germany in the early 1970s the base played Elvis movies on the weekends. Patti Tucker never missed a showing.

After years of being a huge Elvis fan, Mrs. Tucker noticed that for all the accolades Elvis received he had never been fully recognized for his service to country. “Elvis was a patriot and deserved recognition. He served in an armored division. Fort Knox is the home of Armor. What better place to pay tribute?” said Tucker.

Patti Tucker and Joe Esposito

Working with museum director Frank Jardim, the two arranged the loan of items from Graceland and the idea became a reality. “Patti’s tremendous interest and energy was essential to getting the exhibit off the ground,” observed Jardim.

The exhibit opened on March 24, the 46th anniversary of the day that Elvis was inducted into the army. He had the option of entering the armed forces as an entertainer, but decided instead to enter as a soldier. On that day, at the height of his popularity as an entertainer, Elvis became U.S. Army Private number 53310761. His income went from $400,000 a year to $78 a month. “It was amazing to me that such a powerful, important celebrity would choose to rough it out there as a regular soldier,” said Jardim.

During his two years in the army, Elvis served as a cavalry scout without the benefit of modern surveillance equipment. According to his army pal and later road manager, Joe Esposito, Elvis’ fame followed him into the service. Fellow soldiers asked for autographs and fans staked out a home he rented in Germany. Yet, Elvis was friendly and open with other soldiers and went the extra mile to be treated as an equal. One account tells of a long march during which Elvis was the last to be sent inside. When told he could go in, Elvis told his platoon leader he was willing to “stay out here as long as you do.”

Elvis’ fatigues on exhibit at the Patton Museum

Elvis became a fan of General George S. Patton after seeing the movie Patton, starring George C. Scott. Elvis saw the movie more than a dozen times and was able to quote dialogue word for word.

Visitors to the museum will see documentary footage of Elvis being sworn in, given his army haircut and issued his GI boots. On display are his army raincoat, service coat with Sergeant stripes, fatigues, a pass to visit Paris, and condolence cards sent to Elvis after the death of his mother.

Circa late 1950s and early 1960s vehicles and weapons are also on display, including a meticulously restored M38AI Jeep owned by Louisville attorney Charlie Ricketts.

The opening weekend was a huge success, drawing 500 people on opening day and 900 visitors the following weekend. The exhibit will be at the museum through March 2005.

“People need to see the exhibit. It shows that Elvis was a regular soldier. He didn’t expect special treatment. He was a normal, upstanding human being,” said Tucker.

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Ensuring A Lasting Legacy

Expanding the Patton Museum quadruple the space, new interactive exhibits, an onsite café, theater, store and simulator rides, a superior education program, a comprehensive web site and beautiful grounds. If everything goes according to plan, the Patton Museum is in for some world-class changes.

“We plan to raise the money to make the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor one of the finest military museums in the world. Our goal is to honor the courage, patriotism, and achievements of the American soldier and to encourage young men and women to serve their country. The Patton Museum has one of the finest collections of American arms in the United States, with an emphasis on the armored branch, and is an ideal venue for this endeavor because of General Patton’s own record of selfless patriotism and service and his history of brilliant leadership in times of peril,” said James Patton Totten, foundation trustee, vice president for planning, and General Patton’s grandson.

The board hopes to raise $25 million from individuals, foundations and corporations. The remaining $10 million is being sought from State and Federal government. The total projected cost for these improvements is $35 million. Construction of the first of three new pavilions is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2006 at a projected cost of $7.5 million.

The timetable for completion of the first pavilion is July 2007. Construction will occur in phases, as the funding for each phase has been secured.

“A key aspect of our museum’s mission is to preserve the history and traditions of the American fighting tanker and armored cavalryman. By telling their stories, we inspire and educate the visitor. We also empower those defending our freedom today with the courage, selflessness and devotion to country of all those that have worn the uniform before them,” said Frank Jardim, museum director.

Increased space means that the museum will be able to better display its collection, which includes between 10,000 and 11,000 items, among those items are more than 230 tanks, half-tracks and armored vehicles from armies across the globe.

Jardim said the planned expansion would ensure that military officers and others with a professional interest in the museum would be better able to learn from the collection. “Our enemy vehicle collection includes the kinds of vehicles that soldiers are encountering on the battlefield today. The first time a soldier sees a T-72 should not be on the battlefield. We want them to be able to look inside one and see the kind of vulnerabilities that exist,” said Jardim.

Newly developed interactive exhibits will employ video, sound, and other interactive components to complement historical artifacts on display. The exhibits will provide a walk through history, highlighting the story of General Patton and his soldiers, illustrating the development of mechanized armor, and showcasing armored equipment developed by the U.S. and other countries.

The improved grounds will include armor memorials in recognition of service, picnic areas, a playground and an amphitheater.

An expanded educational curriculum will consist of lesson plans, web links and the use of DVD technology to provide greater access to film footage about the military.

An enhanced web site will include virtual tours, a museum event calendar, educational content, entertaining video games, and an online museum shop.Before deciding what elements to add to the museum, members of the Museum Foundation’s board of trustees made trips to other major military museums, including the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Air Force Museum. What they saw convinced trustees that the new museum should include things like a café, gift shop, and theater and ride simulators. These kinds of features are a source of significant revenue for museums.

The Patton Museum is owned by the Army, which precludes the museum from charging admission and provides funds for staff, operations, maintenance and repair, but not capital improvements. The Patton Museum Foundation will work with government, corporate entities and individual donors to raise money for planned improvements to the museum.

“It is a challenge to continue to preserve the heritage of the armored force and service to country. Buying bricks and sending a donation will help us along the road to reaching our mission,” said Don Williams, a retired colonel and senior vice president of the Patton Museum Foundation’s board of trustees.

Earlier this year, the Foundation received a grant of $250,000 from the federal government, made possible through the efforts of Congressman Ron Lewis, to begin upgrading the web site, developing an audio tour and creating a docent program for the museum.

Mike Weaver, a retired Army colonel, state representative, and member of the board of trustees, worked with state officials to improve access to the museum through the development of a new entrance directly off Highway 31W that will allow people to enter the museum without passing through military checkpoints.

“All of these improvements are well worth the costs. This museum is a tourism jewel for Kentucky. People visit the museum from across the globe. The Patton Museum experience may be their only introduction to the history of armor. It deserves to be seen in the best light possible,” said Weaver.

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