Patton’s Last Battle –
Valiant in Death as in Life

It was to be a routine hunting trip like hundreds he had gone on before, but General George S. Patton Jr. had his final date with destiny as he set out for that trip on December 9, 1945.

After a stop to look at German ruins, Patton and his driver were on the outskirts of Mannheim when a two-and-a-half-ton truck turned in front of their car. Patton was thrown violently forward, then back, breaking his neck and wounding his scalp.

Conscious, but paralyzed and having trouble breathing, Patton asked whether his fellow travelers were okay. After being transferred to the 130th U.S. Army Station Hospital in Heidelberg, Patton quipped, “Jesus Christ, what a way to start a leave.”

Beatrice came to join him in his final days and was described by Patton’s doctor as having a personality that “radiates like a rare gem.” Her devotion to her beloved husband was noticed by all and her courage and grace were a source of comfort for family, friends and well wishers.

While the prognosis was poor, doctors used every means possible to keep Patton alive. At one point, sharp hooks were affixed to his cheekbones. The device was counterbalanced by a ten-pound weight designed to pull his head and backbone and relieve pressure on the spine. He endured injections and transfusions, a major disappointment for a man who had hoped to die in battle. Patton often said, “The proper end for a professional soldier is a quick death inflicted by the last bullet of the last battle.”

It was in the quiet after the battle, the battle won, the German armies vanquished, that Patton was called to death. He died in his sleep on December 21, having never regained use of his limbs. The official cause of death was pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.

On that same day, before receiving the news of his death, both of his daughters had premonitions of his death. Ruth Ellen awoke from a dream to find the figure of her father in full uniform sitting in front of the bay window. He looked at her and smiled a smile of love and reassurance and was gone.

When she called Little Bee the next morning, Bee had a story of her own to tell. She had been awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night. When Bee picked up the phone she heard her father’s voice saying: “Little Bea, are you all right?” Then the line was cut off. He had passed, but not without saying goodbye.

His belongings were shipped to Green Meadows, among them books, a stag horn, a sword, a portable typewriter and his faithful companion Willie.

His doctor, Colonel R. Glen Spurling remarked that Patton died as he had lived – bravely.

He noted that Patton never complained during his illness, treated everyone with consideration and took orders without question. The outpouring of affection from across the world upon his death was tremendous. Letters and declarations included:

Seventh Army General Orders 635
December 22, 1945

With deep regret, announcement is made of the death of General George S. Patton, Jr.

Probably no soldier has had a greater compliment paid him than that given General Patton by his most powerful and skillful opponents. He was termed the ablest American field commander faced by the German Army on any front.

The entire Allied World now pays tribute to the man who deserves more than a lion’s share of the credit for the victories of our arms in the bitter European struggle just ended.

Seventh Army has lost a great friend, a gallant warrior, and inspiring leader. Our country has lost a great and fearless citizen. May we comfort ourselves with the thought that he died as he loved to live – ever fighting!

Letter from Williston B. Palmer to Ruth Ellen Totten
December 22, 1945

For him I think this is seemly that he rode out on the storm, and escaped the dullness of old age, while he was at the height of his fame. Surely no man ever held the attention of the entire world more completely by the sheer force of his own personality and achievements, without the brilliance of a sovereign position to draw attention to him.

Letter from a soldier stationed in Germany to his parents
December 22, 1945

Last night one of the greatest men that ever lived died. That was Patton. The rest of the world thinks of him as just another guy with stars on his shoulders. The men that served under him know him as a soldier’s leader. I am proud to say that I have served under him in the Third Army.

Letter from Captain Charles W. Clark, Jr. of Clarksdale, Mississippi to Beatrice Patton
December 22, 1945

He was the greatest soldier of them all.

The headline in the December 22 edition of Stars and Stripes simply read: PATTON DIES

On the trip to the railroad station to transport Patton’s body to a cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg, near the site of his most famous battle, an honor guard of 6,000 GIs stood nearby and the 1st Armored Division offered a seventeen-gun salute.

As General Geoffrey Keyes wrote in a letter to his wife:

Commencing at about 7PM as we crossed into the French sector, and continuing until after 11PM, we stopped 6 times for honor guards at stations . . . At the last stop the Division Commander General Caille was there with a beautiful wreath which he placed at the casket.

When we got up at Luxembourg it was raining and dreary looking. There was first the ceremony of placing the casket on the half track with the honor guard of formed Lux-troops. Then the procession through the city with the streets lined with troops and civilians. It took about half an hour to reach the cemetery and again the services and the ceremony was awfully impressive.

Patton was buried on December 24 in what is now known as Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, a simple white cross over his grave, his work complete. Another great warrior had been laid to rest.

Sources for this article include The Patton Papers by Martin Blumenson, Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D’Este and The Soul of Battle by Victor Davis Hanson.

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Patton Museum Hires Peckham, Guyton, Albers and Viet, Inc.

The National Geographic Visitors Center at the Grand Canyon, The Air Mobility Command Heritage Center at Scott Air Force Base, the visitor center at Mark Twain’s boyhood home in Hannibal Missouri and the Audubon Nature Center are just a few of the notable projects taken on by master planners/ destination consultants Peckham, Guyton, Albers and Viet, Inc.

Fred Guyton, PGAV Chairman of the Board and Dick Chegar, Chairman of the Board, Patton Museum Foundation.

With the recent contract signing, the firm will bring their considerable talents to bear on the Patton Museum enhancement. Founded in 1966, PGAV offers services including urban planning, master planning, building design and exhibit design. The firm employs nearly 100 people with offices in Saint Louis and Kansas City.

PGAV was selected from a group five finalists, all at the top of their field. “By contracting with PGAV, the Patton Museum Foundation has secured the services of one of America's premier destination planning teams.

The story of ‘audacious leadership’ personified by General Patton and reflected in America’s history of armored warfare will come alive under PGAV’s creative process. With this approach, we will finally begin to honor these extraordinary warriors in a manner befitting their service,” noted Dick Chegar, Chairman of the Board, Patton Museum Foundation.

In the coming year, the firm will develop a master plan for the expansion and enhancement of the Patton Museum. This will include developing the story of Patton and armored warfare, designing exhibits to best tell that story, designing the building that will house the exhibits, and other elements including a museum store, film presentation, simulator, and café. They will also lay out a plan for the development of the museum’s grounds.

When the process is completed, the foundation will have detailed renderings of the project to present to the public and potential donors. “Master planning is an opportunity to think about how to best position the museum for the future and build on the great strengths of the museum. We will look for new ways to tell its stories using state of the art processes that make the most of the museum’s great collection,” said Mike Konzen, vice president of PGAV.

John Avlon, trustee and chair of the selection committee, said PGAV brings special skills to the job. “They have an out of the box methodology. They are exceptionally innovative and creative, but are also practical and well grounded. The firm also offers a depth of expertise and the ability to master a great number of disciplines in-house,” said Avlon. Konzen is enthusiastic the project.

“We’re in the business of making life’s great stories into appealing cultural attractions. When you take the story of armor cavalry and add in General Patton, I have to tell you our eyebrows went up,” said Konzen.

“This is our chance to present what the armored soldier was, is and will be in the context of the charisma of General Patton. I think we’ll end up with an interesting, exciting, education experience that will be a credit to the Armed Forces soldier, the legacy of armored history, Fort Knox and the state of Kentucky,’ said Avlon.

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General Patton Invitational Shoot

The first weekend in October brought stellar sportsmen from across the U.S. to Fort Knox for the inaugural General Patton Invitational Shoot. The two-day event included skeet shooting, pictures with Patton’s famous Colt, post and museum tours, and a gala awards dinner. Here is a peek inside this special event.

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