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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1909

Vol. V
p833
4795

(Born Cal.)

George S. Patton, Jr.​1

(Ap'd Cal.)

46

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy,​a June 16, 1904 to June 11, 1909, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

(Second Lieut., 15th Cavalry)

Served: At Fort Sheridan, Ill., Sept. 11, 1909 to –––––.

Vol. VI
p1433
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(George Smith Patton, Jr., Born Nov. 11, 1885.)

Military History. —

Second Lieut., 15th Cavalry, June 11, 1909.

At Fort Sheridan, Ill., Sept. 11, 1909, to Dec. 19, 1911; at Fort Myer, Va., to June 20, 1912: American contestant on Olympic Team in Modern Pentathlon; came out 4th against 43 contestants; at Fort Myer, Va. Sept. 20, 1912, to July 6, 1913; (detailed to design new cavalry saber, April, 1913); detailed to Saumur, France, to study French saber methods; left Fort Myer July 6 and returned Sept. 15, 1913; at Ft. Riley, Kans., Master of the Sword, Mounted Service School, Sept. 20, 1913, to Sept. 15, 1915, when he was relieved by operation of the detached service law; (while at Fort Riley, graduated in first and second year courses, and wrote Saber Regulations, 1914); joined 15th Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas;

(Transferred to 8th Cavalry, Sept. 26, 1915)

at Fort Bliss and at Sierra Blanca, Texas, to March 13, 1916; with Punitive Expedition into Mexico; entered Mexico as Acting Aide-de‑Camp to General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Pershing: commanded expedition of six men who attacked and killed General Julio Cardanes and two of his staff at San Miguelito, Mexico, May 16, 1916; (personally killed Cardanes and Garza);

(First Lieut., 10th Cavalry, May 23, 1916)

 p1434  returned to El Paso, Texas, on staff of General Pershing, Feb. 17, 1917; joined 7th Cavalry at Camp Stewart, Texas, March 3, 1917; detailed on Staff of Commanding General, A. E. F., May 12, 1917;

(Captain of Cavalry, May 15, 1917)

organized Hdqrs. Troop, May 22, 1917; en route to England, May 28 to June 8, 1917; Hdqrs. Troop billeted in Tower of London (first foreign troops ever accorded this honor); arrived in France June 13, 1917; at Paris and at Chaumont, France, with General Hdqrs. A. E. F., to Nov. 17, 1917; first officer detailed in American Tank Corps, Nov. 17; at Champ Lieu, France, taking course at French Tank School, Nov. 19 to 30, 1917; at Battle of Cambrai, Dec. 1, 1917; organized Light Tank School at Langres, Dec. 17, 1917; appointed Director Army Tank School at Langres, Dec. 19, 1917; organized and commanded 302d Tank Center at Bourg,º France;

(Major, Temporary, of Cavalry, Jan. 26, 1918)

present with French tanks in counter-attacks on Montdidier-Noyon front, May 15 to June 2, 1918; took course and graduated from Army General Staff College at Langres; organized and commanded 304th Brigade Tank Corps; left Langres Aug. 22, 1918, to make reconnoissance for St. Mihiel Offensive; took part in that offensive, Sept. 12 to 14; transferred to Argonne-Meuse Sector; commanded 304th Brigade Tank Corps in that offensive until wounded Sept. 26 near Cheppy, recommended for Distinguished Service Cross;

(Colonel, Tank Corps, Oct. 17, 1918)

released from Hospital Nov. 5, 1918, and resumed command of 304th Brigade Tank Corps on same date; en route to U. S. in command of 304th Brigade Tank Corps, March 2 to 17, 1919;

Awarded

Distinguished Service Cross

"For extraordinary heroism in action near Cheppy, France, September 26, 1918. He displayed conspicuous courage, coolness, energy, and intelligence in directing the advance of his brigade down the valley of the Aire. Later he rallied a force of disorganized infantry and led it forward behind the tanks under heavy machine‑gun and artillery fire until he was wounded. Unable to advance further, he continued to direct the operations of his unit until all arrangements for turning over the command were completed."

Awarded

Distinguished Service Medal

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. By his energy and sound judgment he rendered very valuable services in his organization and direction of the Tank Center at the Army schools in Langres. 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."

Vol. VII
p840
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Distinguished Service Cross.

Distinguished Service Medal.

Colonel, Temporary, Tank Corps, Oct. 17, 1918.

En route to U. S. in command of 304th Brigade, Tank Corps, Mar. 2 to 17, 1919; at Camp Meade, Md., commanding 304th Brigade, Tank Corps, Mar. 18, 1919, to

Returned to Grade of Captain, June 30, 1920.

Major of Cavalry, July 1, 1920.

Sept. 19, 1920; at Fort Myer, Va., commanding 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry, Sept. 21, 1920, to Nov. 20, 1922; at Fort Riley, Kans., student officer, Advanced Class, Cavalry School, Jan. 1, 1922, to June 6, 1923; at Ft. Leavenworth, Kans., student officer, General Service Schools, Sept. 12, 1923, to June 12, 1924, when he was graduated as an Honor Graduate; General Staff with troops, at Boston, Mass., Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑1, 1st Corps Area, July, 1924, to Mar. 4, 1925; at Honolulu, T. H., General Staff with Hawaiian division and Hawaiian Dept., Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑1‑2‑3, Apr., 1925, to Apr., 1928; at Washington, D. C., Office, Chief of Cavalry, Plans and Training, Apr. 14, 1928, to Aug. 17, 1931; student officer, Army War College, Aug. 18, 1931, to ––––

Awarded Silver Star Citation.

Awarded Congressional Life Saving Medal of Honor. "In recognition of the gallant conduct displayed by him in assisting in rescuing three boys from drowning in Salem Harbor, Mass., Aug. 21, 1923."

Vol. VIII
p218
[Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1930‑1940]

Military History: —

(Maj. Cav., July 1, 1920)

At Washington, D. C., student off., A. W. C., Aug. 18, 1931 to June 25, 1932; at Ft. Myer, Va., Executive Off., 3d Cav., to

(Lt.‑Col., Cav., Mar. 1, 1934)

Apr. 15, 1935; at Ft. Shafter, T. H., A. C. of S., G‑2, Hawaiian Dept., May 21, 1935 to July 12, 1937; at Ft. Riley, Kans., Director of Instruction, Cav. School, Aug., 1937 to

(Col., Cav., July 1, 1938)

July, 1938; at Fort Clark, Tex., comdg. 5th Cav., to Dec., 1938; at Ft. Myer, Va., comdg. 3d Cav., to July, 1940; at Ft. Benning, Ga., comdg. 2d Brig. 2d Armored Div., July 16, 1940 to ––––

Vol. IX
p133
[Supplement, Vol. IX: 1940‑1950]

Military History: —

(Col Cav 1 Jul 38)

Ft Benning Ga, comdg 2 Brig 2 Armd Div, 10 Jul 40‑

(Brig Gen AUS 1 Oct 40)

(Maj Gen AUS 4 Apr 41)

14 Jan 42; CG 1 Armd Corps, 15 Jan-31 Mar 42; Cp Young Calif, CG 1 Armd Corps, 1 Apr-5 Aug 42; ETO, CG London Base Comd, 6 Aug-7 Nov 42; NATO, CG Western TF, 2 Armd Corps, 1 Armd Corps, Seventh Army (Sicily), 8 Nov 42‑

(Lt Gen AUS 12 Mar 43)

(Brig Gen 1 Sep 43)​b

(Maj Gen 2 Sep 43)

(DSC DSM LM)

25 Jan 44; ETO, comdg Third Army, 26 Jan 44‑

(DSM BSM)

(Gen AUS 26 Apr 45)

6 Oct 45; CG Fifteenth US Army in American-occupied Germany, 7 Oct-21 Dec 45.

Died, Dec. 21, 1945, at Heidelberg, Germany: Aged 60.

Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite (Morocco); The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (England); Commander in the Legion of Honor (France); Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor (France); Order of the British Empire; Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold w/Palm (Belgium); Croix de Guerre (Belgium); Order of Adolphe of Nassau, Grand Croix (Luxembourg); Croix de Guerre (Luxembourg); Order of Koutusoff, 1st Grade (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

Buried, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.


The Author's Note:

1 Great-grandson of General Hugh Mercer, Continental Army.


Thayer's Notes:

a Patton had been a Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute for one year just prior to entering the Military Academy at West Point; see VMI's page — one of more than a dozen Patton items in the VMI Archives Photographs Collection.

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b This demotion came after the famous incidents in August in which he slapped at least two hospitalized enlisted men.


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