General George S Patton Essay Research Paper

General George S. Patton Essay, Research Paper

GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON JR.

Living in a country that is obsessed with war and violence, it is obvious why Americans look for heroes. All actors from John Wayne to Arnold Schwarzenegger have captured the love of this country for their portrayal of heroics and bravery in movies. However, before there were Wayne and Schwarzenegger, there was Patton, a real life American hero. Without George S. Patton Jr., it is questionable weather we would have our freedom today. General George S. Patton showed all the characteristics of a great military leader.

“George S. Patton was born in San Gabriel California on November 11, 1885″ (Ayer 3 and Blumenson 5). George Patton was a hard-nosed man who offended many but won the hearts of the American people. From an early age Patton knew he wanted to be in the military. When Patton’s father had his friends from the army come over, Patton would beg them to tell him war stories. “Patton especially looked up to John Singleton “Ranger” Mosby” (George 1). Mr. Singleton would tell stories of his fighting in the civil war and young Patton would love it. “George was so involved in the military that by age seven he could read military topographical maps” (George 1). This type of activity basically was inflicted by his father who was also very militarily involved. However, George’s military studies greatly took him away from his formal education. “This was obvious when George still couldn’t read at the age of twelve, due partly to his dyslexia” (George 1). Finally noticing that George was falling behind in normal education his parents enrolled him in a private school. “At the age of twelve George was sent to Stephen Cutter Clarks classical school” (George 1). At Clarks Classical School, George began to show his athletic side. “George was so aggressive at football that he broke his nose three times and broke both of his arms” (George 1). After high school George wanted to attend West Point Military Academy. “However there were no open appointments to West Point from his home state of California” (museum 1). At this point in his life George was very confused. “So instead of West Point George attended his fathers Alma matter, The Virginia Military Institute” (George 2). George did quite well at The Virginia Military Institute except for English and grammar. “George kept wanting to go to West Point, so the following year when a spot opened, he applied and received the appointment” (museum 1). So it was after a year at The Virginia Military Institute that George made the big move from Richmond to West Point, New York. “It was 1904 and George was put in what was known as the beast barracks” (George 2). George was a great athlete and an average student. “However due to his problems with mathematics George was forced to spend an extra year their” (George 2). George’s athletic abilities were then shown to be purely graceful. “George became a expert fencer and a master swordsman” (museum 2). Since George was a child he was a lover of animals, so it was no wonder that the other sport he loved was polo. “George became an expert polo player while he was attending West Point” (George 2) “George chose cavalry as his major at West Point, and he later became a cavalry officer” (museum 2). “In 1909, George graduated 46th out of a class of 103 cadets” (George 3). In the 1912 Olympics young George made his name known to the world for the first time. “George competed in the pentathlon at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm” (Blumenson 25). The pentathlon consisted of five events, shooting, fencing, swimming, horseback riding, and running. These were all skills that George had toned and practiced at while at West Point. “He ended up placing 5th for the United States, losing several points in the shooting event”(Blumenson 26). Choosing a .38 caliber pistol over the smaller more commonly used .22 caliber lost his points. One of George’s shots passed through another shot’s hole, and the judges counted it as a miss. After the Olympics, Patton traveled around Europe. “His most famous visits was to The French Cavalry School” (George 3). Patton learned the French style of saber fighting and fell in love with the French saber. “He latter designed the model M1913 sword after the French saber” (George 3).

Patton was still a young officer in 1916 when he got his first taste of battle. “George joined General John J. Pershing in his fight to overthrow Poncho Villa of Mexico” (museum 3). The fighting in Mexico was light but it gave George a good feel for live fighting. Once again though George made national headlines when he shot and killed General Cardenas, Poncho Villa’s head bodyguard” (museum 3).

“When World War I broke out in 1914 George asked to serve under the French Cavalry, but his request was denied” (George 3). However shortly after the Pancho Villa escapades ended, General Pershing was sent to Europe to command in World War I. “When General Pershing left for World War 1, He was promoted Patton to captain and took him with him” (George 3).

“In Europe Patton joined the British Tank Corps and led the British tankers to victory at Cabri” (George 3). Captain Patton learned much of his knowledge of mechanized fighting while working with the British tank corps. “Then shortly after Cabri George joined the newly formed U.S. tank corps” (George 3). Commanding in the tank corps, George captured the