Killing Patton

[LincolnMan]

(05-31-2014 08:43 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  

(05-31-2014 09:43 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Correct me if I'm wrong, Jim, but aren't you part of the Patton family?

Yes Laurie. It seems all old Virginia families inter-married....extensively. I am related through both the Waller and Tazewell families. Also, my second cousin was married to his daughter, Ruth Ellen. I lived with Ruth Ellen while I went to school in Massachusetts. Of the three Patton children, she was the most like her father. She was truly a remarkable person. She was my second mother. Likewise, her youngest son, Jamie Totten, lived at our while he attended Episcopal High School and VMI. My mother was his second mother.

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Every veteran that I've encountered who served under General Patton, take/took great pride in serving in Patton's army. While in no way, am I disparaging Marshall, McArthur, Bradley, etc, you just don't hear old soldiers say, "I served in Ike's army or Bradley's Army, etc.

I venture to say if you asked any military historian, from any continent, who are the top ten greatest generals in history, George Patton would be on almost every list.

My wife's uncle died last year. He served under Patton. I had the opportunity to talk to him about a year before he died about his service. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and sustained feet injuries that would trouble him the rest of his life due to exposure from the cold in the battle. He, like other veterans, spoke highly of Patton. He said that despite some of the trouble he got into politically, they all knew he was the "best d*** General the army had-bar none."