Patton Takes Charge!
August 2, 2011
Posted in 101st Airborne Division, 90th Infantry Division, Battle of the Bulge, Ed Persons, General George Patton, Hobert Winebrenner
Tags: 101st Airborne Division, 90th Infantry Division, Ed Persons, General George Patton, Hobert Winebrenner
General George Smith Patton, Jr. (Photo courtesy Ray Waldron)
On August 1, 1944, the 90th Infantry Division was switched from the First Army to the Third Army, under the command of General George Smith Patton, Jr. “In all honesty, it didn’t mean that much to me,” 90th Division infantryman, Hobert Winebrenner said. “I had heard a couple of Patton’s speeches in England, knew of his reputation, but figured I’d never actually see him while in war. After all, generals typically worked far from the battlefield. I’d soon find out that Patton was anything but typical.”
Ed Persons served as a medic with the 101st Airborne Division and will never forget an encounter with General Patton shortly after his 4th Armored Division came to the rescue at one of the most epic engagements of the war–the Battle of the Bulge. “I was taking one of our wounded boys back to the Battalion Aid Station in Bastogne,” Persons said. “As I was getting out of the jeep, another one drove up beside me. I looked up and it was General Patton and his driver. He had his leather jacket on and two pearl-handled pistols. It was just him and his driver, no entourage. He said, ‘How you doing fella?’
“I said, ‘Better now that you’re here, sir.’
“He smiled and said, ‘Well, we’re going to give you guys a little rest.’ Things cleared up after Patton and his boys got there.”
General Patton’s exploits and leadership with the Third Army have become legendary. Sadly, Patton died on December 21, 1945 from injuries received in a jeep accident.
There is a book out, or soon coming out, entitled “Target Patton”, that makes the case that Patton was assassinated by the OSS. Patton’s distrust of the Soviets, and his knowledge of things about actions of Allied leaders, that they did not want published, led to his planned death. I’ll see what it has to say when it is published. The author is military historian, Robert Wilcox. It should be worth a read.
Joel,
Yeah, I’ve always heard of the controversy surrounding Patton’s death given that the traffic accident appeared relatively minor. My “to read” list is already pretty sizable, so please, give Target Patton a read and let us know what you think.
I plan to , Mike. Right now I am beginning “Matterhorn”, a novel about Vietnam. I hardly read fiction, but this one seems like it will be very good, and also, it is a gift from my son. I’ll read “Target Patton” next.