I'd heard some of this growing up, but didn't know the full story. This is a letter from my uncle, Army Col. and surgeon in WWII.
I don't really know too many folks who would appreciate this sort of thing except folks here on the 'fire. I'll prolly remove these on Monday.
All Best.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/huskyrunnr/ecl1.jpghttp://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/huskyrunnr/ecl2.jpg
Wow, now those are some neat memento's. Les
Tremendous documents...true historical treasures
Thanks for sharing them,
HBB
Very interesting. Thanks for putting them up.
Wow, pelaese don't take them down. Patton is in my opinion our greatest fighting general ever. This give me goose bumps.
Thanks...
As a real history (wwII in particular) nut, I appreciate your post.
Sir, permission to paste to desktop, sir...
bearhuntr
WOW ! ! !
Thank you for posting those documents.
I realize Genernal George S. Patton, Jr. was, in his own words, "a real "S.O.B.", but he was the Allied General officer the Nazi High Command feared most due to his methods in commanding an army and his relentless aggression in battle.
He was a glorious American...
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.
What a piece of History.... It needs to be protected as the value of those notes are invaluable, there is no way a value can be placed on them as they are real treasures as they are notes from the physician that treated Patton in his last hours, therefore they are of great historical value. They would rate right up there with the physicians notes dealing with the Kennedy Assassination.
Holy cow, that it a real find. fantastic piece of history Sir.
Thanks for posting this. My dad served under General Patton-hated him intensely, but admired him very much just the same. I think that was a common sentiment of the men under General Patton. Dad was always very proud of the fact that Patton fought a very aggressive, offensive style of combat. Dad also admitted at times that this created issues when the front line troops got too far out in front of the supporting units and rear eschelon troops. He said he spent many nights with meager rations, low on ammunition because they were waiting on supplies to reach them in their run across Europe. I know Patton had his detractors, and enemies both abroad, and here at home, but to me he will go down as one of the greatest commanders of all time.
Thanks for posting that. I hope you leave it up for a good while so the members have a good chance of seeing it. I'd also like to hear any other recollections you have -- it's a real treasure.
My Mom's younger brother was a tank platoon commander with Patton, and my Wife's Dad was with Patton in North Africa and Sicily, and then in Europe later.
I have saved this for my wife to read.
Fascinating! Always wonderful to get a glimpse into the reality of history.
At some point, have you thought about maybe donating them to the Smithsonian?
Penny
Donate hell, if ya got Kids, you could probably pay thier college tuition with those. Les
I appreciate the enthusiastic responses and other historical info on Patton. I knew I posted these to the right place.
41Keith, what I heard growing up was only that my uncle was Patton's and Eisenhower's physician. I had no idea of what exactly that meant.
Penny, these are photocopies that my uncle sent to my cousin in March 1969 so they're not exactly Smithsonian material. I have no idea where the originals are now. Perhaps with my uncle's immediate family or already donated somewhere.
The cover letter to my cousin states, among other family business- the following relevant paragraph:
"Am spending some time these days with old records- with much to throw away. It is amazing how much one can forget in 23 years. Am enclosing copies for you of my note- and Original 55A- of Gen. Geo. S. Patton Jr.- and his untimely death. Place this among your secret archives, and you can always state that you have the facts if the matter is discussed. I am also assembling notes on others- from Potsdam- Rheims Peace Conf. etc. These include observations on Churchill, ???, ???, Zukov and De Gaulle. The favorite however was Montgomery- or perhaps Stalin."
Did your uncle have in his possession a carved walnut cane - a caduseus actually, with only one snake? My brother carved one for a retired army doctor who claimed to be Gen. Patton's physician. This was probably in 1977. I wonder if it was your uncle?
Copies or not they are still very interesting historical documents and important family records.
Patton's driver at the time of the wreck, Horace Woodring, is buried not far from where I live.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8081821