General George Smith Patton
General George Smith Patton.
Patton was born in San Gabriel, California on November 11, 1885. From a young age Patton was told of his ancestors fighting in the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and the Mexican war. And ever since then he has wanted to become a hero. George attended the Virginia Military Institute for one year then went off to West Point and graduated from there on June 11, 1909. On May 26, 1910, he married Beatrice Ayer, whom he dated while at west point. In 1912 he went to the Stockholm Olympics which was mostly open for military officers, it was said to be the most rigorous test that a soldier possessed. At the end of the event he placed fifth, which is pretty remarkable. The events consisted of a pistol shooting from 25 meters(most chose a .22 revolver, but Patton chose a .38), sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters horse back riding, and a 4-kilometer cross country run.
After the Olympics Patton kept very busy with schooling from the French Cavalry School and studying French sword drills. In the summer of 1913 Patton received orders to report to Fort Riley in Kansas where he taught the students while he was a student himself at the school. In 1915 Patton was assigned to border patrol duty with A Company of the 8th Cavalry based in Sierra Blanca. While he was there he took on the role of wearing his Colt .45 in his belt rather than his holster, trying to get that "cowboy" image. That weapon once discharged in in a salon so he later swapped it out for a Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum, a weapon that later become an icon for Patton. In mid April of 1916 Patton asked Pershing for the opportunity to command troops, and was attached to Troop C of the U.S. 13th Cavalry Regiment to assist in the manhunt for Villa and his subordinates. Patton's first experience with combat came on may 14 1916 in what would become the first motorized attack in U.S. History. Patton leading a force of 10 soldiers and 2 civilian guides, rode in 3
Patton was born in San Gabriel, California on November 11, 1885. From a young age Patton was told of his ancestors fighting in the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and the Mexican war. And ever since then he has wanted to become a hero. George attended the Virginia Military Institute for one year then went off to West Point and graduated from there on June 11, 1909. On May 26, 1910, he married Beatrice Ayer, whom he dated while at west point. In 1912 he went to the Stockholm Olympics which was mostly open for military officers, it was said to be the most rigorous test that a soldier possessed. At the end of the event he placed fifth, which is pretty remarkable. The events consisted of a pistol shooting from 25 meters(most chose a .22 revolver, but Patton chose a .38), sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters horse back riding, and a 4-kilometer cross country run.
After the Olympics Patton kept very busy with schooling from the French Cavalry School and studying French sword drills. In the summer of 1913 Patton received orders to report to Fort Riley in Kansas where he taught the students while he was a student himself at the school. In 1915 Patton was assigned to border patrol duty with A Company of the 8th Cavalry based in Sierra Blanca. While he was there he took on the role of wearing his Colt .45 in his belt rather than his holster, trying to get that "cowboy" image. That weapon once discharged in in a salon so he later swapped it out for a Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum, a weapon that later become an icon for Patton. In mid April of 1916 Patton asked Pershing for the opportunity to command troops, and was attached to Troop C of the U.S. 13th Cavalry Regiment to assist in the manhunt for Villa and his subordinates. Patton's first experience with combat came on may 14 1916 in what would become the first motorized attack in U.S. History. Patton leading a force of 10 soldiers and 2 civilian guides, rode in 3