Patton Invades!

Patton Rocks!
Patton eats 2 dozen Oysters Rockefeller
Antoine's New Orleans, LA

George S. Patton Jr. has been called the "American God of War".  Certainly Patton was a remarkable leader who was a genius in the military science.  He was also a man who lived large.  On my recent visit to New Orleans I noticed that in 1942, Patton visited Antoine's (www.antoines.com/) , the restaurant that invented Oysters Rockefeller, and consumed two dozen of the baked bivalves.

Here are five surprising things (in addition to his love of Oysters Rockefeller) that Americans should know about Patton...

Patton Museum
Fort Knox, KY

1) Patton the Poet
He was dyslexic and a terrible speller.  Nevertheless, he wrote some decent poetry...

"Perhaps I stabbed our Savior
In His sacred helpless side.
Yet I've called His name in blessing
When in after times I died.

Through the travail of the ages
Midst the pomp and toil of war
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star.

I have sinned and I have suffered
Played the hero and the knave
Fought for belly, shame or country
And for each have found a grave.

So as through a glass and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names - but always me.

So forever in the future
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter
But to die again once more."

2) Patton the Athlete
He competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the Modern Pentathlon (riding, swimming, shooting, fencing and running).

Patton's Ivory handled Pistols
Patton Museum
Fort Knox, KY

3) Patton the Prophet
"Patton authored a 1937 report in which he prophesied,  'the unheralded arrival during a period of profound peace of a Japanese expeditionary force within 200 miles of Oahu during darkness; this force to be preceded by submarines who will be in the immediate vicinity of Pearl Harbor.... An air attack by [ Japanese] navy fighters and carrier borne bombers on air stations and the submarine base using either gas or incendiary bombs.'" (www.americainvaded.com)

4) Patton & Islam
Patton studied the Koran while on board ship prior to landing on the coast of Morocco on November 9, 1942.  "Patton also turned out to be a surprisingly successful diplomat when he served as the putative viceroy of Morocco. He wrote to the sultan of Morocco assuring him they came as friends, not as conquerors, and did not intend to stay after the war. Patton frequently entertained the sultan (whom he referred to as Sa Majesté) and escorted him on inspection trips."  (www.americainvades.com)

5) Patton & Horses
Patton was a keen horseman who saved Vienna's Lipizzaner stallions at the conclusion of World War II  making them briefly "wards of the US Army".

Finally we must remember and indeed celebrate Patton's genius because his aggressive tactics sped the Allies to victory on the western front saving many lives.

Patton Statue
Church of Our Saviour
San Gabriel, CA

Patton definitely invaded and his invasions saved many lives.  His invasions liberated vast swathes of Nazi- occupied Europe.

In America Invades (www.americainvades.com) we noted...

Patton's Car
Patton Museum
Fort Knox, KY

"As commander of the US Third Army after D-Day, General Patton, led an army that advanced farther and faster than just about any army in military history, crossing twenty-four major rivers and capturing 81,500 square miles of territory, including more than twelve thousand cities and towns. Patton loved to quote Danton who said, “De l’audace, et encore de l’audace, toujours de l’audace!” (“Audacity, more audacity, always audacity”)."

At Patton's Grave
Luxembourg

Signed copies of America Invades here...www.americainvades.com

Or on Amazon...www.amzn.com/1940598427

Signed copies of America Invaded: A State by State Guide to Fighting on American Soil can now be found here...www.americainvaded.com

Regular copies may be purchased from Amazon...www.amzn.com/0692902406

Or on Kindle...www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK

Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3

Travel Notes: The Patton Museum in Fort Knox Kentucky is a must-see for Patton fans (www.generalpatton.org/).  Also the Luxembourg American cemetery where he is buried (www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/luxembourg-american-cemetery).  His church near Pasadena (www.churchofoursaviour.org/) is also remarkable.  Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans was founded in 1840 and is still going strong (www.antoines.com/).  Love those Rocks!