General George S. Patton Jr.

General George Smith Patton Jr. was born November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He was known as a complicated man, and having an intemperate manner. He was also known for carrying his pistol with ivory handle. He always strived to train his troops to the highest standard of excellence. Patton always dreamed of being a hero. His ancestors had fought in many wars, and grew up listening to their stories. He attended the Virginia Military institute for one year and went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point on June 11, 1909. He was then commissioned

as a Second Lieutenant in the 15th Cavalry Regiment.

Patton got married to Beatrice Ayer, whom he dated while attending West Point, on May 26, 1910. Patton competed in the Stockholm Olympics in the first modern pentathlon in 1912. This was considered a rigorous test of the skills a soldier could possess. He was 26 at the time and did remarkably well in all the events which included, pistol shooting from 25 meters, sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters horse back riding and a 4-kilometer cross-country run. Patton placed fifth overall.

Patton started taking lessons at the French cavalry school, and learning French sword drills. Patton reported to the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas, where he became the school's first Master of the Sword. He designed and taught a course in swordsmanship while he was a student at the school. Patton's first real exposure to battle took place when he served as a member of General John J. Pershing's staff during the expedition to Mexico. Patton was sent to Fort Bliss in 1915 along the Mexican border where he led routine cavalry patrols. A year later, he accompanied Pershing as an aide on his expedition against Francisco "Pancho" Villa into Mexico. Patton gained recognition from the press for his attacks on several of Villa's men.

Pershing was impressed with Patton's determination, and promoted him to Captain and asked him to command his Headquarters Troops upon their return from Mexico. During World War I in 1914, Patton became the first member of the newly established United States Tank Corps. He served the Corps until 1920, when it was abolished. Along with the British tankers, he and his men achieved victory at Cambrai, France, during the world's first major tank battle in 1917. Using his first-hand knowledge of tanks, Patton organized the American tank school in Bourg, France and trained the first 500 American tankers. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for Heroism during the Meuse-Argonne Operation in September 1918, one of the many medals he would earn in his lifetime.

After WWI, Patton held a variety of staff jobs in Hawaii and Washington D.C. He graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1924, and completed his military schooling as a distinguished graduate of the Army War College in 1932.