Genealogy Books - Patton: A Genius for War

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Summary: The natural and other lessons
Comment: Patton is often described as "controversial". To those who have never fought in war, or perhaps
even just engaged in competitive sports, or who otherwise have only a sort of normal, everyday idea
about how people ought to act, I suppose he is: Arrogant, sometimes outwardly cruel, demanding,
competitive, a taskmaster, single-minded, agressive, angry, all the rest. I've never fought in war,
but I've played my share of competitive sports (a paltry parallel, but the best I can do). In
sports, everyone (if they're lucky) had a coach like this somewhere along the way, and they most
likely took more lessons away from that man or woman than all the colorless middle-of-the-roaders
combined. They most likely achieved things under that person's direction that they didn't know they
had the capacity to do. They most likely recall details about that person many years later, after
they've forgotten most of the others. When the old team-mates get together, that's who most of the
stories are about (many told as being funny, now - not so at the time).

To me,
that's Patton: An American original who just barely escaped being a bombastic buffoon. He avoided
that fate and scaled the heights of history because he was a born leader of men - one who either
broke them (rarely), or got the best out of them (much more often); because he knew his business
inside-out; because he worked at it day and night; and most of all, because finally, he WON. />
I think that this intensely personal essence is what is most completely captured in
this book. It fills in many of the overlooked or understated details from the well-known George C.
Scott movie, and adds much new material besides. An excellent book, worthy not only as a war
biography, but as a study of what it honestly takes to do REALLY well at any endeavor in life.

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Summary: Detailed and nuanced biography of a legendary warrior general
Comment: This is a massive biography of General George Patton (820 pages of text, and more pages of
footnotes, references, etc.). It begins with the roots of his predecessors in the New World. The
first Patton, Robert, emigrated to Virginia from Scotland about 1770. The first chapter outlines
the development of the family from that point to the Civil War. Many of the men in the Patton
family (including the Mercers) were actively involved in the Confederate Army, fighting in many
major battles of the war--with two in the family dying at Gettysburg and again at Winchester. The
second chapter follows the family to California, where George S. Patton III was born in 1885. />
The book traces his childhood and then his entry into West Point, after a brief time at
VMI, early in the 20th century. One of his challenges academically was his affliction--dyslexia.
During his time at West Point, he began to see his future wife, Beatrice Banning Ayer. It is
interesting to note a change in his persona at the military school, closer to what he thought a
military man ought to be like (profaner, tough, ruthless, and aristocratic). As the author puts it
(page 77): ". . .while he succeeded beyond measure, in so doing, `he killed much of his sensitivity
and warmth and thereby turned a sweet-tempered and affectionate child into a seemingly hard-eyed and
choleric adult."

His military career, after graduation, began with the cavalry. He was
selected, after doing his own lobbying, to serve as an aide to Black Jack Pershing on the punitive
expedition to Mexico, thus securing the patronage of an important leader. He behaved with courage
during this expedition. And when the Americans entered World War I, Patton journeyed to Europe to
take part. When he saw the opportunity, he joined the brand new Tanks Corps. He was an innovator
in development of a doctrine of tank warfare; he also led tanks in combat. In the interwar years,
Dwight Eisenhower joined Patton with the tank corps. However, with demobilization, the army
declined in number and tanks became downgraded. Patton returned to the cavalry.

As
World War II drew Americans into the conflict, Patton headed to North Africa, where he was to gain
his first glory as commander of II Corps, energizing that body and leading it to considerable
success. He also would find himself in disagreement with fellow allied commanders. He was a key
player in the Sicilian campaign, which ended with his regrettable slapping of an American soldier.
This put a hiatus on his active combat leadership for awhile, as Eisenhower "sat him down." />
However, as we all know, he was destined to command the Third Army after the Normandy
invasion. The book portrays his lightning movements, his feuds with other commanders, his urinating
in the Rhine, and so on. And, finally, his lingering death (having cheated death many times after
bad accidents, it seems almost inevitable that a final accident would take his life).
/>For those wanting to learn in depth about Patton's background and his leadership in the way years,
this is a valuable book. There is a useful postscript on Patton's legacy, including a nuanced
assessment of his strengths and weaknesses. Most fair-minded readers would see this as a valuable
volume, capturing reasonably well a complex person, who exhibited some pretty poor behaviors and who
was at the same time capable of bursts of greatness.

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Summary: One of the best PAtton bio's I have read
Comment: Excellent. Complete, and insightful. I would read this for pleasure. It flows well, contains many
historical nuggets, and provides insight into the psyche of one of America's greatest Generals. />
The book is long, but it is COMPLETE. One stop shop for anything you wanted to know about
G.S. Patton Jr.

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Summary: Well-Research, Insightful, and Hilarious
Comment: Absolutely fascinating biography of Patton, filled with stories about him that will have you
laughing on almost every page (and weeping on some others as he slaps soldiers and especially as he
lies in a hospital paralyzed in 1945). The writing is superb and the research impeccable. />
The greatest strength of the book is the author's encyclopedic knowledge of Patton and his
thoughtful analysis. He doesn't take the public image of Patton as gospel but has interviewed many
people who knew him and read Patton's diary and other papers. The author does a great job
communicating his main theme, the complexity of the kind and compassionate private Patton contrasted
with the public Patton who was profane and brash, yet one of the greatest generals of all
history.

Yet the book has one major weakness. Although it is subtitled "Genius for
War," the author fails to explain his genius. He does a great job of communicating Patton's
marvelous leadership skills, his sense of destiny, and his ability to motivate men to kill and to
die; yet he fails to describe Patton's operational genius. What made Patton one of the greatest
armor commanders ever? Sure Patton paid great attention to detail and drove his troops harder than
almost anyone else, but he knew how to use armor and infantry better than almost anyone else. But
D'Este misses his opportunity to tell us how Patton fought his battles.

Nonetheless,
the book is an excellent and informative read, whether you are just looking for a good book or want
to learn more about Patton or the European Theater in World War II.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Patton: A Study in Contradiction
Comment: In this biography of legendary General, George S. Patton, Carlo D'Este chronicles his life from
birth, Nov. 11, 1885 to his untimely death Dec. 21, 1945. More than a recitation of battlefield
successes, D'Este records candid impressions from friends and foes alike and gives the reader a good
look at the man behind the "war face" he wore.

The book begins with Patton's early life
in California and the influence of his Confederate ancestors. Young George was even schooled by
legendary Confederate guerilla leader, John Mosby himself. At critical times he stated he felt his
ancestors were watching to see if he would measure up. He struggled academically at the Virginia
Military Institute and at West Point primarily due to dyslexia, an ailment unknown at the time.
Still, he overcame this obstacle as he would so many others, by sheer determination and plain hard
work.

Patton's marriage to Beatrice Ayer provided social status and financial backing
for his ambitions. In the class conscious officer corps of the turn of the century, Patton's
ability to entertain the social elite of society greatly aided his career. Beatrice was a full
partner in achieving her husband's dreams. They were a formidable team!

All the major
military campaigns are here: The Punitive Expedition into Mexico and World War I both serving under
John J. "Blackjack" Pershing where he learned the art of command; "Torch, in Africa, "Husky" in
Sicily; "D-Day," "Cobra," "The Battle of the Bulge" including "Bastogne" which many consider his
finest hour, military successes unsurpassed before or since. However, D'Este also documents the
birth of political correctness. Patton's career had to be saved repeatedly by Eisenhower himself
for incidents that would have gone unnoticed in most armies: the slapping an enlisted man and an
unfortunate slip of the tongue at Knutsford. The American army is truly unique!

D'Este
records candid impressions of Patton from the men who knew him best. No one was neutral. They
either loved or despised the man. Some described him as, "Ike's (Eisenhower's) pit-bull." When
there was a fight to win, Ike would tell him, "Sic-um" only to have to muzzle the "attack-dog"
later. Other's called him a show-off and a self server. Eisenhower described him best: "He was
one of those men born to be a soldier."

This work shows he reader the many faces of
Patton. He was a man's man who swore violently yet retired to pray before each battle. A man who
reportedly loved war, yet cried unashamedly at the sight of severely wounded men. He could be loud,
profane, boisterous, yet humble, contrite, and compassionate all seemingly at the same time.
Undoubtedly the most effective of all allied Generals in World War II, he died believing he had not
full-filled his destiny. These portraits, so vividly painted by the author make this work unique
among Patton's numerous biographies. I whole-heartedly recommend it to any serious student of the
war and the man.

Harold Y. Grooms

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