George Patton’s speech in Los Angeles 1945 and his death. Narrated by Ronald Reagan
Patton giving one of his last public speeches in Los Angeles, 1945, before he returned to Europe and died in a freak automobile accident.
1916
Serves as aide to General Pershing in the Mexican Punitive Expedition.
Commands the first use of mechanical vehicles in combat (two Dodge touring cars).
Kills "General" Cardenas, head of Villa's bodyguard, using his new Colt .45.
Carves two notches in the Ivory Grips of his Colt .45 revolver.
Promoted to First Lieutenant.
1919
Returns to the United States.
1939
Promoted to permanent rank of Colonel.
Considers retiring from the U.S. Army.
1940
Promoted to Brigadier General in July.
Assumes command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia.
1941
Promoted to Major General in April.
Assumes command of the 2d Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia.
1942
Appointed to create the Desert Training Center near Indio, California on 1 April.
Assumes command of the 1st Armored Corps at the Desert Training Center.
Plays a leading role in the planning of Operation Torch.
Commands the Western Task Force during the Allied invasion of North Africa.
Enters Casablanca and occupies French Morocco.
1943
Assumes command of II Corps on 4 March following its disastrous defeat at Kasserine Pass on 19 February.
Rejuvenates II Corps and wins victories at Gafsa and El Guettar.
Promoted to temporary rank of Lieutenant General on 12 March.
Assumes command of Seventh Army and invades Sicily on 10 July.
Captures Palermo on 22 July.
Captures Messina on 16 August, beating Montgomery.
Victory in Sicily is spoiled by the announcement of the "slapping incidents."
1943-1944
Precluded from higher command because of the slapping incidents.
Used as a "secret weapon" to fool the Germans into thinking he's planning an invasion of the Pas de Calais area of France.
1944
Assumes command of the U.S. 3d Army in July.
Begins the amazing "breakout" from Normandy, fighting four directions at once.
Captures Avranches on 1 August.
Captures Le Mans on 8 August.
Heads north toward Nancy and Metz (most heavily fortified part of the West Wall) on 13 August.
Kept from destroying a surrounded German army at the "Falais Gap." Montgomery closes the "gap" to late and allows much of the German army to escape.
3d Army continues its amazing advance eventually moving faster, going farther, killing and wounding more enemy, seizing more land, and capturing more prisoners than any other army in history.
Reaches the Seine River at Mantes on 19 August.
French 2d Armored (attached to 3d Army) enters Paris on 23 August. Patton and the 3d Army are not allowed to take the city due to politics.
Runs out of gasoline and other essential supplies near the Meuse River because the majority of supplies are diverted to Montgomery for "Opeation Market-Garden" in Holland.
Begins the Lorraine Offensive in spite of lack of gasoline and supplies.
Operation Market-Garden is deemed a failure. Montgomery fails to take his objectives during 17-25 September.
SHAEF disregards numerous warnings from 3d Army about the German buildup in the Ardennes.
The Battle of the Bulge starts on 16 December.
Despite the worst winter in years, on 20 December Patton diverts 3d Army from eastward attacks, turning ninty degrees to the north, and attacking the Germans in the Ardennes. Most historians agree that no other commander and no other army could have accomplished this incredible feat.
Patton publishes his famous "Prayer Card" to all 250,000 men of 3d Army on 21 December.
Weather conditions improve greatly on 23 December.
Patton relieves Bastogne on 26 December.
Patton's actions at the Battle of the Bulge (the German's Ardennes Offensive) help to crystallize the "Patton Legend."
1945
Montgomery finally begins an attack against the German "bulge" on 3 January.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3
