Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 7:40pm

General George S. Patton: Art and Life

Like any truly great work of art, the Patton film gets some of the details wrong, but captures the spirit of the person depicted completely.

Below is the entire video of The General George S. Patton story.  Patton was an out-sized, flamboyant personality and a brilliant general.  America will never forget him, and I think that would have pleased the General, a devoted student of history throughout his life, very much.

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Nicholas Jagneaux
Wednesday, January 18, AD 2012 6:56pm

Donald,

Just in case no one else tells you – Keep posting stuff like this. I love it.

PM
PM
Wednesday, January 18, AD 2012 8:41pm

I remember seeing this powerful movie – but not the opening speech as much as the size of the flag. Thanks for the replay because, as is said, after all these years …
When I was little, I found a leather case in my father’s top drawer which contained a little medal and paper that said Lucky Bastards Club. There was a picture of him with soldiers (airmen? Air Force) next to an airplane. He was a tailgunner between England and Germany, later an aircraft mechanic. I always felt embarassed by whatever that club could mean and didn’t ask him. Think I get it now.

Mary De Voe
Friday, January 20, AD 2012 12:27pm

“KIll them with kindness”, General George Patton. “I can attest to that” means that you, Donald R. McClarey, were a flying man? God love you. In my humble opinion your posted photograph reminds me of Ulysses S. Grant.

PM
PM
Friday, January 20, AD 2012 11:26pm

Thank you so much for the story behind the medal – have been trying to imagine how it was. He spoke little about the time. I suspect that, since his father and mother emigrated from Germany and Austria in the 19-teens to NY just west of Mass. border, the gunning missions began a lifelong off and on vodka disease. He did say that mechanical work was his avocation before and after WWII – cars, trucks, airplanes, even buses – until the need for conversion to metric tools in the 1970’s. The picture of the airmen was taken on an airfield with a B-17 and they had the expressions that spoke of something happily accomplished.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Saturday, January 21, AD 2012 9:02am

RE: AAF air crew bravery. See the movie, “Memphis Belle.” When I was in SAC, I served with men who been bomber crew in the War. Our group CO had been shot down over Ploesti and was a POW.

I am reading Unbroken by the author of Seabiscuit. I recommend it. It gives a good description of a successful B-24 bomber raid on a Japanese occupied island and of an air raid the air and ground crews endured on an island air base. The author also reports the large numbers of training and accidental air deaths and the pressures and angst suffered between missions (both combat and training). The B-24 ditches at sea on a search mission for another lost aircraft and crew. Our Lord’s bitter agony in the Garden of Gethsemani comes to mind.

Also, lest we forget: I think 40,000 young Americans (America’s finest) gave the “last full measure of devotion” with 3 Army from Normandy through Czechoslovakia.

All the WWII men (RIP) with whom I grew up have gone to their rewards. They were the greatest generation, without a doubt.

Greet them ever with grateful hearts.

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