GENERAL PATTON TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE HIS UNTIMLEY DEATH.
Patton, however, was not ready to rest on his laurels. He requested
a transfer to the Pacific theatre so he could fight the
Japanese. The request was, of course, denied, respectfully. The mind
boggles at the thought of Patton serving under Macarthur!
One congressman even proposed that Patton be made Secretary of War,
but Patton's lack of diplomacy guaranteed the
suggestion was never taken seriously. Back in Germany, while on occupation
duty after a visit to the States during which he was
welcomed with parades as a conquering hero, Patton's outspokenness
got him into trouble yet again when he tried justifying the
use of ex-Nazis in important administrative positions during the occupation
of Bavaria. Patton had also been willing to make
known his view that the United States and Britain should re-arm the
Germans and fight the Russians.
As a result of his ''unofficial'' remarks, he was relieved of the command
of his beloved 3rd Army.Though he had been
showered with honours when he had returned to the United States, there
was obviously a great deal of discussion in
Washington about what to do with Patton now that the war was over.
Invaluable in war, Patton's temperament was somewhat
of a liability in peacetime. In many ways, it would have been fitting
for Patton the warrior to have died on the battlefield, but that
was not to be. Despite the fact that throughout his military career
he had constantly exposed himself to danger, it was a traffic
accident, not a bullet, which took Patton's life. In December 1945,
his car was hit by a truck and he was severely injured. On
21 December he died from these injures and was buried in Luxembourg
a country which still considers George S. Patton its
liberator.
Since his death, Patton's reputation has continued to grow until he
is now considered by many the greatest military commander
in U. S history. The praise levered on him by the men of 3rd Army has
nearly drowned out any lingering criticisms about his
brashness. Even today, 3rd Army veterans are proud to make it known
that they served under Patton. George Patton's
ambition as a boy was to be a general, a hero and a warrior. History
has proven that he succeeded magnificently at all three.
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