Biography george s patton

Educated at West Point, George S. Patton began his military career leading cavalry troops against Mexican forces and became the first officer assigned to the new U. Promoted through the ranks over the next several decades, he reached the high point of his career during World War II, when he led the U. Patton died in Germany in December of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure following an automobile accident.

His family, originally from Virginia , had a long military heritage, including service in the Civil War. Patton decided early on that he wanted to carry on the tradition, and graduated from the U. Military Academy at West Point in Patton gained his first real battle experience in , when he was assigned to lead cavalry troops against Mexican forces led by Pancho Villa along the U.

He served as aide-de-camp to General John J. Pershing , commander of American forces in Mexico, and accompanied the general on his unsuccessful expedition against Villa. Did you know?

George patton iv

Of the five events--running, swimming, fencing, riding and shooting--he fared poorest in shooting, but still managed to finish fifth overall in the event. Tank Corps. He soon earned a reputation for his leadership skill and knowledge of tank warfare. After the war, Patton served positions in tank and cavalry units at various posts in the United States.

By the time the country began to rearm itself in , he had risen through the ranks to colonel.