George S.

Patton (November 11, 1885 December 21, 1945) was a general who commanded the
U.S. Seventh and Third armies during World War II. He had been wounded during World War I
leading the newly formed Tank Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces into combat. In 1942
he led U.S. troops in the invasion of Casablanca, and later commanded the Seventh Army during the
Allied invasion of Sicily. After slapping two soldiers, he was removed from battlefield command,
but returned to lead the Third Army following the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. After a
successful armored drive across France, his army helped rescue beleaguered American troops
during the Battle of the Bulge. He died from an automobile accident in Germany. While Allied
leaders held sharply differing opinions on Patton, he was regarded highly by his opponents in the
German High Command. His emphasis on aggressive offensive action proved effective, but his
hard-driving personality and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by controversial
public statements. He joined his troops on the front lines and inspired them with vulgarity-ridden
speeches, as