Portrait Of Patton

This hard-hitting, hard-to-put-down book tells the story of General George S. Patton, Jr.—the most loved, most hated, most controversial combat general of World War II, whose career reached its peak during 1944-1945 as leader of the Third Army. Utilizing access to General Patton’s diary, personal letters, memoranda and speeches, author Harry H. Semmes endeavours to illustrate the General’s rationale and motives behind his actions, and to elucidate the events that shaped the General’s life. Semmes furthermore sought to demonstrate the power of Patton’s command during battle, and the influence on those who fought alongside him. “A sympathetic biography of one of America’s greatest battle leaders, a hard-riding, flamboyant, profane, religious man who fought as he played—to win. Fine reading.”—Journal of the Society of American Military Engineers “Patton was known to his soldiers as a Flashy, hell-for-leather cavalryman whose personal courage rand initiative made him feared by his enemies end loved by those who served under him....His life story is an inspiration to America’s future generals and should be required reading for the nation’s officer training schools...”—Daily Oklahoman “The full size picture of a forceful, complex man. It belongs in anyone’s collection of biographies.”—Birmingham News “Harry H. Semmes’ Portrait Of Patton is a thrilling story.”—America “General George S. Patton, Jr. was without a doubt the most colorful American commander to emerge from World War II.”—Books on Trial “An interesting, vivid and sympathetic biography of one of our greatest soldiers of today...a substantial contribution to the true history of American victories.”—World Affairs “This controversial man made deep friends and bitter enemies while he lived, but Harry H. Semmes’ book demonstrates that it is well for America that he did live—and fight—when he did.”—Washington D C. Star

A personal view of the man written by his nephew.

The grandson of the legendary World War II general George S. Patton Jr., documentary filmmaker Benjamin Patton, explores his family legacy and shares the inspirational wit and wisdom that his grandfather bestowed upon his only son and namesake. In revealing personal correspondence written between 1939 and 1945, General Patton Jr. espoused his ideals to Benjamin’s father, then a cadet at West Point. Dispensing advice on duty, heroism and honor with the same candor he used ordering the Third Army across Europe, Patton shows himself to be as dynamic a parent as a military commander. Following in those famous footsteps, Benjamin’s father became a respected and decorated hero of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Ironically, as he rose to major general, he also proved himself just as brave, flamboyant, flawed and inspiring as his father had been. A study of a great American original, Growing Up Patton features some of the pivotal figures in Benjamin’s father’s life, including Creighton Abrams, the WWII hero who became his greatest mentor; Charley Watkins, a daredevil helicopter pilot in Vietnam; Manfred Rommel, the son of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; Joanne Patton, the author’s mother and a resourceful fighter in her own right; and Benjamin’s mentally challenged brother, George. Growing Up Patton explores how the Patton cultural legacy lives on, and in the end, reveals how knowing the history of our heritage—famous or not—can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves. INCLUDES NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED LETTERS BETWEEN GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON AND HIS SON DURING WORLD WAR II INCLUDES NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS