Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21

all sides and had to send out tanks
to escort their supplies Fast me-
'chanized cavalry attachments cut
the German pockets into smaller
units and spread confusion Gen.
Patton often rode at the head of his
tank columns. The 1st and Sd
Armies virtually destroyed Field
Marshal Guenther Won Kluge's 7th
Army.
During the. Battle of the Bulge in
Belgium, Gen. Patton had an i'm
portant part in pushing the enemy
back. Praising his troops for their
achievements all the way from the
start of the Sd Army's operations in
France, the general said their rec
ord has been one of continuous vic
tory"
Not only have you invariably de-
teated a cunning and ruthless
enemy" he told the men, but also
you have overcome by your indomit-
able fortitude every aspect of terrain
and weather. Neither heat nor dust
nor floods nor snow have stayed
your progress"
Given Second Oak Leaf.
He referred to a second Oak Leaf
Cluster to the Distinguished Service
Medal he had received for leading
the Sd Army in it's spectacular
dash across France in the summer
Of 1914. Gen. Patton told his men
that this award was bestowed on
me not for what I have done but
because of what you have achieved
From the bottom of my heart I
thank you
He won the original D. S. M. In
World War I for his high military
attainments' in the employment of
tank corps troops in combat. The
first Oak Leaf Cluster went to him
in recognition of his accomplish
ments during the African cam
paign in 1912. 1t was awarded bv
Gen. Eisenhower, then Allied COM
mander in chief in North Africa.
In the autumn of 1914, Gen.
Eisenhower pinned on Gen. Patton
the Bronze Star for his part in
the capture of Metz, the mighty
fortress city that was crushed by
the Sd Army driving toward Ger
many Gen. Patton brought about
the fall of Metz for the first time
In its 1,500-year military history.
Gen. Patton also received the
Distinguished Service Cross for
World War bravery. In World War
II he received the Legion of Merit.
He also held a Silver Star citation.
the Congressional Life Saving Medal
OF Honor, the Grand Cross of Ouis-
san Alaouite (Morocco9 and was
a commander in the French Legion
of Honor.
Gen. Patton required all soldiers
in the battle area to wear leggings
and helmets.
He once expressed a desire to meet
German Field Marshal Erwin Rom
mel in individual tank combat. 1.-THE
two armies could watch" he said.
I'D be in one tank, Rommel in an
other. I'd shoot at him. He'd shoot
at me. If killed him, I'd be champ.
If he killed Newell, he won't"
There was story that President
Roosevelt once met Gen. Patton.
then a two-star major general, in
Africa and told him: George. I
am going to give you that third star
.(of lieutenant generaD and send
you back home to take over an army
there"
George" was said to have re-
piled: I'm that case you can keep
that third star I want to stay here"
He got the third star, anyway. He
became full general on April IA,
1945.
Early in 1914 Gen. Patton was
decorated by order of King George
vi for meritorious action In the
Mediterranean. He was made a
Companion of the Order Of the Bath
on recommendation of Gen. Sir
Harold Alexander. the Allied COM
mander in Italy.
The citation said the decoration
was for his work as commander of
the American I'd Corps during the
Maknassy battle in Southern Tunisia
the previous year, and added:
This ofiicer took over the corps