Original: George Smith Patton , Jr. ( also George Smith Patton III ) ( November 11 , 1885 -- December 21 , 1945 ) was a distinguished though controversial United States Army officer .
Simplified: George Smith Patton , Jr. ( also George Smith Patton III ) ( November 11 , 1885 -- December 21 , 1945 ) was a U.S. Army officer .