George smith patton jr biography

GEORGE S. PATTON JR.

[ November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945 ]

General George Smith Patton Jr.

was a senior officer of the United States Army who commanded the U.S. Seventh Army in the Mediterranean theater of World War II, and is best known for his leadership of the U.S. Third Army in France and Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1885 to a family with an extensive military background (with members having served in the United States Army and Confederate States Army), Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the U.S.

Military Academy at West Point. He studied fencing, and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the “Patton Sword.”

1912 OLYMPICS

Possessing excellent fencing and horsemanship skills, Patton was selected for the 1912 U.S.

Olympic team for the first ever Olympic modern pentathlon event, held in Stockholm, Sweden. The new event was created to test military men in five sport