Maniac Or Man Of The Hour?

Few people in American history have a more complicated legacy than Goerge Patton. While he was known for his heroism and strategic genius, he was also famous for swearing incessantly, talking about his past lives, and being an all-around intense guy. His unsavory behavior as a war general had him demoted, and at times, almost cost him his career. To this day, historians are at odds with each other about whether Patton was a tyrant or an absolutely crucial piece of the puzzle that led to an Allied victory in WWII. Here are 20 wild facts about George Patton. 

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1. He Believed In Reincarnation

A believer in reincarnation, George Patton thought he had lived many past lives as a warrior. He frequently talked to his compatriots about his experiences fighting in battles from ancient Rome to the Napoleonic Wars.

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2. He Chased Pancho Villa

Patton chased Pancho Villa as part of the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. He became famous for strapping the corpses of some of Pancho Villa's men to the hood of his unit's cars and parading them around.

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3. He Saved Children From Drowning

Patton had a lesser-known moment of heroism before becoming a war hero when he saved some children from drowning. While sailing with his wife, he encountered some boys who had capsized their sailboat and were struggling to swim in the freezing water. He pulled them to safety. 

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4. He Was A Pentathlete

A skilled fencer and horseman, George Patton participated in the pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics at the age of 26. He finished fifth overall. 

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5. The Film Made About His Life Won Best Picture

The 1970 film entitled Patton, about George Patton's life, swept up seven Academy Awards in 1971, including for Best Actor and Best Picture. The movie accurately depicted many aspects of Patton's life.

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6. He Made A Famous Speech To The Third Army

In 1944, before the Allied invasion of France, Patton gave his troops an impassioned and aggressive speech filled with profanities. While some viewed it as unprofessional, his words were effective, and many historians consider it the best motivational speech in history. 

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7. He Was In Charge Of A Fake Decoy Army During D-Day

After a controversial incident, Patton was demoted from leading a real regiment to being in charge of a fake one in an elaborate ruse designed to deceive the Germans. The idea was to convince them that the Allied invasion was going to occur in a different location. As German commanders saw Patton as their most formidable opponent, it worked like a charm. 

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8. He Made Anti-Semitic Remarks

Ironically considering his role in liberating concentration camps, Patton was known for making anti-semitic comments. These sentiments led to his being relieved from command of the Third Army. 

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9. He Slapped Two Shell-Shocked Soldiers

One of his most controversial acts was when he slapped two soldiers who were in the hospital after suffering from shell shock in the face, accusing them of being cowards. This led to heavy reprimand and nearly cost him his career.

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10. He Was A Pioneer Of Tank Warfare

Patton played a crucial role in the early development of tank warfare. He commanded the US tank school in France during WWI. 

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11. He Was Dyslexic As A Child

Due to his dyslexia, Patton struggled academically as a child. He was tutored at home until the age of 11 because of this though he later overcame it and became an avid reader. 

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12. He Had A Squeaky Voice

Despite his commanding presence, Patton reportedly had a surprisingly high-pitched voice. He was conscious of his distinct voice and tried to mask it with vulgar language and a harsh style of speaking. 

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13. He Was A Fan Of Profanities

Patton was infamous for swearing incredibly frequently. Despite this, he was a devout Christian who prayed almost daily. 

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14. He Died In A Car Accident

Ironically, after surviving countless battles, Patton's life was taken in a low-speed car crash in Germany. Given how mild the crash was, his death sparked conspiracy theories that he was actually secretly assassinated by the Soviets.

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15. He Had Notable Grandfathers

Patton's maternal grandfather was the second elected mayor of Los Angeles, Benjamin Davis Wilson. His grandfather on his paternal side was a Confederate Colonel in the American Civil War.

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16. He Was Buried In Luxembourg

After Patton died in a car crash in Germany, there were discussions about whether his body should be sent back to the US or even buried in Napoleon's tomb. In the end, it was sent to Hamm, Luxembourg where he was buried alongside his Third Army soldiers.

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17. He Discouraged Digging Foxholes

It was common practice in warfare to dig pits called foxholes for defense, but Patton was against it. He believed in offensive action, his motto being "go forward!"

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18. He Had A War Face

Patton apparently had a naturally calm and peaceful-looking resting face. In order to look more fierce in battle, he reportedly practiced his "war face" in the mirror. 

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19. He Failed His First Year Of Military College

Patton wasn't academically gifted. He was forced to redo his first year at the Military Academy because he flunked mathematics. 

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20. He Carried Ivory-Handled Revolvers

Patton famously carried two personalized ivory-handled Colt. 45 revolvers. He always carried two because, in the 1916 Mexican expedition, he was almost shot when he had to reload his firearm during a gunfight. 

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