Teresa Nguyen
Honors History 11
Ms. Gray
December 8, 2017
A Great and Controversial Leader
The personality and behavior of a person can help his success or failure. With great determination to be a soldier as a young boy, General George Smith Patton Jr., became one of the greatest yet most contradictory leader. As a little boy, Patton had extreme knowledge of military history and military strategy comparing to those his age. His hard work and determination will finally be repaid as he become military leader in World War II. Patton was referred to as Old Blood and Guts by his men because of his toughness and strict discipline. Although his strong and aggressive personality nearly ended his career, George Patton was considered one of the greatest
…show more content…
Bernard law Montgomery was the commander of the British Eighth Army, which was to land around Catania. Patton commanded the I Armored Corps (The Western Task), which was to land near Palermo. The two forces would guard these cities allowing them to build up their troops to attack Messina. The plan appealed to Patton because he liked a plan that is risky, however; Montgomery had doubt about it because their forces would have to divide. Montgomery plan was for British to land troop of either sides of the Messina as Patton’s troops would land after him on the eastern coast to support Montgomery’s attack. (Axelrod 102) This showed how the British underestimated the American army, especially Patton as a …show more content…
Eisenhower knew he had to take action because it was too big of a mistake to let it slide. When the incident reached the ears of press correspondents, Eisenhower asked them to keep the secret because it was an intricate military issue that might have a huge impact on the war. He also explained to them that he ordered Patton to write a report for his behavior. He also gathered the press crops explaining to them that he sent a special representation to Sicily to further investigate it. Eisenhower struggled to decide whether to reduce Patton’s rank to colonel and move him to North Africa or just forget the entire incident. It was hard for him to reach a decision because even though he made a mistake, he was also one of the best combat general. Eisenhower decided to delay the decision, but the truth cannot be hold back for too
Throughout Patton’s speech, harsh and foul language is used abundantly. The speech begins with Patton identifying the American public opinion of not wanting to enter the war. Patton refuses this and establishes Americans as wanting to fight, and instilling American pride into his audience. Patton then addresses the men’s fears of dying and killing but shadows it with their duty to country, and honor to their manhood. The speech then moves to the importance of being a team and how every man has a crucial part to play, whether it be a truck driver or infantryman. Patton then feels the need to quickly remind everyone that his presence in England is to remain a secret. After this, he reinstates the mission and why they are here. They are here to defeat the Germans in Europe, then move
George Patton was a unique person.A boy who problems at school, a general who claimed victory and got into trouble, and a one the greatest heroes of World War 2.Patton was very colorful and original.He was considered a very successful general.He was not like any
Although at first glance General George S. Patton is anything but creative, if you think about it, he is one of the most creative people of all time. Both his battle strategies and speeches were creative, bold, and extremely powerful. Each of his speeches, particularly his speech to the Third Army, are some of the most powerful and motivated I have read. Each and every speech he spoke riled his troops and made them want to crush the Nazis and win the war. Many people dislike Patton and his speeches because of his vulgar language, but there is no denying the effect the speeches had on the troops who served under him and the power in each word he spoke. http://www.wjpbr.com/patton.html
George S. Patton was one of the most highly regarded and successful military leaders in the history of the United States. His military career spanned from the expedition into Mexico throughout WWII. His ability to inspire his troops with his profane filled speeches and his position of always leading from the front gained him vast popularity and fame. Many political leaders considered him too controversial and intemperate at times. This reputation often overshadowed his determination and success as a commander. His bravery and many contributions to several of America’s war efforts has established him as one of the greats in American military history.
This thought brings me to my next motive of why Truman might have dropped the bomb. I do not think Truman was unaware of the lasting effects of the atom bomb, but by the time these facts were presented to him, piled upon facts about the actual bomb and the projects supporting them, it was to late to change his decision. He needed to save face for America (which brings me to the next motive of pressure) even if it public opinion was not his main concern. Truman did not want to look soft upon the Japanese, something further consideration and negation of the plan to bomb would have caused in some officials eye's. Also, Truman and much of the rest of the nation did not like seeing the U.S. as moral failures like many other nations. Who knows what the reaction to the President's decision would have been like if he had decided to let an invasion with hundreds and thousands of our men involved take place.
If I had been in his shoes, I would hope I would have had the courage to make the same decision. No one wants to see innocent people die, especially civilians. Sometimes, you have to outweigh all of your options and even though these options were not good at all. Truman definitely chose the lesser of two evils which saved countless lives. You can never please everyone. Somebody will always have something to say whether it is positive or negative. I understand that this is what makes the world go around, people having their own opinions. I could not imagine the pressure Truman was facing, knowing all of the lives which are at stake. Many people say Truman was wrong for using the atomic bomb. My question to them would be, is it better to send our young men in on a ground invasion and lose maybe a million or more of our men, or drop a bomb and save our men? We did not start the war, but we sure finished it. We did not ask to fight in this war. We tried staying out of it, but we were dragged into it. September 11, 2001, we were attacked when terrorists flew planes into the twin towers in New York City. Instantly, America is at war. The difference this time, we are not fighting a country, but a group of terrorists who were extremely difficult to find. If it had been a country like Japan, then I would have hoped that we could the bombed them the same way we bombed Japan. But you can’t bomb a group of people who are all over the world. I support Truman’s decision in using the bomb. If we have to use this type of force again in order of saving many of our men and women, then that would be the lesser of two
George S. Patton (1885 - 1945) was ideally suited to command an army. "He was bold
There are a number of qualities that quantify good leaderships and good leaders. According to Kouzes and Posner in their book The Leadership Challenge, all successful leaders have (5) practices in common. They “Model the Way”, “Inspire a shared vision”, “Challenge the process”, “enable others to act” and “encourage the heart”(15). Never is there a more important time to have exemplary leadership, than in a time of war. Both the American Civil War and World War II showed what was possible through good leadership. From abolishing slavery and preserving the Union, to fighting tyranny and oppression abroad, both events in American history had a profound impact on all those involved. The impact would most certainly be different if not for the leadership of Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain of the Union Army during the Civil War and General George S. Patton during World War II. Both leaders possessed the 5 practices essential for god leadership, yet both leaders to different approaches to accomplish their goals.
Gen. George S. Patton was one of the most intelligent military leaders and soldiers in American History. Audacious, unorthodox, and inspiring, he led his troops to very god victories in North Africa, Sicily and on the western front. Nazi Generals admitted that all American field commanders he was the most feared and scared everyone. To Americans he was worthy of such strong cavalrymen as Philip Sheridan, J. E. B. Stuart and Nathan Bedford Forrest. His great qualities as a soldier were matched with one of the best personalities of his period.
During WW2 Truman, the United States President at the time, was asked to make one the toughest decision in History. Choosing between dropping an atomic bomb or invading are both choices that will result in a lot of deaths. The huge diffrence between the two was who died wether it be the Japanese with the bomb, or the American soldiers with the invasion. Trumans decision was supposed to end the war sooner, hence reducing the amount of agony,deaths, stress or any other negative effects that could result in the continous war. Truman's decision on dropping the Atomic Bomb's was an efficient course of action for the Americans, but was deffinantly not the most educated decision. If I had been placed in Truman's shoes and had to make this
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, General George C. Marshall called him to Washington for a war plans assignment. Eisenhower impressed both the general as well as The President (Theodore Roosevelt) with his well thought out plan to focus on weakening Germany before assaulting the Japanese. Because of this, he was placed in command of the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942. On D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France. After heading many decisive victories for the U.S., Eisenhower accepted Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945. He returned home a national hero.
From a fiercely brave General, who strictly enforces customs, bravery, formalities, and success; to a General with a lighthearted-mood, down to earth attitude, a steadfast courage, and a integrity and decency to lead the nations of the world into battle; while both these legendary Generals fought on the same side, both General S. Patton and General D. Eisenhower were distinctly different Generals. This paper seeks to outline the differences and similarities between the two Generals by taking a close look at their lives, and the impacts they had on WWII.
General George S. Patton was an outstanding leader in the US Army. Patton was in charge of the Third Army and was order to turn his Army around ninety degrees from Lorraine and head to Bastogne. General Patton was a very direct leader; he was sure to let you know what was on his mind at all times. General Eisenhower had called for a meeting to inform Patton about his new mission. Eisenhower was unsure if Patton was able to handle the mission, but little did he know that General Patton had already thought of what he was going to do the night before. Patton did not mention to Eisenhower that he had left three different strategies with his deputy, Major General Hobart Gay and all it would take was phone call with a code word to activate his troops. He cared for his troops at all cost, even if a vehicle were stuck in the snow he would jump out of his open jeep and tell his troops to start pushing the troops that knew who he was could not believe that there was General Patton pushing right alongside of them. Patton would never ask a man to do anything that he would not do himself. During Christmas Patton ordered that every soldier in the Third Army would
On November 11, 1885, in San Gabriel, California, George Smith Patton Jr., later on known as one of the most interesting military men in history was born. Throughout his early childhood, Patton would hear the heroic stories of his ancestors. It appeared that Patton’s ancestors fought in several wars, including the Civil, Mexican, and Revolutionary war. Could it be that being a military leader was in Patton’s genes? On June 11, 1909, Patton graduated the US Military Academy at West Point, New York- one of the best military academies in the U.S.
Patton’s beliefs have and will continue to echo through eternity. It is with these sets of beliefs that men and women who serve everywhere will grow to be the leaders they can be. Speaking out based on your own belief, leadership and pride are just a few of the principles that we continue to live by to this day. What we do in life echoes in eternity and I hope to become as good an officer as Patton was and do honor to the men who was ahead of his time and widely respected by