My own dear Beatrice,
I take pen in hand to
inform you of the most wonderful occurrence. The General was kind enough to
release me from my duties as his aide and allowed me to serve on the line. I
had spent some time with the 13th Calvary. Stout fellows all. But
that is not what I wanted to share with you.
We were tasked with
tracking the heathen Mexicans in this foul desert. Ever since that bandit Villa
raided our Homeland we have chased these benighted animals from pillar to post.
They hide and strike from the shadows as they are afraid of meeting the Army at
swords point. The Mexicans are a cowardly sneaky people who are a combination
of laziness and malice that has vexed the government for these many months. The
bandit Villa reveled in attacking storekeepers, ribbon clerks, women and
children. When the Army appeared he fled with his minions into the hills.
Beatrice I must tell you of the amazing events
of the past few days. I was traveling with a squad and two civilian’s scouts in
some touring cars when we came across tracks. The scouts determined that they
had to be bandits. They wanted to return to base to get some horses to follow
the tracks but I ordered the unit to go forward in the automobiles. It was
through the trackless waste of the desert so it was possible for us to both
trace this miscreants and to follow them to a conclusion. Think of it Bea! War
on wheels. I think it can be the coming thing! Oh the plans I have!
We
found them hiding in a small ranchero along the way. I drew my pistol and shot
each of them. There were three bandits and one of them turned out to be Cárdenas the
second in command to the animal Villa. I used my six shooter just as I had always
planned. After we had disposed of these terrorists I had them strapped to the
hood of the touring cars and driven to headquarters. The General was greatly
pleased. Now if only we could do the same to Villa and the rest of these
miserable Mexican miscreants.
I
am joyfully serving my country but I miss my sweet girl every day that I am
away. Please think kindly of me until I return. I think I have increased my
standing in the Army immeasurably and I look forward to the many innovations in
mechanized warfare in the years ahead. We should wrap this up soon and be home
before you know it. Just know that your darling Georgie Boy loves you and I
will be home just as soon as I can.
Love always,
George
10 comments:
Is that really Mrs. George Patton? She was quite a looker.
Pancho was considered quite the cavalry tactician in his time.
Too bad everybody was paying attention mostly to what was going on in Europe. Too bad also the Centaur of the North was the last of a breed. For all his bluster, Georgie was nothing without internal combustion.
I just experienced a real America weekend in rural Wisconsin. No Ptown, Fire Island or Ogunquit, ME for me.
I went to supper clubs, a memorial day parade with my dad in his Korean War couture, and played lawn games at my parent's farm!
I can totally assimilate too-even with my tight muscle physique, while those around me in Wisconsin are very fat.
I even sang God Bless America while my dad put his hand on my shoulder!
Now I am back in Cambridge, totally not real America.
That was her wedding photo. She was indeed hot stuff.
I went to supper clubs, a memorial day parade with my dad in his Korean War couture, and played lawn games at my parent's farm!
I accidentally put a jart in cousin's foot once in Beloit back in the '60's. Good times.
I'm reading two books about early tanks: "The Devils' Chariots" and "British Mark I Tank 1916."
It's doubtful whether someone of Patton's rank at the time knew much about even the existence of mechanized warfare.
/edutcher
But, you've got the time period exactly right -- May 1916. The tank debuted at the Somme in July of that year. It performed so-so but Lord Kitchner ordered a thousand of them.
My father served in the 3rd Armored Division in Germany during Korea. He had lots of Patton lore. He used to cite that famous remark of Patton's: "My men can eat their belts but my tanks need gas." It inspired both awe and resentment in the troops.
Sorry, the Somme battle started in July 1916, but the first tanks didn't show until September.
chickelit said...
I'm reading two books about early tanks: "The Devils' Chariots" and "British Mark I Tank 1916."
It's doubtful whether someone of Patton's rank at the time knew much about even the existence of mechanized warfare.
A professional soldier, especially a horse soldier, was probably aware of what was going on in Europe (Patton did serve in a mechanized unit as early as 1917 and was earlier encouraged by a couple of his superiors to switch to tanks, rather than the infantry) and tanks were first developed in 1915; the US Army had developed an officer corps that was much more advanced than the Indian fighting image we have of the period.
Cambrai and the Somme were the baby steps, but, during the Michael Offensive, the Limeys developed the first real combined arms operation (horse cavalry was still necessary as tanks were too underpowered to exploit a breakthrough).
Too bad the Krauts were the only ones who saw the potentioal
...and tanks were first developed in 1915
Yes, but under the utmost secrecy, and in Britain. The tank was intended as a surprise weapon. Our own tank technology was a step behind, just as we were with aircraft, relying as we did on British and French machines.
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