Service summary of George S. Patton

George S. Patton served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for 36 years. He served in three major conflicts (Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War I, and World War II) during his military career.

History[]

Chronology of assignments[]

• Cadet, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York - June 16, 1904 to June 11, 1909
• Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, 15th Cavalry - June 11, 1909
• 15th Cavalry, Fort Sheridan, Illinois – September 11, 1909 to December 19, 1911
• 15th Cavalry, Fort Myer, Virginia – December 1911 to April 1912
• Member, United States Olympic Team, Stockholm, Sweden – May to July 1912 (4th place in Modern Pentathlon.)
• 15th Cavalary, Fort Myer, Virginia - September 20, 1912, to July 6, 1913
• Detail to Saumer, France - July 6, 1913 to September 15, 1913 (Studied French saber methods.)
• Master of the Sword, Mounted Service School, Fort Riley, Kansas – September 20, 1913 to September 15, 1915
• Troop A, 8th Cavalry, Fort Bliss, Texas – September 26, 1915 to March 13, 1916
• Served as aide to commander of Mexican Punitive Expedition - March 14, 1916 to February 7, 1917
• Promoted to 1st Lieutenant 10th Cavalry - May 23, 1916 (Did not serve with regiment.)
• Promoted to Captain - May 15, 1917
• Aide to Commanding General, AEF Headquarters, Paris, France – May 15, 1917 to September 1917
• Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, AEF, Chaumont, France – September 1, 1917 to November 10, 1917
• Commanding Officer, AEF Light Tank School, Langres, France – December 17, 1917 to February 14, 1918
• Commanding Officer, 1st Light Tank Center, Langres, France – February 14, 1918 to August 1918
• Promoted to Major - January 26, 1918
• Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel - April 3, 1918
• Commanding Officer, 1st Provisional Tank Brigade – August 1918 to November 6, 1918
• Promoted to Colonel - October 17, 1918
• Commanding Officer, 304th Tank Brigade – November 6, 1918 to September 19, 1920
• Reduced in rank to Major due to post war reduction of the US Army - July 1, 1920
• Commanding Officer, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry – September 21, 1920 to November 20, 1922
• Student officer, Advanced Class, Cavalry School, January 1, 1922, to June 6, 1923
• Student officer, General Service Schools, Sept. 12, 1923, to June 12, 1924 (Honor Graduate)
• Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑1, 1st Corps Area, Boston, Massachusetts - July, 1924, to March 4, 1925
• Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑1‑2‑3, Hawaiian Division and Hawaiian Dept., April, 1925, to April, 1928
• Office, Chief of Cavalry, Plans and Training, Apr. 14, 1928, to August 17, 1931
• Student officer, Army War College, August 18, 1931, to June 25, 1932
• Executive Officer, 3d Cavalry, June 25, 1932 to April 15, 1935
• Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel - March 1, 1934
• Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑2, Hawaiian Department, Honolulu, Hawaii - May 21, 1935 to July 12, 1937
• Director of Instruction, Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kansas, August, 1937 to July, 1938
• Promoted to Colonel - July 24, 1938
• Commanding Officer, 5th Cavalry Regiment, July 24, 1938 to December 1938
• Commanding Officer, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Fort Myer, Virginia December 1938 to July 16, 1940
• Commanding Officer, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Benning, Georgia July 16, 1940 to April 4, 1941
• Promoted to Brigadier General - October 2, 1940
• Commanding Officer (acting), 2nd Armored Division, November, 1940 to April 4, 1941
• Promoted to Major General - April 4, 1941
• Commanding Officer, 2nd Armored Division, April 4, 1941 (acting since November 1940) to January 15, 1942
• Commanding Officer, I Armored Corps, January 15, 1942 – March 5, 1943
• Commanding Officer (temporary), II Corps – March 5, 1943 to April 16, 1943
• Promoted to Lieutenant General - March 12, 1943
• Participant in the Battle of El Guettar - March 23, 1943 to April 3, 1943
• Commanding Officer, I Armored Corps, April 16, 1943 to July 9, 1943
• Participant in the Allied invasion of Sicily - July 9, 1943 to August 17, 1943
• Commanding Officer, 7th Army, July 9, 1943 – January 26, 1944
• Commanding Officer, 1st U.S. Army Group (fictitious), January 26, 1944 to June 6, 1944
• Participant in the Battle of the Bulge - December 16, 1944 to January 26, 1945
• Commanding Officer, 3rd Army, January 26, 1944 to October 7, 1945
• Promoted to General, April 14, 1945
• Military Governor of Bavaria, July 1945 to October 7, 1945
• Commanding Officer, 15th Army, October 7, 1945 to December 21, 1945
• Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Europe (interim), November 11, 1945 to November 26, 1945

Orders, decorations and medals[]

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Cross with one bronze oak leaf cluster						Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters		Navy Distinguished Service Medal (posthumous)

2nd Row	Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster	Legion of Merit	Bronze Star Medal	Purple Heart
3rd Row	Silver Lifesaving Medal[1]	Mexican Service Medal	World War I Victory Medal with four bronze campaign stars	American Defense Service Medal
4th Row	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze campaign stars	World War II Victory Medal	Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp (posthumous)	Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite (Morocco)
5th Row	Grand Cross Military Order of the White Lion (Czechoslavakia)	Grand Cross Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Luxembourg)	Honorary Knight Commander Order of the British Empire (KBE) (United Kingdom)	Grand Officer Legion of Honor (France)
6th Row	Grand Officer Order of Leopold with palm (Belgium)	Order of Kutuzov (1st class) (Soviet Union)	Honorary Companion Order of the Bath (CB) (United Kingdom)	Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with bronze star (France)
7th Row	Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with palm (France)	Croix de Guerre (Luxembourg)	Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium)	Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945

• Note: The rows 1–4 are American medals unless otherwise noted. Rows 5–7 are foreign medals and noted where required.

Distinguished Service Cross[]

1st award – 26 September 1918;

CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Armor) George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Tank Corps, A.E.F., near Cheppy, France, 26 September 1918. Colonel Patton displayed conspicuous courage, coolness, energy, and intelligence in directing the advance of his brigade down the valley of the Aire. Later he rallied a force of disorganized infantry and led it forward, behind the tanks, under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire until he was wounded. Unable to advance further, Colonel Patton continued to direct the operations of his unit until all arrangements for turning over the command were completed.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 133 (1918)^[2]

2nd award – 19 August 1943;

CITATION: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding General of the 7th Army, in action against enemy forces on 11 July 1943. Lieutenant General Patton's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Army, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 80^[2]

Army Distinguished Service Medal[]

1st award

CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Tank Corps) George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. By his energy and sound judgment, Colonel Patton rendered very valuable services in his organization and direction of the Tank Center at the Army schools at Langres, France. In the employment of Tank Corps troops in combat he displayed high military attainments, zeal, and marked adaptability in a form of warfare comparatively new to the American Army. War Department, General Orders No. 103 (1919)^[3]

2nd award

CITATION: Major General George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. AF, General Orders No. 28 (1942)^[3]

3rd award

CITATION: Lieutenant General George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. War Department, General Orders No. 90 (1944)^[3]

Navy Distinguished Service Medal[]

CITATION: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to General George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, Western Task Force, Sicilian Landings, on 10 July 1943, and the Amphibious Operations in the advance from Palermo to Messina.^[3]

Silver Star[]

CITATION: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) Patton distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Cheppy, France, 26 September 1918, in reorganizing and leading forward in the attack and infantry detachment. GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 4 (June 3, 1919) [This award was rescinded under GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 8 (March 1, 1920) as the recipient has been awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for deed including this act.]^[3]

Legion of Merit[]

CITATION: General George Smith Patton, Jr. (ASN: 0-2605), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, FIRST Armored Corps, during World War II.^[3]

Dates of rank[]

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date
No insignia	Cadet	United States Military Academy	July 1, 1905
No insignia in 1909	Second Lieutenant	15th Cavalry, Regular Army	June 11, 1909
	First Lieutenant	10th Cavalry, Regular Army	May 23, 1916
	Captain	Cavalry, Regular Army	May 15, 1917
	Major	Cavalry, Temporary	January 26, 1918
	Lieutenant Colonel	Tank Corps, National Army	April 3, 1918 [4]
	Colonel	Tank Corps, Regular Army	October 17, 1918
	Captain	Cavalry, Regular Army	June 30, 1920 (Discharged and recommissioned.)
	Major	Cavalry, Regular Army	July 1, 1920
	Lieutenant Colonel	Cavalry, Regular Army	March 1, 1934
	Colonel	Cavalry, Regular Army	July 24, 1938
	Brigadier General	Army of the United States	October 1, 1940 (Accepted on October 2, 1940.)
	Major General	Army of the United States	April 4, 1941 (Accepted on April 19, 1941.)
	Lieutenant General	Army of the United States	March 12, 1943
	Brigadier General	Regular Army (bypassed)	August 16, 1944 [5] (Retroactive to September 1, 1943.)
	Major General	Regular Army	August 16, 1944 [6] (Retroactive to September 2, 1943.)
	General	Army of the United States	April 14, 1945

^[7]

References[]