George Patton IV facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Patton IV
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Patton in 1977
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| Birth name | George Smith Patton IV |
| Born | December 24, 1923 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 27, 2004 (aged 80) South Hamilton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1980 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held | 2nd Armored Division 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 2nd Medium Tank Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
| Relations | George S. Patton (father) Beatrice Ayer Patton (mother) George Smith Patton (grandfather) Frederick Ayer (grandfather) Louise Ayer Hatheway (aunt) Mark Gordon (first cousin once removed) Benjamin Patton (son) |
| Other work | Farmer The Fighting Pattons (co-author) |
George Smith Patton IV (born December 24, 1923 – died June 27, 2004) was a high-ranking officer, a major general, in the United States Army. He was the son of the famous World War II General George S. Patton Jr.. George IV followed in his father's footsteps, serving in two major conflicts: the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
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A Military Career Begins
George Patton IV went to The Hill School before joining the military. In 1942, he entered West Point, which is a famous military academy. He graduated four years later in 1946 as an infantry officer, meaning he led soldiers on foot. While he was at West Point, his father passed away. After this, the younger Patton decided to drop the "IV" from his name. Even though he was the fourth person in his family named George Smith Patton, people sometimes called him "George Patton III" because his father was known as Patton Jr.
His first job in the army was in Regensburg, West Germany. There, he helped with the 1948 Berlin Airlift. This was a huge effort where planes flew supplies into Berlin because the city was blocked off. Patton's troops helped load these important supplies onto the planes. In 1952, he became a platoon leader in a tank battalion. A year after returning from Germany, he married Joanne Holbrook.
Serving in the Korean War
Patton went to fight in the Korean War starting in February 1953. He was in charge of "A" Company of the 140th Tank Battalion. During his time in Korea, he showed great bravery. He received his first Silver Star, which is a medal for courage in battle. He also received the Purple Heart, an award given to soldiers wounded in action.
After returning to the United States in 1954, Patton was a captain. He was first sent to teach at West Point. Soon after, he was chosen for a special program. This program sent him to teach at the United States Naval Academy, which is where naval officers are trained.
Battles in the Vietnam War
George Patton IV served three times in South Vietnam. His first tour was from April 1962 to April 1963. During this time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After that, he took command of a tank battalion in Texas.
His second tour in Vietnam was in 1967, but it only lasted three months. His final and most intense tour was from January 1968 to January 1969. For his brave actions during this time, he received two Distinguished Service Crosses. This is a very high award for extreme bravery. During this tour, he was first a chief of operations. But after being promoted to colonel in April 1968, he took command of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Patton often used helicopters as his mobile command center during his three tours. This meant he was often flying over the battlefield. He was shot down three times! For his actions, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and a second Silver Star.
After the Wars
After his service in Vietnam, Patton was promoted to brigadier general in June 1970. In 1975, he became the commanding general of the 2nd Armored Division. This was a very special moment. His father had commanded the same division just before World War II. This was the first time in U.S. Army history that both a father and son had commanded the same division.
Before this, in 1972, Brigadier General Patton was a deputy commander at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also helped lead the Armor School there.
Later, Patton was assigned to the VII Corps in Germany. He was stationed near Stuttgart. In Stuttgart, Manfred Rommel, the son of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, was a government official. Erwin Rommel was a famous German general who fought against Patton's father in World War II. The sons of these two former enemies became very good friends. Their friendship was well-known and lasted until Patton's death in 2004.
Awards and Honors
George Patton IV received many awards for his bravery and service in the military. Some of his most important awards include:
- Distinguished Service Cross (twice)
- Silver Star (twice)
- Legion of Merit (three times)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star Medal (twice)
- Purple Heart
He also earned badges like the Basic Army Aircrew Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Later Life and Passing
After retiring from the army in 1980, George Patton IV became a farmer. He turned an estate that his father owned north of Boston into the Green Meadows Farm. He honored soldiers who died under his command in Vietnam by naming the fields after them.
As mentioned, Patton became good friends with Manfred Rommel, the mayor of Stuttgart. Manfred was the son of Erwin Rommel, a German general who fought against Patton's father in World War II. Their friendship continued even after Patton retired from the military.
In the years after he retired, Patton was interviewed for a book called The Bad War: An Oral History of the Vietnam War. In the 1990s, he worked with author Brian Sobel to write The Fighting Pattons. This book tells the story of his father's life and compares the military of his father's time to his own. It covered nearly 70 years of military service across five conflicts. The Fighting Pattons was published in 1997.
George Patton IV passed away in 2004 at the age of 80. He had a form of Parkinson's disease.
Family History
George Patton IV was the fourth person in his family to be named George Smith Patton. His great-grandfather, the first George Smith Patton, was a colonel in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He was wounded in battle and later died.
Patton's grandfather, born George William Patton, changed his name to George Smith Patton in 1868 to honor his father. Patton's own father was George Smith Patton Jr., the famous World War II general. He was well-known for leading the Third U.S. Army in Europe during 1944 and 1945.
Even though he was called "Junior," Patton's father was actually the third George Smith Patton. Because of this, George Patton IV was given the name George Smith Patton IV. After his father died in 1945, he legally changed his name to simply George Smith Patton, removing the Roman numerals.
His oldest son, who is technically the fifth George S. Patton, is also known as George Smith Patton Jr. The youngest grandson of the World War II General Patton has shared family stories on TV channels like the History Channel.
Another son, Robert H. Patton, wrote a book about the Patton family called The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family.
His youngest son, Benjamin Patton, also wrote a family book called Growing Up Patton. This book shared memories of his grandfather and father's military careers. Benjamin, who is a filmmaker, also recorded his father's memories. These recordings helped form the basis for the book The Fighting Pattons.
