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.

Major assignments

  • 15th Cavalry, Fort Sheridan, Illinois - June 1909
  • 15th Cavalry, Fort Myer, Virginia - Late 1911
  • Member, United States Olympic Team - Summer 1912
  • Master of the Sword, Mounted Service School, Fort Riley, Kansas - September 1913 to June 1915
  • Troop A, 8th Cavalry, Fort Bliss, Texas - c. July 1915 to April 1916
  • Troop C, 13th Cavalry - April 1916 to May 1916
  • 10th Cavalry - May 23, 1916 to May 15, 1917
  • Aide to Commanding General, AEF Headquarters - May 15, 1917 to September 1917
  • Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, AEF - September 1917 to November 10, 1917
  • Commanding Officer, AEF Light Tank School – November 10, 1917 to August 1918
  • Commanding Officer, 1st Provisional Tank Brigade – August 1918 to November 6, 1918
  • Commanding Officer, 304th Tank Brigade – November 6, 1918 to September 30, 1920
  • Commanding Officer, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry – September 30, 1920 to November 20, 1922
  • Student officer, Advanced Class, Cavalry School, Jan. 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, July, 1924, to Mar. 4, 1925
  • Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑1‑2‑3, Hawaiian Division and Hawaiian Dept., Apr., 1925, to Apr., 1928
  • Office, Chief of Cavalry, Plans and Training, Apr. 14, 1928, to Aug. 17, 1931
  • Student officer, Army War College, Aug. 18, 1931, to June 25, 1932
  • Executive Officer, 3d Cavalry, June 25, 1932 to April 15, 1935
  • Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑2, Hawaiian Department, May 21, 1935 to July 12, 1937
  • Director of Instruction, Cavalry School, August, 1937 to July, 1938
  • Commanding Officer, 5th Cavalry Regiment, July 24, 1938 to December 1938
  • Commanding Officer, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, December 1938 to July 16, 1940
  • Commanding Officer, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, July 16, 1940 to April 4, 1941
  • Commanding Officer (acting), 2nd Armored Division, November, 1940 to 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, II Corps – March 5, 1943 to April 16, 1943
  • Commanding Officer, I Armored Corps, April 16, 1943 to July 9, 1943
  • Commanding Officer, 7th Army, July 9, 1943 – January 26, 1944
  • Commanding Officer, 1st U.S. Army Group (ficticious), January 26, 1944 to June 6, 1944
  • Commanding Officer, 3rd Army, January 26, 1944 to October 7, 1945
  • Military Governor of Bavaria, July 1945 to October 7, 1945
  • Commanding Officer, 15th Army, October 7, 1945 to December 21, 1945

Orders, decorations and medals

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)[1]

2nd award - 19 August 1943;

SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant 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 Distinguished Service Cross 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[1]
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st Row Distinguished Service Cross
with one oak leaf cluster		 Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star
with one oak leaf cluster
2nd Row Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Silver Lifesaving Medal [2]
3rd Row Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal
with four bronze campaign stars		 American Defense Service Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with one silver and two bronze campaign stars
4th Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal
with "Germany" clasp (posthumous)		 Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold with palm (Belgium) Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium)
5th Row Military Order of the White Lion, Grand cross
(Czechoslavakia)		 Czechoslovak War Cross
1939-1945		 Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor
(France)		 Croix de Guerre, 1914–1918
with bronze star (France)
6th Row Croix de Guerre, 1939–1945
with palm
(France)		 French Liberation Medal (1947) (posthumous) Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
(Luxembourg)		 Luxembourg War Cross
7th Row Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite
(Morocco)		 Order of Kutuzov
(1st class)
(Russia)		 British Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
  • Note: The rows 1-4 are American medals unless otherwise noted. Rows 5-7 are foreign medals and noted where required.

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate
No insignia CadetUnited States Military AcademyJuly 1, 1905
No insignia in 1909 Second Lieutenant15th Cavalry, Regular ArmyJune 11, 1909
  First Lieutenant10th Cavalry, Regular ArmyMay 23, 1916
  CaptainCavalry, Regular ArmyMay 15, 1917
  MajorCavalry, TemporaryJanuary 26, 1918
  Lieutenant ColonelTank Corps, National ArmyApril 3, 1918 [3]
  ColonelTank Corps, Regular ArmyOctober 17, 1918
  CaptainCavalry, Regular ArmyJune 30, 1920
(Discharged and recommissioned.)
  MajorCavalry, Regular ArmyJuly 1, 1920
  Lieutenant ColonelCavalry, Regular ArmyMarch 1, 1934
  ColonelCavalry, Regular ArmyJuly 24, 1938
  Brigadier GeneralArmy of the United StatesOctober 2, 1940
  Major GeneralArmy of the United StatesApril 4, 1941
  Lieutenant GeneralArmy of the United StatesMarch 12, 1943
  Brigadier GeneralRegular Army (bypassed)August 16, 1944 [4]
  Major GeneralRegular ArmyAugust 16, 1944 [5]
  Lieutenant GeneralRegular ArmyDecember 4, 1944
  GeneralArmy of the United StatesApril 14, 1945

[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "George Smith Patton , Jr". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  2. ↑ "United States Coast Guard". Uscg.mil. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  3. ↑ Official date of rank of March 20, 1918
  4. ↑ Official Date Of Rank of September 1, 1943
  5. ↑ Official Date Of Rank of September 2, 1943
  6. ↑ Official Register of Commissioned Officers of the United States Army, 1941. pg. 659.
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