George S. Patton Critical Essay | Excerpt by Martin Blumenson

Excerpt by Martin Blumenson

SOURCE: "The Legend and the Man," in The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, edited by Martin Blumenson, Da Capo Press, 1996, pp. 836-59.

In the following excerpt, Blumenson presents a eulogy for Patton through the words of others.

"I can't decide logically if I am a man of destiny or a lucky fool, but I think I am destined . . . I feel that my claim to greatness hangs on an ability to lead and inspire . . . I am a genius—/think I am. "

—November 3, 1942

If from some unearthly place George S. Patton, Jr., observed the human scene after his death, he no doubt smiled cynically. He had been removed from the post he cherished above all, command of his beloved Third Army, and banished in disgrace to the lowest depth of the dungeon. Then in a single bound he regained his fame and surpassed it....
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