I remember him mentioning one daughter, Anne, and his wife, but he never talked about his family much. He was a quiet man, but when he had something to say it was usually about the military, or he’ d look around when we were driving and tell me to“ slow down” or“ turn here;” this and that. But truly, he didn’ t say much. Still, the soldiers liked him. Even though they gave him that General“ Blood and Guts” Patton nickname, they liked and respected him.
When he talked to the guys, the title of“ General” didn’ t seem to mean a whole lot to Patton. The three stars didn’ t seem to mean much either. If you had an idea to share, he’ d go for it. Man to man, soldier to soldier, that’ s the way he was.
Sometimes we’ d be going around in the jeep and the soldiers would be doing something, and Gen. Patton was always quick to jump out and offer a helping hand.
One time, in particular, we were stuck in the mud and Gen. Patton got out and started directing traffic; waving folks along. Gen. Omar Bradley was with us, and he was quick to say,“ Oh, you know Patton, he’ d make one hell of a cop the way he directs traffic.”
Of course, Gen. Patton was also fiercely disciplined. He would wake us up prior to our alarm. I know for myself, if we had to get up at four o’ clock, he’ d be after me by 3:45.
He also got hot sometimes.“ Hell” was his word of choice.“ To hell with this,”“ to hell with that,” and“ to hell with this person.” But despite the fact that he was always thinking and could be quite serious, he also had a comical side
Towards the end of the war, Gen. Patton made the decision to burn up all the money the soldiers had gathered from a canteen near Bastogne. I told him,“ Sir, what are we doing? You should give me that money.”
Then he told me,“ If you want a check, I’ ll make you out a check right now.” And he probably would have.
There was a van that provided Gen. Patton’ s living quarters when we were out in the field, but he never slept in it. He always slept on the ground. He kept all his clothes and the maps on the table in there and he had a sleeping bag, but he never used it. He’ d always sleep on
A YOUNG FRANCIS“ JEEP” SANZA IN LUXEMBOURG, LATE 1944 / EARLY 1945.
Francis Sanza
FALL 2015 21