United States World War II Army General. He was born at Lake Vineyard Ranch, what is now San Gabriel, California. In 1904, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, following in the military fashion of the Patton family. After graduation, he was assigned to the Cavalry as an aide to General John "Black Jack" Pershing, who at that time was pursuing the Mexican bandit General Pancho Villa. During World War I, he saw service in France as part of the United States Army Tank Corps.
During World War II, he was assigned to North Africa as head of the II Corps, where he received his third star from General Dwight David Eisenhower. On to Sicily, the Seventh Army enjoyed an unopposed landing, and Patton assumed command of this unit. In January 1944, he was summoned to London and given command of the U.S. Third Army which was still being activated.
In July 1944, George Patton arrived in France one month after the D-Day landing. As his command was still not fully activated, he was forced to wait for the arrival of the bulk of his troops. Once the 3rd Army was fully operational, its exploits throughout Europe became legendary.
General Patton's journey into history began in Mannheim, Germany, on December 9, 1945, when the sedan in which he was riding ran headlong into an Army truck. He was taken to the Army hospital in the Southern suburb of Rohrbach in Heidelberg, where he died from his injuries on December 21. He lay in state at the Villa Reiner, one of the stately homes in Heidelberg. Funeral services were conducted at Christ Church. Afterward his body was placed aboard a special funeral train for the trip to Luxembourg for burial at the Military Cemetery in nearby Hamm, where 3,000 American soldiers lie, many of whom served under General Patton in the 3rd Army. He was buried on December 24th following a funeral service at the Luxembourg Cathedral. In spite of the pouring rain, thousands lined the streets from the central railroad along the tracks to the cemetery. Representatives of nine countries and the highest ranking officers of the American troops stationed in Europe followed the coffin. Present were delegations from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. France and Belgium provided the honor guard. While the gun carriage with the coffin was on its way from the railroad station to the cemetery, a French battery fired a seventeen-round volley of salute. After a brief religious service, George Patton Jr. was lowered into the grave.
View burial and family links here: Burial Location.
View cenotaph here: Cenotaph.
During World War II, he was assigned to North Africa as head of the II Corps, where he received his third star from General Dwight David Eisenhower. On to Sicily, the Seventh Army enjoyed an unopposed landing, and Patton assumed command of this unit. In January 1944, he was summoned to London and given command of the U.S. Third Army which was still being activated.
In July 1944, George Patton arrived in France one month after the D-Day landing. As his command was still not fully activated, he was forced to wait for the arrival of the bulk of his troops. Once the 3rd Army was fully operational, its exploits throughout Europe became legendary.
General Patton's journey into history began in Mannheim, Germany, on December 9, 1945, when the sedan in which he was riding ran headlong into an Army truck. He was taken to the Army hospital in the Southern suburb of Rohrbach in Heidelberg, where he died from his injuries on December 21. He lay in state at the Villa Reiner, one of the stately homes in Heidelberg. Funeral services were conducted at Christ Church. Afterward his body was placed aboard a special funeral train for the trip to Luxembourg for burial at the Military Cemetery in nearby Hamm, where 3,000 American soldiers lie, many of whom served under General Patton in the 3rd Army. He was buried on December 24th following a funeral service at the Luxembourg Cathedral. In spite of the pouring rain, thousands lined the streets from the central railroad along the tracks to the cemetery. Representatives of nine countries and the highest ranking officers of the American troops stationed in Europe followed the coffin. Present were delegations from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. France and Belgium provided the honor guard. While the gun carriage with the coffin was on its way from the railroad station to the cemetery, a French battery fired a seventeen-round volley of salute. After a brief religious service, George Patton Jr. was lowered into the grave.
View burial and family links here: Burial Location.
View cenotaph here: Cenotaph.
United States World War II Army General. He was born at Lake Vineyard Ranch, what is now San Gabriel, California. In 1904, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, following in the military fashion of the Patton family. After graduation, he was assigned to the Cavalry as an aide to General John "Black Jack" Pershing, who at that time was pursuing the Mexican bandit General Pancho Villa. During World War I, he saw service in France as part of the United States Army Tank Corps.
During World War II, he was assigned to North Africa as head of the II Corps, where he received his third star from General Dwight David Eisenhower. On to Sicily, the Seventh Army enjoyed an unopposed landing, and Patton assumed command of this unit. In January 1944, he was summoned to London and given command of the U.S. Third Army which was still being activated.
In July 1944, George Patton arrived in France one month after the D-Day landing. As his command was still not fully activated, he was forced to wait for the arrival of the bulk of his troops. Once the 3rd Army was fully operational, its exploits throughout Europe became legendary.
General Patton's journey into history began in Mannheim, Germany, on December 9, 1945, when the sedan in which he was riding ran headlong into an Army truck. He was taken to the Army hospital in the Southern suburb of Rohrbach in Heidelberg, where he died from his injuries on December 21. He lay in state at the Villa Reiner, one of the stately homes in Heidelberg. Funeral services were conducted at Christ Church. Afterward his body was placed aboard a special funeral train for the trip to Luxembourg for burial at the Military Cemetery in nearby Hamm, where 3,000 American soldiers lie, many of whom served under General Patton in the 3rd Army. He was buried on December 24th following a funeral service at the Luxembourg Cathedral. In spite of the pouring rain, thousands lined the streets from the central railroad along the tracks to the cemetery. Representatives of nine countries and the highest ranking officers of the American troops stationed in Europe followed the coffin. Present were delegations from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. France and Belgium provided the honor guard. While the gun carriage with the coffin was on its way from the railroad station to the cemetery, a French battery fired a seventeen-round volley of salute. After a brief religious service, George Patton Jr. was lowered into the grave.
View burial and family links here: Burial Location.
View cenotaph here: Cenotaph.
During World War II, he was assigned to North Africa as head of the II Corps, where he received his third star from General Dwight David Eisenhower. On to Sicily, the Seventh Army enjoyed an unopposed landing, and Patton assumed command of this unit. In January 1944, he was summoned to London and given command of the U.S. Third Army which was still being activated.
In July 1944, George Patton arrived in France one month after the D-Day landing. As his command was still not fully activated, he was forced to wait for the arrival of the bulk of his troops. Once the 3rd Army was fully operational, its exploits throughout Europe became legendary.
General Patton's journey into history began in Mannheim, Germany, on December 9, 1945, when the sedan in which he was riding ran headlong into an Army truck. He was taken to the Army hospital in the Southern suburb of Rohrbach in Heidelberg, where he died from his injuries on December 21. He lay in state at the Villa Reiner, one of the stately homes in Heidelberg. Funeral services were conducted at Christ Church. Afterward his body was placed aboard a special funeral train for the trip to Luxembourg for burial at the Military Cemetery in nearby Hamm, where 3,000 American soldiers lie, many of whom served under General Patton in the 3rd Army. He was buried on December 24th following a funeral service at the Luxembourg Cathedral. In spite of the pouring rain, thousands lined the streets from the central railroad along the tracks to the cemetery. Representatives of nine countries and the highest ranking officers of the American troops stationed in Europe followed the coffin. Present were delegations from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. France and Belgium provided the honor guard. While the gun carriage with the coffin was on its way from the railroad station to the cemetery, a French battery fired a seventeen-round volley of salute. After a brief religious service, George Patton Jr. was lowered into the grave.
View burial and family links here: Burial Location.
View cenotaph here: Cenotaph.
Bio by: Paul S.
Inscription
GEORGE S. PATTON JR
GENERAL THIRD ARMY
CALIFORNIA DEC 21 1945
Gravesite Details
Luxembourg American Cemetery. (50 Val du Scheid, 2517 Luxembourg, Luxemburg)
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