Excerpt from A Prediction Ignored and a Prayer by Denny G. Hair, Third Army Publishing, Houston, Texas, 2018.
The book is a collection of excerpts from Patton’s diaries and remembrances from people who were there. Hair makes notes after some of Patton’s diary entries. This note comes after Patton’s entry for October 24, 1944.
“During Patton’s inspections he stopped at a mess tent in Nancy to inspect the mess and personally taste the food. A Signal Corps crewman, who was following Patton that day, snapped a picture of him as he left the mess chewing on a carrot. MSgt. John L. Mims, Patton’s personal driver since 1940, commented some years later, ‘General Patton inspected mess in person sometimes. He stood in line with the men and then ate from a mess kit. He always wanted his men to know that they were responsible to him, personally. It made a difference. You had no trouble unless you did not know your job. Then look out, you just might be looking. He held no grudges and I never saw him be anything but fair. When he was through chewing you out, he never brought it up again.’
Master Sgt. Mims wanted something more to be understood. ‘Those who thought of General George S. Patton as ruthless or inconsiderate did not really know him, or serve directly under him. He was the most considerate man I have ever worked for.’” (p.14-15)
Pigeon Messages from Behind Enemy Lines
(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, Kew, UK
Catalog numbers: WO208/3560 #73, #75, #78, #79, #95, #96, #97, #98
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