And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
They don't make movies like this anymore. What a great scene.
As a US Marine Vietnam tank commander veteran who fought in an M-48 "Patton" medium tank, Gen. Patton is a huge hero figure to me. He was a highly successful and forthright leader of men.
Today's "woke" weenies would say that he was a mean, nasty person. Kind of like how they view Mr. Trump.
How Patton rated as a general in WWII was settled for me when I read a book about the Ultra secret. The different leaders and military men received the same information but each used it in their own way. Monty for instance wouldn't budge until he knew, from the intelligence, that he outnumbered the enemy and had greater resources. Patton looked at the enemies numbers, and position and figured out how and where to hit them with what he had... immediately. Patton was the best general in the war, no doubt.
As a tank commander during the Vietnam War, I was always fascinated with Gen George Patton. Back during the early part of WW-2, the US military-industrial complex offered the US military the option of building a heavy tank with a large caliber main gun or continue to make massive quantities of the smaller, lighter Sherman tank.
Most military leaders wanted a heavy tank to face the Germans head on. Patton wanted to take his lighter, faster and nimbler Shermans and drive behind enemy lines attacking them from the rear. Patton won out ... but at the expense of losing far more tanks and far more tank crews. The strategy, while costly, worked. WE WON!!!
In one famous incident, we lost 20 tanks to a German 88 crew in France. When the 21st Sherman finally overran the position, the Germans were all sitting around having cigarettes, and waiting for capture. When asked why they were captured, the German officer in charge explained, "We ran out of ammunition."
The Sherman was a triumph of quantity over quality. This is why a clerk was made into a machinegunner in Fury. While fictional, IRL we simply could make tanks faster than we could train tank crews.
An interesting side note: I understand that Gen X males today seem to be attracted to Mr. Trump. Why? You ask... Because due to today's disenchanted and disenfranchised women's claims of "toxic masculinity," young men have had virtually no male role models to look up to.
I love that movie. I can't watch it anymore because just as Rommel is landing in Africa the DVD quits and I can't fast forward or skip ahead. Bummer man
Paton was a diva publicity hound. The movie is all fiction The Russians won the war in Europe. The western front was a side show. Get over it and grow up.
Patton accomplished in 8 months what it took Russia 4 years to accomplish, with metric f**ktons of aid, and millions more casualties. You're always entitled to your own opinions, but not to your own facts.
One of the all time great movies. I especially liked the parts that made Monty look like the diva he was and out classed, out faught and out maneuvered by Patton. That scene when Monty entered Messina to find Patton already there, after Patton took Palermo, was just too funny.
Lotta great scenes in that film and who cares if they're not entirely accurate. Back then movies were made to entertain. Hollyweird lost that plot along the way and they're wondering why attendance at movies is way down. Sure box office receipts are way up, but that's because ticket prices are astronomical. If they were still making good movies like Patton, they'd be making more money.
very well said. Gen George Patton was one of my Hero's among with many others.
ReplyDeleteA great movie, should have accepted the Oscar, he was brilliant.
ReplyDeletePreferred him in Dr Strangelove…
ReplyDeleteAs a US Marine Vietnam tank commander veteran who fought in an M-48 "Patton" medium tank, Gen. Patton is a huge hero figure to me. He was a highly successful and forthright leader of men.
ReplyDeleteToday's "woke" weenies would say that he was a mean, nasty person. Kind of like how they view Mr. Trump.
sic transit gloria mundi
ReplyDeletePatton was a man, Donnie, not so much...
ReplyDeleteAnd Biden is 'sharp as a tack'.
DeleteSo is Michelle
Delete"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
ReplyDeleteA great movie about a great leader.
Al_in_Ottawa
The world in which he developed is long gone. Damn shame.
ReplyDeleteLeaders of that caliber would be shunned today, damn shame. .
ReplyDeleteGeorge quote, "We defeated the wrong enemy!"
ReplyDeleteClassic movie.
ReplyDeleteMan for the ages.
One of my Uncles was part of Patton's Army in Europe. He was a Sgt in support. He has died of age like many others of that era.
ReplyDeleteHow Patton rated as a general in WWII was settled for me when I read a book about the Ultra secret. The different leaders and military men received the same information but each used it in their own way.
ReplyDeleteMonty for instance wouldn't budge until he knew, from the intelligence, that he outnumbered the enemy and had greater resources.
Patton looked at the enemies numbers, and position and figured out how and where to hit them with what he had... immediately.
Patton was the best general in the war, no doubt.
"A good plan right now is better than a perfect plan next week." - Gen. G. S. Patton Jr.
DeleteStill hearing those trumpets: DAH duh dah DAH duh dah DAH duh dah.....
ReplyDeleteAs a tank commander during the Vietnam War, I was always fascinated with Gen George Patton. Back during the early part of WW-2, the US military-industrial complex offered the US military the option of building a heavy tank with a large caliber main gun or continue to make massive quantities of the smaller, lighter Sherman tank.
ReplyDeleteMost military leaders wanted a heavy tank to face the Germans head on.
Patton wanted to take his lighter, faster and nimbler Shermans and drive behind enemy lines attacking them from the rear. Patton won out ... but at the expense of losing far more tanks and far more tank crews. The strategy, while costly, worked. WE WON!!!
By 1943, German medium tanks were better armed and armored, but the Shermans plus overwhelming allied air superiority was enough.
DeleteIn one famous incident, we lost 20 tanks to a German 88 crew in France. When the 21st Sherman finally overran the position, the Germans were all sitting around having cigarettes, and waiting for capture. When asked why they were captured, the German officer in charge explained, "We ran out of ammunition."
DeleteThe Sherman was a triumph of quantity over quality.
This is why a clerk was made into a machinegunner in Fury.
While fictional, IRL we simply could make tanks faster than we could train tank crews.
An interesting side note: I understand that Gen X males today seem to be attracted to Mr. Trump. Why? You ask... Because due to today's disenchanted and disenfranchised women's claims of "toxic masculinity," young men have had virtually no male role models to look up to.
ReplyDeleteWith Europe falling to muslims and Africans it was all for nothing.
ReplyDeleteAll wars seem to be for nothing eventually. Then mankind fights another... and another... and another.
DeleteI love that movie. I can't watch it anymore because just as Rommel is landing in Africa the DVD quits and I can't fast forward or skip ahead. Bummer man
ReplyDeleteDude, time to get on Amazon and order another copy. Use the first as a coaster. This movie is THAT good!
ReplyDeletePaton was a diva publicity hound.
ReplyDeleteThe movie is all fiction
The Russians won the war in Europe.
The western front was a side show.
Get over it and grow up.
Patton accomplished in 8 months what it took Russia 4 years to accomplish, with metric f**ktons of aid, and millions more casualties.
DeleteYou're always entitled to your own opinions, but not to your own facts.
One of the all time great movies. I especially liked the parts that made Monty look like the diva he was and out classed, out faught and out maneuvered by Patton. That scene when Monty entered Messina to find Patton already there, after Patton took Palermo, was just too funny.
ReplyDeleteLotta great scenes in that film and who cares if they're not entirely accurate. Back then movies were made to entertain. Hollyweird lost that plot along the way and they're wondering why attendance at movies is way down. Sure box office receipts are way up, but that's because ticket prices are astronomical. If they were still making good movies like Patton, they'd be making more money.
Nemo
Patton could have taken Russia, was told to pull back......stupid stupid, should have let him go on.
ReplyDelete