When I read that story about Gen Patton by Bill Douglass and his top hat, it reminded me of another incident involving Gen. Patton:
Gen. Patton and his Third Army broke out of Normandy at St. Lo, on July 25, 1944 and his tanks raced East and South headed for Germany. But, two things stopped him- he ran out of gas (actually, much to Patton's dismay, it was diverted to Gen. Montgomery up North- Patton had a fit and he was sure that his Third Army could beat the Russians to Berlin- by the way, he was the only allied commander who knew that the Russians were as bad as the Naziis and he made no secret of this- history bore him out), and he ran out of maps.
I got an assignment on August 3, 1944, to bring maps to him which covered eastern France and Germany, and they had to be delivered to him personally. I commandeered an English "Coaster", which is a relatively small ship and loaded the maps and headed for Normandy. We landed at Utah Beach and we off-loaded the maps into DUKW'S (amphibious trucks- for you civilians), and then to shore and loaded six trucks which I appropriated. (My orders were so broad, in the name of Gen. Eisenhower, that I could appropriate any means of transportation to deliver the maps).
We started through Normandy and headed for Brittany trying to find Patton. More than once, we were strafed and we dove off into ditches on the side of the road. On one of these occasions, one of the drivers deserted and we could not find him and we unloaded his truck into the other trucks and I took out my .45 automatic and threatened the other drivers. Of course, we were all scared but I had to complete my mission. A few days later, we came upon Gen. Patton in a field with his Generals. I saluted him and told him that I had his maps. He thanked me and my task was done. (When the Third Army came to the Rhine, Patton had himself photographed voiding (in lieu of a more common word) into the Rhine to show his contempt for the Germans. I had seen that photo in France and wished that I had a copy of it. I finally found it this past year at the Patton Museum in the California desert where we trained for Africa . If anyone wants to see it, I can attach it to a message).
I headed back towards Normandy taking whatever transportation I wanted to and, eventually, I got a small plane and flew into Croydon Airport in London. Before the war, Croydon was the principal airport for London. I hitched a ride into London with my duffel bag with some French Calvados (apple brandy), and other goodies and when I was dropped off, I was immediately arrested for being out of uniform. I hadn't bathed for two weeks and my clothes were filthy. I was put into a paddy wagon by the MP's and taken to their headquarters. Their commander chewed me out and said that he had never see such a disgrace for a soldier and he put before me a "Statement of Charges", for signature, which meant that I would be given a new uniform and accessories and the cost would be taken out of my pay. I refused to sign it and I pulled out my orders. When he saw them, he knew that he could not touch me and I told him off for arresting me and I told him that the MP's in France were being killed at all the cross-roads directing traffic which the Germans had zeroed on with their 88's, and that they were not wearing the fancy white holsters and white leggings. They were in foxholes at the cross-roads with only their heads and arms above ground.
This is another true story to be added to our archives and to remember Gen. Patton who was, in my humble estimation, was the finest General of World War II. It s ironic that he died of a broken neck in an auto accident- he would have wanted to die in battle. He is buried with many of his beloved Third Army soldiers in Luxembourg City.
Joe Izzillo