At the time his order was issued, a blizzard was raging in the Ardennes. I know that Third Army will be in at the finish in the same decisive way that it has performed in all the preliminary battles. The 4th AD, spearheading Patton's Third Army, attacked the Germans at Bastogne and, on 26 December, was the first unit (Company C, 37th Tank Battalion led the 4th Armored Division column that relieved Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge) to break through at Bastogne and relieve the besieged 101st Airborne Division. Travel to the Luxembourg Ardennes, also badly scarred by the Battle of the Bulge. Patton at that point assumed that as the battle progressed the First Army’s VIII Corps would come under the operational control of the Third Army. Patton's response was direct, "Chaplain, are you teaching me theology or are you the Chaplain of the Third Army? After working out the logistics, each member of the Third Army (approximately 250,000 at the time) was issued a small card on the 22nd of December, 1944. George S. Patton was the epitome of a military leader. Hirshson s recounting of the 1944 campaign in France, in which Patton s Third Army raced across central France, encountered obstacles at Metz, and turned north to assist U.S. forces fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, meets the author s standard of cogent analysis and a widespread use of primary sources. Look for the Monument Patton and stop by the General Patton Memorial Museum. Patton’s logistical experience before assuming command of the Third Army in 1944, examines how logistics successfully contributed to Third Army’s 1944-45 campaigns, and suggests appropriate lessons for today’s joint logistician. On December 17th, 1944 General Patton gave the order to swing the Third Army from an eastward attack to a northward attack. By this time, the Battle of the Bulge was underway. The battle plan had called for the Third Army to get to the area of Nancy, France, by May 1945. The exploits of the Third Army would propel Patton into the history books and their feats would only be matched again decades later during the kinetic conflict of the first Gulf War. He turned the entire 3rd Army 90 degrees and headed north — about 200,000 men and 200 tanks. chapter in Patton s military career. Patton surprised everyone by getting there by early September 1944—a little more than a month. Employing a complex and quick-witted strategy wherein he literally wheeled his 3rd Army a sharp 90 degrees in a counterthrust movement, Patton … The Battle of the Bulge was on. However, the 4th Armored Division, 10th Armored Division, 26th Infantry Division, and the 80th Infantry Division from General Patton's Third Army have moved against the southern flank of … The research findings summarize Patton’s career and his exposure to the importance logistics plays in modern war. Enter “Old Blood and Guts,” General Patton. Because of the added difficulty faced by this bad weather, Patton called for his Chaplain, Colonel James H. O'Neill. Bastogne's envelopment begins as the German main advance widens and moves north and south of the town. Finally, head to Hamm American Cemetery to visit Patton’s grave. I want a prayer." In the town of Ettelbruck, liberated by Patton’s 3rd Army in December 1944, be sure to visit the Square Patton. General George S. Patton Jr. and His Legendary U.S 3rd Army from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge and Bavaria during World War II hosted by Walter Cronkite. With still limited knowledge of the entire situation and with two of his divisions already in motion, Patton dictated three possible axes … Battle of the added difficulty faced by this time, the Battle plan called... Advance widens and moves north and south of the Bulge was underway direct ``. Response was direct, `` Chaplain, Colonel James H. 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