Before they became legends of World War II, George Patton and Douglas MacArthur both proved their bravery and leadership in the mud and chaos of the First World War. Their paths to fame began decades earlier, rooted in military families and distinguished early careers.
George Patton was born in California in 1885 and graduated from West Point in 1909. He joined the cavalry, an elite branch at the time, and was a brilliant swordsman. He not only developed new training tactics but also designed the M1913 cavalry saber, which became known as the Patton sword.
Patton’s connection to General John Pershing was significant. The two became friends before the war, and Patton’s sister was even romantically involved with Pershing for a time. When Pershing commanded forces on the U.S.-Mexico border, he made Patton his aide.
In 1916, Pershing was leading the operation against Pancho Villa after Villa’s raids on U.S. territory. Patton, who had been ordered to report to the Philippines, instead contacted Pershing and joined the hunt. In May 1917, Patton led a raid on a ranch belonging to one of Villa’s leaders.
The raid was notable for being America’s first motorized military action. Patton and his men used three Dodge touring cars to carry out the mission. The success earned him the nickname "Bandito" from Pershing and brought him his first taste of fame, as the raid was covered in major newspapers.
When the United States entered World War I, Pershing was chosen to lead the American Expeditionary Force, and Patton went with him as his aide. Promoted to captain, Patton requested a command at the front and was assigned to the newly formed Tank Corps.
Tanks were a completely new concept for the U.S. Army. Patton became the first American officer to study them, use them, and develop strategies for them. He studied the results of the Second Battle of Cambrai, where British and French forces used tanks to great effect for the first time.
Patton’s tank unit saw action at San Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During the latter, his brigade of 141 Renault light tanks and 28 medium Schneiders launched a major assault. Poor terrain and German anti-tank tactics caused two-thirds of the tanks to break down or be destroyed.
Patton personally led his forces into battle. After his tanks bogged down, he led a pickup squad of infantry in a frontal assault on German machine gun posts. He was severely wounded in the leg and was dragged to safety, ending his war two weeks later.
It was during this time that Patton first met Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur, born in 1880, was a few years older and came from a family with a long military tradition. He attended West Point and graduated with honors in 1903.
MacArthur’s career advanced quickly, with postings in Japan, the Philippines, Veracruz, and even France as a major in 1914. When the U.S. entered the war, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 42nd Division, known as the Rainbow Division, which was made up of troops from National Guard posts across the country.
MacArthur led his division at San Mihiel, the Meuse-Argonne, and Sedan. After meeting Patton, the two led their troops on a daring mission to secure the San Mihiel salient. Patton’s account of the mission was full of bravado, while MacArthur subtly downplayed Patton’s role, referring to the troubles his tanks had with getting bogged down.
Two weeks after Patton was injured, MacArthur’s Rainbow Division went into action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Their objective was to eliminate the Kriemhilde Stellung, a major defensive part of Germany’s Hindenburg Line and a deadly killing zone.
MacArthur was temporarily ill after being gassed, but by October 16th, his men had taken their objectives and driven the Germans from the battlefield. The division took heavy losses and could not continue the fight, but their bravery was noted by General Menoher, who praised MacArthur’s and General Summerall’s courage in rallying broken lines and leading their men to save the day.
After the war, MacArthur became superintendent of West Point and modified its curriculum to reflect the lessons of modern warfare. In the 1930s, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. During World War II, he became a five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army, a rank no one else has ever held.
Patton, after the war, focused on tanks. He used the lessons of Cambrai and the Argonne to write essays explaining how tanks should make bold mass attacks to penetrate enemy lines and maneuver around fixed positions. He famously said that the object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
Patton saw tanks as the future of modern combat, but Congress was unwilling to fund a large armored force. Still, he carried out experiments to improve intra-tank radio communication and reinforced the importance of coordinated attacks and mutual fire support. These efforts proved invaluable in World War II.
In 1932, Patton led a cavalry force to break up a protest in Washington, D.C. Veterans were protesting the denial of cashing their World War I service benefits early. Patton was said to be deeply unhappy with the decision, which was made by his superior, MacArthur, but he carried out his orders.
The fame, glory, and controversy that surrounded both men in the 1940s would define their legacies. But their service in the Great War shaped them as leaders, teaching them lessons in courage, tactics, and resilience that they would carry with them for the rest of their careers.