Description:

George Patton
Third U.S. Army Headquarters, July 28, 1945
George S. Patton TLS To Young PA Pen Pal Day After He Received Czech Order of White Lion
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945), as "GS Patton Jr." near upper center right, and additionally signed by him in PRINT as "G.S. Patton, Jr. / General" below his signature. July 28, 1945. Headquarters, Third United States Army. On a watermarked sheet with embossed letterhead reading: "Headquarters / Third United States Army / Office of the Commanding General / APO 403." Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles. A negligible fold to the upper left corner, else near fine. 8.125" x 10.625." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope with matching APO 403 return address, pen-inscribed "Free" in the postage section, bearing a postmark, and letter-opened at the top. Scattered small pieces of tape are found within the envelope, with weathering. Else good, 8.75" x 4."

Patton wrote this letter to his pen pal Mary Jane Krieger (1924-1982) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, then an unmarried 21-year-old high school graduate and Bell Telephone Company employee. Patton and Krieger's pen pal correspondence throughout 1944 and 1945 reveals a very warm friendship. The pair exchanged ideas, pleasantries, and gifts, and kept each other up to date as to their activities (local in Mary Jane's case, international and military in Patton's.) Patton's more humane side - revealed through this correspondence with Mary Jane - contrasts strikingly with the intimidating military persona he exuded elsewhere.

Patton wrote Krieger, in part:

"My dear Mary Jane:

Thank you for your interesting letter of 20 July. It always pleases me to hear from you…"

On July 27, 1945, the day before writing this letter to Mary Jane, Patton had been in Prague, receiving the Order of the White Lion, First Class from the hands of Czechoslovakian President Dr. Edvard Beneš. This award of merit was reserved for foreign nationals, and acknowledges invaluable civil and military service. The same day, at Prague Castle, Patton was also bestowed with the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939; these awards recognized Patton's efforts to liberate Czechoslovakia from Nazi occupation during World War II. During Patton's day-long visit to Prague, he in turn gave the American Legion of Merit to two Czech senior military officials, and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Old Town Square, Prague.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: letter: 8.125" x 10.625"
  • Medium: TLS

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