Description:

Patton Jr. George

1pp war dated TLS on “Headquarters, Third United States Army, Office of the Commanding General, A.P.O. 403” letterhead signed by “Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Commanding. G.S. Patton, Jr.” as “G.S. Patton, Jr.” at center right. In very good condition, with uneven toning, expected paper folds, a ghost paper clip impression in the upper left corner, and wrinkled corners. Signature is relaxed and confident. Paper sheet measures 8” x 10”. Accompanied by a Third U.S. Army round souvenir shoulder patch, with white “A” encircled by concentric red, cobalt blue, and olive-green rings, attached to lower right corner, measuring 2.375” dia.

Patton addressed this September 1, 1944 letter to one “Mrs. Emma Bracken” (1901-1969) of Bridgeport, Connecticut, enclosing the shoulder patch as well as a signed photograph (the latter not included in this lot). “Many thanks for your letter”, Patton wrote. Emma Bracken’s obituary notice appeared in the November 27, 1969 issue of the Bridgeport Telegram twenty-five years later.

George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945) graduated from West Point in 1909 and later represented the United States in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics Modern Pentathlon. Patton was a ruthless perfectionist with the determination and ambition to succeed. His first military experience was on the Mexican border pursuing revolutionary Pancho Villa (1878-1923) alongside John “Black Jack” Pershing (1860-1948). Patton trained tank corps on the Western Front and, during the interwar years, continued his military education. Patton delivered the feisty “Blood and Guts” speech that later gave him his nickname in the months immediately preceding American entry into World War II. Patton commanded U.S. troops in North Africa and Sicily in a leadership trajectory like that of his military counterpart, Omar S. Bradley (1893-1981).

In September 1944, Patton and his Third Army were engaged in the Lorraine Campaign to liberate northeastern France. The Third Army stalled outside of Metz due to supply shortages just a few days before Patton sent this letter to Mrs. Bracken. Even though this delay enabled the Germans to launch an attack, the Americans nevertheless took the city. They would meet the Germans again just three months later at the Battle of the Bulge.

1944 marked the inexorable eastwards movement of Patton’s Third Army, which after D-Day liberated France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. Patton’s army assumed control of 81,522 square miles of previously Nazi-controlled Western and Central Europe, including the Buchenwald concentration camp. Patton was poised to help rebuild post-war Germany when he died of injuries sustained in a car accident just seven months after V-E Day.

The Third Army, first mobilized during World War I, is most famous for its role in liberating Europe during World War II. It was reactivated in 1990 and has participated in all major modern Middle Eastern operations including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Strike, Desert Thunder, Desert Fox, and Iraqi Freedom.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000