Description:

George S. Patton
[Headquarters, Third United States Army, Germany], April 6, 1945
Patton War-Dated TLS Re: His Famous Bullterrier: "Willie is collaborating with a German Dobermann. I trust that he does not get contaminated"
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by legendary military commander George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945), signed as "G.S. Patton Jr." at the center. April 6, 1945. [Headquarters, Third United States Army, Germany.] Typed on stationery with "Headquarters / Third United States Army / Office of the Commanding General / APO 403" letterhead. Expected wear including toning and flattened transmittal folds, else near fine. The letter is matted and framed behind UV ray filtering glass, and positioned to the left of two high-quality photo reproductions showing Patton's fourth and last bullterrier, Willie. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the letter is 7.625" x 9.5" while the overall frame size is 23" x 19.125" x 1.5."

Patton wrote this thank-you note to G.B. Root, Secretary of a bullterrier club that may have been the Pacific Coast Bullterrier Club, the only recognized and oldest active bullterrier club on the West Coast. Patton's honorary membership in the club was no doubt granted because of the American general's high profile, but also because of Patton's demonstrated lifelong love of bullterriers as "one of the most companionable dogs I know of." Root, who was affiliated with the Los Angeles Soap Company, was described in a 1937 Los Angeles newspaper as "one of the outstanding authorities on this breed [the bullterrier.]" He was also a dog show judge and dog breeder.

Willie (1942-1955) was Patton's fourth and last bullterrier, whom he described in 1944 soon after adopting him as "pure white except for a little lemin on his tail, which to a cursory glance would seem to indicate that he had not used toilet paper." Inseparable, Patton and Willie went everywhere together during military campaigns, including in jeeps and tanks. Patton's "second-in-command" sported his own set of dog tags. Willie's appearance often announced his master's imminent arrival.

Patton was then Commanding General of the Third Army penetrating deep into Nazi Germany. Patton had received command of the Third Army in late January 1944. The Third Army would see 281 days of active combat between August 1944 and V-E Day. Third Army troops, which numbered about 250-300,000 men, eventually reclaimed 81,500 square miles of territory including over 12,000 cities and towns from the Nazis. Conservative estimates of Nazis killed, wounded, or captured by the Third Army exceed 1 million. Patton would receive his promotion to the rank of 4-star General just about a week later, on April 14, 1945, to acknowledge the commander's tremendous contributions to the Allied war effort. During this busy time, Patton still took the time to thank Root and make an off-color joke about his bullterrier Willie "collaborating with a German Dobermann" - an enemy breed!

Patton wrote in part:

"My dear Mr. Root:

Please accept for the Club my sincere thanks for having made me an honorary member. I appreciate it very much.

This is the fourth bullterrier I have had, and I consider them one of the most companionable dogs I know of.

At the present moment, Willie is collaborating with a German Dobermann. I trust he does not get contaminated…"

Willie greatly mourned Patton's death of complications following a car accident in Luxembourg in December 1945. The pup returned to the United States and lived on the Patton Estate until his death a decade later.

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: framed: 23" x 19.125" x 1.5"
  • Medium: TLS

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