24-01-2013, 08:53 PM
The OP started out talking about the 11th armored cavalry regiment,and it's commander George S Patton.This was the Regiment I served in and Col.Patton was my commander.In the excerpt from Nick Turse,he refers to Major Gordon Livingston.You can view Major Livingston's testimony before the Dellums committee in Congress [URL="http://www.sirnosir.com/archives_and_resources/library/war_crimes/dellums/dellums_003.html"]HERE
[/URL]The major complaint by Livingston,was about a Christmas card that Col.Patton handed out to his general staff officers only.This card was totally idiotic and not worthy of any soldier,let alone a general officer,The card read "Peace on Earth",and had a picture of a stack of Viet Cong bodies.Bad taste doesn't even describe this stupidity,even though it was only a gag meant for a few staff people..And,just like his father before him,when the elder slapped a soldier in the hospital during world war II,that card will always be used against Col.Patton.Thus I've read two articles now that label him as "bloodthirsty".A mistake that will always be dredged up when another Nick Turse wants some headlines.
Major Livingston,as far as I can see,didn't really understand the whole picture.I don't either,but I know this much.Col.Patton,third generation born and bred military family,was not only highly respected among his troops,but the Viet Cong must have had great respect also.You see,they actually put a bounty on his head.He was a "Most Wanted Man".And yet,Major Livingston,and the Nick Turse's of the world want to blame him for being too aggressive,and not being nicey nice.LOL
I only met and talked to Col.Patton one time.That was just a few weeks before his tour of duty with the Blackhorse was up.I had been severely wounded and just before I was about to be shipped out to Japan,the Col.came and stopped by my bed and handed me my purple heart medal,Man to Man,Face to Face.And yes,that medal means a lot to me.I have nothing but the Greatest of respect for Col.Patton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton_IV
[/URL]The major complaint by Livingston,was about a Christmas card that Col.Patton handed out to his general staff officers only.This card was totally idiotic and not worthy of any soldier,let alone a general officer,The card read "Peace on Earth",and had a picture of a stack of Viet Cong bodies.Bad taste doesn't even describe this stupidity,even though it was only a gag meant for a few staff people..And,just like his father before him,when the elder slapped a soldier in the hospital during world war II,that card will always be used against Col.Patton.Thus I've read two articles now that label him as "bloodthirsty".A mistake that will always be dredged up when another Nick Turse wants some headlines.
Major Livingston,as far as I can see,didn't really understand the whole picture.I don't either,but I know this much.Col.Patton,third generation born and bred military family,was not only highly respected among his troops,but the Viet Cong must have had great respect also.You see,they actually put a bounty on his head.He was a "Most Wanted Man".And yet,Major Livingston,and the Nick Turse's of the world want to blame him for being too aggressive,and not being nicey nice.LOL
I only met and talked to Col.Patton one time.That was just a few weeks before his tour of duty with the Blackhorse was up.I had been severely wounded and just before I was about to be shipped out to Japan,the Col.came and stopped by my bed and handed me my purple heart medal,Man to Man,Face to Face.And yes,that medal means a lot to me.I have nothing but the Greatest of respect for Col.Patton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton_IV
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