Beschreibung:

PATTON, GEORGE S., Lieutenant General . Autograph letter signed ("GS Patton Jr") as Lieutenant Colonel, to his mother, Ruth Wilson Patton, n.p. [France], 14 June 1918. 1 1/4 pages, 4to, lightly yellowed, envelope addressed in Patton's hand, stamped "Passed as Censored," and signed again as Commander. OLD BLOOD AND GUTS COMPARES THE TANKS TO HORSES AND DEEMS HIS "MEAN LOOK...NOT IMPRESSIVE" A chatty letter to his mother just two months prior to the St. Mihiel offensive of World War I, in which Patton commanded the 304th Brigade of the Tank Corps. The relatively new weapon became the central feature of his later campaigns in World War II: "Here is my new card it makes me feel quite grand and very old, in fact I feel about 40 now...I have to break loose every once in a while when I must see some old friend who is not under my command. But I now have habitually what [my wife] Beatrice calls my 'mean look.' It is really not impressive. We are hoping to get some more tanks Monday. I trust that we do as we have too many tank men for the few tanks we have available. The weather is fine for everything but the crops as it is very dry but it looks as if it would rain this evening, probably because we have a problem to work out between 10 and midnight. Still rain in moderation is good for tanks...A tank in spite of its ferocious appearance is in reality a delicate animal and subject to more ills than horses..."