Gut-wrenching, patriotism-stirring, useful-for-all-occassions speeches...

[KillerMuffin]

"In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind, that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences any more. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression or persecution, but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist, and should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!’"

Thomas J. Whitmore
President of the United States of America

 

[Chuckus]

What a movie that was..............and what a speech that was. That movie had a patriotic them about it, not just for the US of A, but for the Planet Earth..........

 

[KillerMuffin]

"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week - which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men. "

The Captain

 

[Laurel]

"You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41.

The United Nations have infiicted upon the Germans great defeat in open battle man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground.

Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.

The tide has turned.

The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.

We will accept nothing less than full victory.

Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. "

- Dwight D. Eisenhower, on D-Day

 

[Problem Child]

Men, this stuff some sources sling around about America wanting to stay out of the war and not wanting to fight is a lot of baloney! Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. America loves a winner. America will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise a coward; Americans play to win. That's why America has never lost and never will lose a war.

You are not all going to die. Only two percent of you, right here today, would be killed in a major battle.

Death must not be feared. Death, in time, comes to all of us. And every man is scared in his first action. If he says he's not, he's a goddamn liar. Some men are cowards, yes, but they fight just the same, or get the hell slammed out of them.

The real hero is the man who fights even though he's scared. Some get over their fright in a minute, under fire; others take an hour; for some it takes days; but a real man will never let the fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty, to his country and to his manhood.

All through your Army careers, you've been bitching about what you call "chicken-shit drills." That, like everything else in the Army, has a definite purpose. That purpose is instant obedience to orders and to create and maintain constant alertness! This must be bred into every soldier. A man must be alert all the time if he expects to stay alive. If not, some German son-of-a-bitch will sneak up behind him with a sock full of shit! There are four hundred neatly marked graves somewhere in Sicily, all because one man went to sleep on his job--but they are German graves, because we caught the bastards asleep!

An Army is a team, lives, sleeps, fights, and eats as a team. This individual hero stuff is a lot of horse shit! The bilious bastards who write that kind of stuff for the Saturday Evening Post don't know any more about real fighting under fire than they know about fucking! Every single man in the Army plays a vital role. Every man has his job to do and must do it. What if every truck driver decided that he didn't like the whine of a shell overhead, turned yellow and jumped headlong into a ditch? What if every man thought, "They won't miss me, just one in millions?" Where in Hell would we be now? Where would our country, our loved ones, our homes, even the world, be?

No, thank God, Americans don't think like that. Every man does his job, serves the whole. Ordnance men supply and maintain the guns and vast machinery of this war, to keep us rolling. Quartermasters bring up clothes and food, for where we're going, there isn't a hell of a lot to steal. Every last man on K.P. has a job to do, even the guy who boils the water to keep us from getting the G.I. shits!

Remember, men, you don't know I'm here. No mention of that is to be made in any letters. The USA is supposed to be wondering what the hell has happened to me. I'm not supposed to be commanding this Army, I'm not supposed even to be in England. Let the first bastards to find out be the goddamn Germans. I want them to look up and howl, "Ach, it's the goddamn Third Army and that son-of-a-bitch Patton again!"

We want to get this thing over and get the hell out of here, and get at those purple-pissin' Japs!!! The shortest road home is through Berlin and Tokyo! We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by showing the enemy we have more guts than they have or ever will have!

There's one great thing you men can say when it's all over and you're home once more. You can thank God that twenty years from now, when you're sitting around the fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the war, you won't have to shift him to the other knee, cough, and say, "I shoveled shit in Louisiana."

General George S. Patton, Jr., prior to the invasion of Normandy, Enniskillen Manor Grounds, England, May 17, 1944.

 

[christo]

Not for the USA, but still

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.


William Shakespeare, from Henry V, before the battle of Agincourt

 

[Cheyenne]

There's one great thing you men can say when it's all over and you're home once more. You can thank God that twenty years from now, when you're sitting around the fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the war, you won't have to shift him to the other knee, cough, and say, "I shoveled shit in Louisiana."

General George S. Patton, Jr., prior to the invasion of Normandy, Enniskillen Manor Grounds, England, May 17, 1944.

Patton is one of my favorite movies ever, and that line about not having shoveled shit in Louisiana is a classic!

 

[Problem Child]

Chey,

I love that movie too. It exaggerated Patton somewhat and "Hollywoodized" his image, but much of it was historically accurate. He was deeply religious, yet extremely profane; He truly believed he was a reincarnated General from ancient history, and he was probably our most effective field commander during WWII.

The following speech is from the opening scene of the movie, where George C. Scott is standing in front of the huge American flag. He never actually gave the speech as it is written here- it is an amalgam of several addresses he gave to troops and other quotes, with a few words changed.


...Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

Men, all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight - wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and never will lose a war, because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.

Now, an army is a team - it lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap... Now, we have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit, and the best men in the world.

You know, by god, I actually pity those poor bastards we're goin' up against. By god, I do. We're not just gonna shoot the bastard, we're going to cut out their living guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel.

Now, some of you boys, I know, are wondering whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it. I can assure you that you will all do your duty. The Nazis are the enemy. Wade into them, spill their blood, shoot them in the belly. When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment before was your best friend's face, you'll know what to do. Now there's another thing I want you to remember.

I don't want to get any messages saying that we are holding our position. We're not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We're going to hold onto him by the nose and we're gonna kick him in the ass. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we're gonna go through him like crap through a goose.

Now, there's one thing that you men will be able to say when you get back home, and you may thank god for it. Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee, and he asks you: 'What did you do in the Great World War II?', you won't have to say: 'Well, I shoveled s--t in Louisiana.' All right, now you sons-of-bitches, you know how I feel and I will be proud to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime, anywhere. That's all.

 

[Cheyenne]

Yup, my mom has the Patton album floating around somewhere from when the movie came out. That opening speech is on it.

 

[Starfish]

Now, I am dumb to war stats, because war movies, and documentaries grate on me like shell shock would, but was that supposed 2% he was spewing a realistic figure?

What were the actual % of deaths as opposed to survivors and totals that fought? (genuine question)

 

[rambling man]

I don't have the text in front of me, but Churchill's defiant speech at the beginning of World War II is a classic, I think it is the "blood, sweat, and tears" speech, where, unlike a politician, the statesman Churchill talks about long, grueling battles and the possibilitiy of losing, but fighting to the last man anyway. Very stirring.

The Gettysburg Address..."the government of the people, for the people, and by the people shall not perish from this earth!"

Triumph of the spirit in the face of the ultimate adversary (add the echoes and pauses in your own mind.. "I am the luckiest man on the face of teh earth!" Lou Gehrig

"Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!!" Ronald Reagan

"I have a dream" is cliched but only because it was so effective.

No one remembers what was said, but any speech is memorable when the person was shot in the chest and still finished the speech, as Teddy Roosevelt did.

Andrew Johnson had some memorable speeches, for their very strange and aggrivating character, ones where he graphically compared himself to a crucified Christ and called for the hanging of Congressional leaders

 

[KillerMuffin]

First Speech as Prime Minister
May 13, 1940
to House of Commons

On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. When he met his Cabinet on May 13 he told them that "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." He repeated that phrase later in the day when he asked the House of Commons for a vote of confidence in his new all-party government. The response of Labour was heart-warming; the Conservative reaction was luke-warm. They still really wanted Neville Chamberlain. For the first time, the people had hope but Churchill commented to General Ismay: "Poor people, poor people. They trust me, and I can give them nothing but disaster for quite a long time."



I beg to move,

That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.

On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a new Administration. It as the evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the parties of the Opposition. I have completed the most important part of this task. A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. The three party Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. The three Fighting Services have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. I hope to complete the appointment of the principal Ministers during to-morrow. the appointment of the other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration will be complete in all respects.

I considered it in the public interest to suggest that the House should be summoned to meet today. Mr. Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by the Resolution of the House. At the end of the proceedings today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday, 21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be. The business to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the earliest opportunity. I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval of the steps taken and to declare its confidence in the new Government.

To form an Administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon. Friend below the Gangway, have to be made here at home. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today. I hope that any of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political reconstruction, will make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."



Would this be the one? It's a great speech.

 

[rambling man]

yes....incredible speech

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

This thread is an ass-kicker!

What GREAT speeches. I haven't seen Patton in too long... gotta go out and rent that. What a character he was.

My great uncle had the opportunity to serve as his jeep driver for several weeks in North Africa in 1942 shortly after the invasion. He had mixed feelings about the movie. As many historically-based movies do, Patton exaggerated the features of its subject, almost to the point of a caricature. Patton was a fantastically complex man. The popular conception of him is embodied in that unforgettable speech PC posted for us (thanks, btw ), as the archetypal American - tough as nails SOB that plays only to win and likes nothing better than scrappin' and kickin' asses.

However, he was an uncommonly brilliant and educated man. He was a fanatical devotee of military strategy, studying all the great military campaigns in the history of mankind down to the smallest minutiae. If you've ever read his wonderful memoirs, you get the sense of a man who is acutely aware of his place in history - the account of his campaigns are constantly interspersed with historical references, allowing him to draw on a vast font of accumulated wisdom that guided his strategy.

Perhaps what's most interesting, though was that his study of history really seemed to transcend the practical purposes of how to win a campaign and kick the shit out of one's opponent. I don't know if he literally believed he was latest reincarnation of Hannibal or some other great ancient general (as was implied in the movie, with the scene of Patton stooping over the site of the razing and salted-earth destruction of Carthage). At the very least, though, he viewed himself as a kind of spiritual successor to these men, the latest in a brotherhood of conquerors which transcended time. His accounts of their campaigns seem to channel the great generals of the past, granting him communion with the fought over the very same ground he was fighting over.

The only thing the movie didn't exaggerate, though, my uncle said was Patton's famous profanity. I don't think American movie audiences of the day were quite ready for his tongue.

Laurel: great Ike speech! I hadn't ever read that before. Ike is a favorite of mine, a lot more polished and diplomatic than Patton, but you can see his passion in that speech.

And oh yeah... Independence Day was absolutely terrible. That speech in the context of that movie almost made me embarrassed to be human.

 

[Weevil]

Over!!! Nothing is over until we say it is!!! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Bluto Blutarsky.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Amazing how this always seems to be appropriate...

Declaration Of Conscience
by Senator Margaret Chase Smith


Washington, DC: June 1, 1950

I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership in either the Legislative Branch or the Executive Branch of our Government.

That leadership is so lacking that serious and responsible proposals are being made that national advisory commissions be appointed to provide such critically needed leadership.

I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be taken to heart.

I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States Senator. I speak as an American.

The United States Senate has long enjoyed worldwide respect as the greatest deliberative body in the world. But recently that deliberative character has too often been debased to the level of a forum of hate and character assassination sheltered by the shield of congressional immunity.

It is ironical that we Senators can in debate in the Senate directly or indirectly, by any form of words, impute to any American who is not a Senator any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming an American---and without that non-Senator American having any legal redress against us---yet if we say the same thing in the Senate about our colleagues we can be stopped on the grounds of being out of order.

It is strange that we can verbally attack anyone else without restraint and with full protection and yet we hold ourselves above the same type of criticism here on the Senate Floor. Surely the United States Senate is big enough to take self-criticism and self-appraisal. Surely we should be able to take the same kind of character attacks that we "dish out" to outsiders.

I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some soul-searching---for us to weigh our consciences---on the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America---on the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.

I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation.

Whether it be a criminal prosecution in court or a character prosecution in the Senate, there is little practical distinction when the life of a person has been ruined.

Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism:

The right to criticize;

The right to hold unpopular beliefs;

The right to protest;

The right of independent thought.

The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us doesn't? Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in.

The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as "Communists" or "Fascists" by their opponents. Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others.

The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed. But there have been enough proved cases such as the Amerasia case, the Hiss case, the Coplon case, the Gold case, to cause nationwide distrust and suspicion that there may be something to the unproved, sensational accusations.

As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that the Republican Party faces a challenge today that is not unlike the challenge that it faced back in Lincoln's day. The Republican Party so successfully met that challenge that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a united nation---in addition to being a Party that unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs.

Today our country is being psychologically divided by the confusion and the suspicions that are bred in the United States Senate to spread like cancerous tentacles of "know nothing, suspect everything" attitudes. Today we have a Democratic Administration that has developed a mania for loose spending and loose programs. History is repeating itself---and the Republican Party again has the opportunity to emerge as the champion of unity and prudence.

The record of the present Democratic Administration has provided us with sufficient campaign issues without the necessity to resorting to political smears. America is rapidly losing its position as leader of the world simply because the Democratic Administration has pitifully failed to provide effective leadership.

The Democratic Administration has completely confused the American people by its daily contradictory grave warnings and optimistic assurances---that show the people that our Democratic Administration has no idea of where it is going.

The Democratic Administration has greatly lost the confidence of the American people by it complacency to the threat of communism here at home and the leak of vital secrets to Russia through key officials of the Democratic Administration. There are enough proved cases to make this point without diluting our criticism with unproved charges.

Surely these are sufficient reasons to make it clear to the American people that it is time for a change and that a Republican victory is necessary to the security of this country. Surely it is clear that this nation will continue to suffer as long as it is governed by the present ineffective Democratic Administration.

Yet to displace it with a Republican regime embracing a philosophy that lacks political integrity or intellectual honesty would prove equally disastrous to this nation. The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I don't want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny---Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.

I doubt if the Republican Party could---simply because I don't believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely we Republicans aren't that desperate for victory.

I don't want to see the Republican party win that way. While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican Party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American people. Surely it would ultimately be suicide for the Republican Party and the two-party system that has protected our American liberties from the dictatorship of a one-party system.

As members of the Minority Party, we do not have the primary authority to formulate the policy of our Government. But we do have the responsibility of rendering constructive criticism, of clarifying issues, of allaying fears by acting as responsible citizens.

As a woman, I wonder how the mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters feel about the way in which members of their families have been politically mangled in Senate debate---and I use the word "debate" advisedly.

As a United States Senator, I am not proud of the way in which the Senate has been made a publicity platform for irresponsible sensationalism. I am not proud of the reckless abandon in which unproved charges have been hurled from this side of the aisle. I am not proud of the obviously staged, undignified countercharges that have been attempted in retaliation from the other side of the aisle.

I don't like the way the Senate has been made a rendezvous for vilification, for selfish political gain at the sacrifice of individual reputations and national unity. I am not proud of the way we smear outsiders from the Floor of the Senate and hide behind the cloak of congressional immunity and still place ourselves beyond criticism on the Floor of the Senate.

As an American, I am shocked at the way Republicans and Democrats alike are playing directly into the Communist design of "confuse, divide, and conquer." As an American, I don't want a Democratic Administration "whitewash" or "coverup" any more than I want a Republican smear or witch hunt.

As an American, I condemn a Republican "Fascist" just as much as I condemn a Democrat "Communist." I condemn a Democrat "Fascist" just as much as I condemn a Republican "Communist." They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country. As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.

It is with these thoughts that I have drafted what I call a "Declaration of Conscience." I am gratified that Senator Tobey, Senator Aiken, Senator Morse, Senator Ives, Senator Thye, and Senator Hendrickson have concurred in that declaration and have authorized me to announce their concurrence.

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

Over!!! Nothing is over until we say it is!!! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Bluto Blutarsky.

What a great American spirit!

(But it's not hard to see how Mr. Blutarsky earned his infamous 0.00 GPA. )

 

[Problem Child]

Starfishy- The 2% number is about right if you consider that we had around 16,304,000 persons in service during WWII and 405,400 were killed or missing. It is generally accepted that during WWII less than 10% of the total service personnel ever saw combat. If we use that number, it works out that the casualty rate is about 2-1/2%.

Ollie- glad you liked the Patton speech. I put the address before the normandy invasion up mostly to contrast the styles of Patton ande Ike. Obviously anyone can see why Patton's nickname was Blood and guts, as opposed to Ike's calmer, more grandfatherly leadership style. I think both men were perfect for the jobs they held during the war.

Patton was the type of General that was either hated or loved. He was the Allied General that used the Germans tactic of Blitzkreig most effectively against them. He would mass his armor at the enemy's weak point and hit him hard. When he broke through he would tell his men to go as far and as fast as they could, bypassing enemy strong points and causing chaos in the rear.
Patton was the General the Germans feared the most, because they knew he understood how to play their game as good as they could, and additionally he had overwhelming superiority in numbers of men and weapons, especially aircraft.
A lot of other Generals disliked him because they thought he wasted his men's lives. His philosophy was to "Hold the enemy by the nose and kick them in the ass"- basically once you engage them, never let up, and pursue relentlessly. I think most of the statistics show that he took more ground in a shorter period of time, and had one of the highest ratios of enemy dead to friendly.
His lightning conquest of Sicily and his rapid relief of the surrounded 101st airborne at Bastogne during the battle of the Bulge are two classic examples of how he drove the hell out of his men, but got results and won.
I think one of the worst decisions of Eisenhower was his refusal to let Patton seal off the Falaise Gap. The allies had about 250,000 German troops surrounded, and Patton wanted to close the gap and finish them of, but Eisenhower hesitated, and the majority of the nearly surrounded Germans escaped. Who knows how much shorter the war would have been had Ike let Patton loose in there.


Here is one of the greatest (and shortest) speeches ever given:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal"

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
Gettysburg Pennsylvania

 

[Weevil]

What a great American spirit!

(But it's not hard to see how Mr. Blutarsky earned his infamous 0.00 GPA. )

Equally obvious as to how he got himself elected Senator.

 

[rambling man]

Patton was part of that school of thought that lasted from US Grant until the beginning of Vietnam, the one that says we have more people and more material than you, we will keep coming, never surrender, and will outlast you until we utterly destroy you. Patton has a lot of detractors in this country because he had the martial spirit in a basically nonmilitary society. He was one of our greatest ever, though. Think of the military talent we have brought forth in our wars at times. The Civil War had Lee. Jackson, Grant, to name but a smattering. World War II had Macarthur, Clark,Patton, Eisenhower, Marshall running the whole show, as well as Nimitz, King, and the naval guys. Amazing for a nation without an overwhelmingly military outlook in its culture

 

[KillerMuffin]

LOL, Montgomery would have a shit fit if he were alive to realize that you'd forgotten him. He was the greatest general of his time in his own opinion and he should have led the allied forces, not that hayseed peasant, Eisenhower, or so he thought.

 

[Problem Child]

Hey well, just for p_p_man...

Fuck Montgomery.

He never would have beaten Rommel in North Africa if he hadn't had as much as ten-to-one numerical superiority in armor in some of the battles they fought. Adolph Hitler was more responsible for defeating Rommel than Monty was, simply because he sent all Rommel's supplies to the eastern front.

Patton beat his ass to Messina, which thoroughly pissed him off.

He got bogged down after Normandy, mostly because he was overly cautious, and siphoned off precious resources that should have gone to more successful generals (ahem...Patton, Bradley)

And last but not least, he got a lot of good men killed in his hairbrained Operation Market Garden fiasco. His only saving grace was that Ike approved the plan...probably Ike's biggest fuck up of the war.

Monty-Schmonty....pfffft

Monty WAS the best British general though...hehe

 

[miles]

Problem Child

Monty dressed funny, too.