George Patton IV
| George Smith Patton IV | |
|---|---|
Patton in 1977
|
|
| Born |
December 24, 1923 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 27, 2004 (aged 80) South Hamilton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1946–1980 (USMA: 1942–1946) |
| Rank |
Major General 
|
| Commands held | A/140/40th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion/81st Armored/1st Armored Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star (2) with "V" Device Meritorious Service Medal Purple Heart |
| Relations | George S. Patton, father, Beatrice Ayer Patton, mother, Frederick Ayer, grandfather |
| Other work | Farmer Co-author, The Fighting Pattons |
George Smith Patton IV (December 24, 1923 – June 27, 2004) was a major general in the United States Army and the son of World War II general, George S. Patton, Jr.. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
A 1946 graduate of West Point Patton was initially trained as an infantry officer. His first assignment was to Regensburg, West Germany where he participated in the 1948 Berlin Airlift. The troops under his command were used to load supplies onto Air Force transport aircraft bound for Berlin. In 1952, he joined C Company, 63rd Tank Battalion, 1st Infantry Division as a platoon leader. A year after he returned from Germany, he married Joanne Holbrook.
Patton served in the Korean War from February 1953, commanding "A" Company of the 140th Tank Battalion, 40th Infantry Division. Patton received his first Silver Star and the Purple Heart in Korea.
Returning to the United States in 1954, Patton, now a captain, was initially assigned to West Point but was quickly picked up as part of an exchange program and was sent to teach at the United States Naval Academy.
Patton served a total of three tours of duty in South Vietnam, the first from April 1962 to April 1963 at Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then took command of the 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, 81st Armored Regiment of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood Texas, before his second tour in 1967, this one lasting only three months. During Patton's final and most intense tour, lasting from January 1968 to January 1969, he was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses for his actions on the battlefield. During this final tour, he was initially assigned as Chief of Operations and Plans at Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam. However, after his promotion to colonel in April 1968, he was given command of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. During his three tours in Vietnam, Patton, who frequently used helicopters as a mobile command post, was shot down three times and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
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