On this occasion, when the Corps began to give the officer the silent treatment, Patton became so disgusted that he marched them back out of the mess hall. Patton, however, believed that any officer, whatever his alleged misdeeds, was deserving of proper respect for his rank. Cadet custom was to stand silently at attention until the officer got the message and left the room. Patton’s stubborn independence was demonstrated one day at the noon meal when he led the Corps of Cadets into the mess hall and, as they stood at attention by their tables awaiting the “Take Seats” command, an unpopular Tac officer entered. To the end of his cadet days he remained a dogmatic and unpopular cadet, a young man on the make with a reputation as a “quilloid.” (18) Last lesson as Cadet, Thank God.” Inscribed in the back cover was:Īlthough Patton’s early writings reflect brilliance, he had yet to demonstrate to his contemporaries that his fiery intensity was anything more than the ravings of a temperamental opportunist. Many years later, after his son donated part of his father’s vast collection of books to the Friends of the West Point Library, the following notation was unearthed on the final page of a textbook called Elements of Strategy: “End of last lesson in Engineering. Patton had indeed composed a list of the traits of a future general. The text accompanying the photograph of those first classmen who had won their letters included this notation: “It is said that Georgie Patton has compiled for future generals, a rule for winning any battle under any combination of circumstances.” (16)
(14) His feat won him a place in the cadet yearbook, the Howitzer, alongside the fifteen other wearers of the coveted letter “A.” (15) Patton also shot “Expert” with the rifle and continued to excel in swordsmanship.
At the Annual Field Day in June 1908 he established a new school record in the 220-yard hurdles, won the 120-yard hurdles and rounded out the most triumphant day of his athletic career at West Point as the runner-up in the 220-yard dash. His fifth and final year at West Point was his most successful. Billy Mitchell’s famous court martial in 1925), demoted most of the first class cadet officers during a shakeup in the summer of 1908, Patton was unaffected. Howze (who later as a general presided over Col.
Although he saw no harm in what his classmates had done, Patton seemed disinclined to haze, preferring instead to enforce discipline. In the summer of 1908 eight first classmen were expelled after being caught hazing. “I am fool enough to think that I am one of those who may teach the world its value,” he wrote. Again and again he wrote passionately of his desire to become a successful soldier. Patton never conceived of any other career for himself.
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