CJ Parisi Patton reflection
I have always been a history buff and had an interest in WWII, and General George S. Patton has always been my favorite American General. This is because he is intelligent, ferocious, and excellent at his job. He also has stated some of my favorite quotes, such as the one that the movie Patton opens with. This movie illustrates these traits exceptionally. He led his men into battle on one occasion, and often went to the front line, whereas many of his counterparts and colleagues were more ‘armchair generals’ that preferred to take a back seat. While taking a back seat protects the valuable general, there is only so much information they can know and only so many ways they can influence the battlefield from several miles away. Patton’s style, although it put him in the line of fire, allowed him to command his soldiers much more directly, and to inspire courage among his men.
On the other hand, I have always been aware of his flaws, such as over-aggressiveness, lack of sympathy for mentally injured soldiers, and putting his pride first. However, I have never seen these flaws illustrated before, as I have only read articles. It must have truly been terrifying for the shell-shocked soldier to be mentally destroyed by both artillery and his commanding officer. Shell shock was proven as a legitimate injury, damaging the chemical balance in the brain during the First World War (Stetz 417), in which Patton participated and certainly saw a great deal of. His opinion that shell shock is cowardice is medically incorrect, but Patton’s short temper got the best of him, causing him to be temporarily relieved of command. Moreover, I am much more ashamed of how much he values his pride; as he values it over his men’s lives. He insisted on beating Montgomery to Messina, no matter the cost. I’m far from a strategist, but perhaps it would have ultimately cost less lives to perform a joint attack alongside Montgomery to take Messina. Given these distinct positives and negatives, it is difficult to say whether or not I would want to be like Patton. Another General portrayed in the film is Omar Bradley. He is portrayed as a calmer, more collected and equally effective general. Since he is much calmer, and values the lives of his own soldiers, I would much rather be like him.
Works Cited
Stetz, Margaret D. “WW I, Shell Shock, & The Death Drive.” English Literature In Transition 1880-1920 3 (2014): 417. Literature Resource Center. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.