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Barret: I was interested to learn that one of the veterans who was targeted as a leader of the "Bonus Marchers" was the very NCO who assisted Patton when a piece of shrapnel took a slice out of George's butt in France in '18. Patton's most memorable comment in D.C. was that if they turned the machine guns on the vets to "shoot a lot of 'em; if you kill only a few it will be too easy for them to become martyrs in the eyes of the Press, etc."
Geo. was always proud of the wound and eager to display it; he was once arrested on an East Coast beach for wearing trunks which revealed most of his posterior. But how else could everyone see his wound? I have something in the works I've titled "Patton's Women": Cf: his sister was camping out on the Border, in '16, with Pershing- a fact which led many to agree that George knew what it took to get rather quick promotions. The sister followed JP to Paris where she was rebuffed; she came back to Pasadena, lived out her life in spinsterhood after making one request of the family: "Just don't ever mention Jack Pershing's name in my presence."
Patton seduced his niece while stationed at Schofield barracks in the late '30s and had her in Paris toward the end of the war in '45. Mrs. Patton, Beatrice, was infuriated but kept silent due to her concern over the reputation of all involved. Beatrice was a serious student of ancient Polynesian culture and had written one novel (pretty bad!) and, in French, one fairly well received study of the culture. She studied the old Religion and knew some ancient priests thereof. She exacted a weird retribution on the young lady. In her New York appartment, she set up an altar scene, incense, ancient melodies playing- ominous drum rythyms, etc. She ordered the niece to appear in this setting and came out in weird make-up and gowned as a Priestess. She ranted in Hawiian and invoked ancient curses- all of which completely terrified the young lady. Beatrice was most obviously gratified when the niece committed suicide within a few weeks!
In order that I not be completely off the subject of a/c have you encountered the fact that Patton wanted to fly his Stinson into the Desert Center, Calif. manuevering area when he was ordered there as C.O. in '42? He advised his predecessor that he'd be flying in; the predecessor, evidently no fan of George, advised in return that civilian aircraft were not permitted to fly in that area. Moreover, any and all aircraft including George's would be subject of anti-antiaircraft fire and aerial interception by fighters instructed to shoot down any encroaching aircraft. George arrived by train. Didn't they have fun though? We'll never see their like again!! They sure "got away' with a great deal of odd behaviour. In contrast to them did you see where a current Navy Skipper just lost his squadron because it was found he was co-owner of a private a/c with a subordinate? Personally I think I'll miss the "old ways"! I mean the ways of the "Old Army" and "The Old Navy"; not to imply- on my part- any interest in bemoning the absence of some Polynesian religious practice! (No offense intended to you, Beatrice, if you happen to be looking down!"- and especially, Dr. Lecter- not to you-)!
Regards, Lee
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