West Point Patton Analysis

Patton knew that his father’s words were true and he took them to heart. Patton would arrive at West Point in June of 1904 as a “plebe,” the term for new cadets. When he compared himself to the other classmates he came to believe that they were not as disciplined, driven, or dedicated as he was. Although this sense of hierarchy did not last very long. The academic struggles that had once haunted him years ago returned. He was enraged that his grades remained lackluster despite his vigorous study habits. With his indifference towards mathematics, Patton put emphasis on military subjects, sports, and his own self-discipline (Sweeny 65). Patton was a young man with tremendous pride so he let his failures hurt his confidence. With his failures

They both attended President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural ball in 1905. They danced away the night and began to fall in love. But falling in love did not help him at West Point. He began to do poorly in both math and French and eventually failed both classes. More than anything Patton wanted to do well at West Point. He spent many hours studying and even sometimes got up before dawn to study even more. It was hard for Patton to watch other students study less and do better than he did. His superiors did appreciate however his drive to succeed and his performance during drills. With that, they gave him permission to repeat his first year over again. When Patton’s parents found out that he had to repeat his first year they did not scold him. They provided him with their support and a special tutor. The next year Patton was determined not to fail again. His determination and drive were more powerful than at any other point previously. He studied more and excelled in his athletics. He was among one of most athletic men in West Point. He played so hard in football that he broke both of his arms, dislocated his shoulder, and broke his nose three times. Patton also expressed a talent in track. Along with his other athletic abilities was his ability with a sword and fencing. He quickly became the best in his class (Sutcliffe

That same year Patton’s second daughter, Ruth Ellen, was born. When Patton was transferred to Fort Bliss his first assignment was one that would finally fulfill Patton’s sense of danger (Gitlin 35). Mexico was going through the torment of a revolution that would eventually lead to the improved living of the Mexican farmers and the formation of a democratic government. Mexican Francisco “Pancho” Villa was a revolutionary General was causing trouble along the American Mexico border by terrorizing residents in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Patton, now with the Eighth Cavalry, was on patrol in a bleak area known as Sierra Blanca (Sweeny 67). Villa and his gang of raiders attacked and killed eighteen people in Columbus, New Mexico in March of 1916 and in response President Woodrow Wilson ordered the army to track them down (Gitlin 36). This would be Patton’s first chance to experience a real