CHAPTER 22
Third Army

“I look forward with considerable pleasure to landing without the necessity of wetting my pants”

PATTON arrived at Prestwick, Scotland, on the morning of January 26, and proceeded immediately to London.

Diary, January 26

Called on Ike at office and found I am to command Third Army. All [the personnel in the Army are] novices and [we are] in support of Bradley’s First Army —not such a good job, but better than nothing.

Ike asked me to dinner; Kay, Butcher, a British Aide-de-Camp, and a WAC captain were present. Ike very nasty and show-offish —he always is when Kay is present – and criticized [John] Lee for his flamboyance which he – Ike – would give a million to possess.

Well, I have an Army and it is up to me. “God show the right.”

As far as I can remember, this is my twenty-seventh start from zero since entering the U.S. Army. Each time I have made a success of it, and this one must be the biggest.

Patton was indeed starting from scratch. The Third Army headquarters was preparing to move from the United States to England. Courtney Hodges was in command, but as soon as he was promoted to lieutenant general, he would go to First Army and understudy Bradley, leaving the Third to Patton. There was much for Patton to do – establish the headquarters, supervise the staff plans for training in England and operating in France, keep abreast of the work on the invasion, direct the subordinate units assigned to his Army, make certain that his commanders were capable, assure himself that the supply and service systems were efficient – and a host of other matters, large and small.

Although the final details of the Overlord landings were far from fixed, the general structure was well understood. Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander, and, through his Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), directed the Allied air, naval, and ground forces. Tedder was his deputy commander, Bedell Smith his chief of staff. Montgomery, at the head of the 21 Army Group and pro tem ground forces commander (until Eisenhower assumed command), directed Dempsey’s Second British Army and Bradley’s First U.S. Army, which were to land in Normandy side by side. When they captured a bridgehead large enough to sustain additional troops, Crerar’s First Canadian Army and Patton’s Third U.S. Army would join. Montgomery would then have Dempsey and Crerar under him; Bradley would relinquish the First U.S. Army to Hodges and move up to an Army Group headquarters to direct Hodges and Patton.

In Morocco, Tunisia, and Sicily, Patton had been the top American field commander. He had been the star. In Europe, a much larger scene, he would be a player on the team. Montgomery for the British and Canadians, De Lattre later for the French, Bradley for the Americans (even though Devers would hold the same position in the command structure) would be the leading commanders in the field. They would make Patton less visible. Eventually, as the Allied forces were built up on the Continent, Patton would simply be one of seven Allied Army commanders. Consequently, his role was proportionately smaller, and his operations would take on the character of local ventures that were part of a larger strategy.

A cog in a vast military machine, Patton would face an even greater challenge than before. Would he be overshadowed by the sheer number of competitors? Would his military genius be smothered? How, among so many personalities, would he manage to stand out?

His answer, if he had been asked, would undoubtedly have been: work like hell and trust in destiny.

During the early months of 1944, Bradley commanded two headquarters, the 1st Army Group and the First Army. Since his primary task was to insure the success of the American landings, he concentrated his efforts on the latter organization. The Army Group remained a rather nebulous entity, run mainly by Leven C. Allen, the chief of staff, who coordinated the affairs concerning the First and Third Armies.

The Allies used the Army Group to capitalize on Patton’s enormous combat reputation among the Germans. As part of a cover and deception plan designed to divert German attention away from the site of the landings, Patton became the mythical commander of the Army Group, an appointment made wholly for the consumption of the German intelligence network. For this reason his presence in England and, even more importantly, his position as Army commander were kept concealed.

Patton’s actual duties revolved about his Third Army headquarters and his direction of the organizations assigned to work under him – Middle-ton’s VIII Corps, Wade Haislip’s XV Corps, Walton Walker’s XX Corps, and Gilbert Cook’s XII Corps. These were his immediate subordinate commanders, and they in turn would direct the divisions under them.

The planning for Overlord in all its myriad manifestations and the preparation of the troops for combat were the chief preoccupations. Little mention could be made of these secret activities. Patton was no exception, and the matters to which he alluded in his diary and letters were a small part of the efforts being made to deal with the complexities of shaping and disciplining a gigantic Allied force into an instrument of victory.

•  •  •

Patton spent his second day in England orienting himself to the theater, which in many respects was a new world, with its own regulations, procedures, and methods of doing business. He had a talk with his classmate John C. H. Lee, who was Eisenhower’s deputy for ETOUSA and chief of the Services of Supply. He “went to see Bedell Smith, who was in rare form – s.o.b. – had just been made a Lieutenant General, and is looking better than I have ever seen him.” He persuaded Smith to approve a list of fifteen Seventh Army officers he wanted transferred from Sicily to his new staff. He called on Tedder who “seemed genuinely glad to see me.”

He studied Bradleyߣs plan, “which I consider bad; the landings are so close [together] that an [enemy] attack against one [beach] affects the whole thing.” The Third Army, he learned, was to take Brittany, then come up on the right of First Army and head toward the Seine.

“Well, I am off to a bad start, but am on my way.”

Late that afternoon he boarded Lee’s special train for an overnight trip to Greenock, on the Clyde. He went aboard the Queen Mary to welcome the advance party of the Third Army headquarters, 13 officers and 26 men. No doubt he recalled his own arrival in the British Isles with Pershing, 27 years earlier.

He talked to the officers, impressing on them the fact that he “was still a secret and not to be mentioned.” Then he and his small group went to the train and left for Knutsford, near Chester.

Patton established the headquarters at the Toft Hall camp near Knutsford and set up his Advanced Echelon, his command group, in Peover Hall.

He rode Lee’s train to Cheltenham, where the SOS had its headquarters and major facilities. Patton inspected supply installations, hospitals, ordnance shops, and the like, service units designated to support the combat units of the Third Army. At dinner with the SOS staff, Patton made a speech and warned everyone “that I am incognito.”

He attended the SOS weekly staff conference, made another talk, “which was good and alive,” and again cautioned everyone “that I am a myth.”

Returned to London, he

went to see Bedell Smith. We were both charming. The nurse who takes care of him .., was present, and I had the opportunity of letting him advertise himself. I let him do all the talking and played him up. Washed mouth out later.

How real was his dislike of Bedell Smith? Was it a pose he assumed in private because he resented Smith’s close working relationship with Eisenhower? Was his feeling much like his early animosity toward Clark, who had formerly been close to Eisenhower? In public, of course, Patton displayed only the most exemplary kind of loyalty to his superiors and colleagues. Yet his inner torture which he concealed through a forced ebullience, his uneasy attitude toward himself which he hid under his facade of confidence, his pathetic longing for recognition which he tried to dismiss by an assumed hardness – all this made for ambivalence on his part. The fact that he called Eisenhower Divine Destiny in his letters to his wife could hardly be coincidence, nor mere alliteration, not even allusion to Eisenhower’s initials. The point was, the destiny on which he depended – his star – was, in truth and in very large measure, Eisenhower, who determined Patton’s place in the scheme of things. That Bedell Smith was Eisenhower’s principal instrument in carrying out his official policy, and further, that Eisenhower, who preferred to say yes and to pose as the affable good guy, used Smith as his hatchet man – to say no – only intensified Patton’s sense of helplessness. He was fettered by the system, and he wished to be free to achieve the glory for which he ached so desperately. Yet he was bound by the men above him – and to a certain extent by those beneath. No wonder he reached for his diary to unburden himself of the unpleasant facts of life. For he saw himself – most of the time – as greater than any of them. And they failed to appreciate his greatness.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 3, 1944

My new headquarters is in a huge house last repaired in 1627 or there abouts ...

I saw a Druid ring much bigger than Stone Henge . . . Remember the time we visited King Arthurs castle [on their honeymoon].

Omar, Monty, and I seem destined by destiny to keep on together. I hope with our usual success. Omar is most helpful. So is Spaatz. I am seeing Monty next week.

The countryside was “truly lovely.” He went to the theater, his first play since October 1942, saw the Lunts, and afterward he and Codman met them backstage.

It is quite pleasant to be famous. In the! theater half the audience were staring [at him] and talking [about him]. Probably bad for the soul...

Army commanders have not only headquarters in the country but also flats in town. Ours is very nice and right in the middle of things.

Patton had a long talk with Bradley and chatted with J. L. Collins who had commanded a division on Guadalcanal in the Pacific. The younger brother of “Wilkie,” Pershing’s aide in Mexico and France and a close friend of Patton’s, Collins was to command the VII Corps in the invasion and land at Utah Beach; Leonard T. Gerow would take his V Corps ashore at Omaha Beach.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 5, 1944

[My] house . . . is quite impressive and the most inconvenient that I have so far occupied, as all the leaded windows leak and the fires dont heat and the water is scarce. However, part of it was built in 1528 and the new stable is inscribed “To my beloved son from his mother” in 1658. It is . . . half Tudor and half Georgean, and they don’t blend well . . .

Monty, Omar, and the other important guests are all dining together next week. This is handy for me as I can go to the luncheon and also have my new boots and overcoat fitted. Mr. Weatherill [tailor] was charmed to see me. So was Faulkner [bootmaker], I got an overcoat and two pair of boots, one riding and one half length for tanks. Also some trousers.

Damn the expense. This is the first time I have been in a place where I could spend money in a year and a half . . .

I could hunt here but think that with a nice battle in the offing, I wont, as I would feel such a fool if I got hurt and missed it, and it is going to be a heller too, although I shant lead off.

The other day . . . I lunched at the hotel where we stayed [on their honeymoon] with the two gentlemen from Verona. It has not changed much, if any thing is cleaner or else I am more used to dirt.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 6, 1944

There is a Chapel attached to this Hall. . . This morning we went to church and were put in the Lord of the Manor’s seat. Right next to me was the effegy of a knight in full armor and his wife. On looking around I found two more knights, but did not have a chance to get their dates . . .

This afternoon we called on Major Leicester-Warren, who has a little place of a thousand acres completely surrounded by a brick wall. He is General Sir Oliver Leese’s father in law. Leese now commands the Eighth British Army [in Italy]. They are very nice people . . . butler, gate keeper, and all ...

I have the same job I had [in Sicily], only with a different number – a rose by any other name etc. It is going to be some job to get these new [and untried] outfits in shape, but I will do it as I have more time than usual.

He flew to northern Ireland on his first inspection trip and visited Haislip’s XV Corps headquarters and the 2nd, 5th, and 8th Divisions. All impressed him favorably.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 9, 1944

Yesterday I made five speeches, including two one-hour orations, and today I made three more, and as I started with a cold, my voice is in a hell of a fix ...

This thing of imitating God and creating new worlds out of thin air [a fighting army out of neophytes] is wearing, but with the help of my luck and the Lord and the staff I will do it, and I have more time than I did in Washington [before Torch] but it is a much bigger party . . .

Jake has been pretty decent about sending me my old people. Of course he feels like hell as he went up hill with quite a drop. Well, anyhow he got further than he was ever intended to go ...

It looks now as if I may have to take Everett in some capacity. At least Destiny seems to think that some one must do something, and it will probably be me . . .

My little dictionary has not got Sycophant in it, but every division now has.

Everyone was being exceptionally nice and flattering to him.

On February 11, Patton and Bradley went to Montgomery’s headquarters and, with De Guingand, Montgomery’s chief of staff, and Dempsey, talked about the invasion plans. “Monty —who is an actor but not a fool” outlined the general plan of the campaign.

Calling on Eisenhower, Patton learned that Devers had declared Hughes surplus and that Eisenhower wanted Patton to take Hughes in some capacity, preferably as chief of staff. Patton had already spoken to Gay, who said he would be glad to serve as deputy chief of staff under Hughes.

Diary, February 12

Ike says that Devers is .22 caliber, and I rather concur, but some others are not over .32 caliber themselves.

Ike said of me, to me, “You are fundamentally honest on the larger issues, but are too fanatical in your friendships.” It is a good thing that some one is.

Patton learned that the situation at the Anzio beachhead below Rome was far from good and even

apt to be lost . . . If we lost that beach, it will be bad, but so much sloth, or timidity, was shown at the start that the thing was doomed. Only 8 miles [gained] in 12 days. I would have been in Rome.

With more than a touch of intuition, he added, “I hope I don’t have to go back and straighten things out.”

Letter, Mrs, George Frisch, Jr., Oklahoma City, to Mrs. Patton, February 12, 1944

My husband is with your husband’s army & your husband’s name is George Jr. & so is mine & General Patton signs his name Georgie & so does my George & what a fine man General Patton is . . . I’ve always picked him as my hero.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 14, 1944

It sounds complacent but I think the [slapping] incident was a good thing. But for it I would probably have had Brad’s job, which I certainly would not have liked, certainly not in its present form – the altitude is too great [meaning, it was too far removed from the fighting].

Letter, GSP, Jr., to McNair, February 15, 1944

I want to express my thanks to you for the part I am sure you had in obtaining for me my present job. I look forward with considerable pleasure to landing without the necessity of wetting my pants.

Diary, February 16

At 0130, Codman had a telephone call from Butcher for me to report to General Eisenhower at once . . . We started at 0600 in the pitch dark and arrived at 20 Grosvenor Square at 1045.

When I went in, Ike said, “I am afraid you will have to eat crow again for a little while.”

I said, “What have I done now?”

He replied, “You may have to take command of the beachhead in Italy and straighten things out.”

I replied that this was not eating crow but a great compliment because I would be willing to command anything from a platoon up in order to fight.

He then gave me a radio [gram] from Alexander.

Alexander had sent it to Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff – Marshall’s counterpart – who forwarded it immediately to Eisenhower, waking him up at midnight, February 15. Lucas and his VI Corps headquarters in the Anzio beachhead, Alexander said, were “negative and lack the necessary drive and enthusiasm to get things done. They appear to have become depressed by events.” He was about to meet with Wilson, Devers, and Clark to see what could be done. “What we need,” Alexander said, “is a thruster like George Patton.”

That had prompted Eisenhower’s telephone call.

Alexander said . . . that the British had sustained most of the losses (I doubt this), and, “If you cannot send me a thruster like George Patton, I recommend putting a British officer in command. I have already sent a British major general to the headquarters of the VI Corps to spur them on a little.”

Ike said he would never consent to letting the British have the command, but he would loan me for a month, as the only fighting general in the army.

He also made certain remarks about Devers, wondering why the hell he hadn’t got into the fight, saying, “As he was doing nothing anyway.”

Ike . . . sent a telegram offering to let me go . . . They will consider it and reply.

In the meantime, one G-54 and one B-25 are waiting at the airport in London, warmed up, ready to take me to Italy, and I have telephoned for Stiller and Sgt. Meeks, and my fighting equipment.

I told Ike that I was anxious to go, but that I must be backed up by him, as otherwise I would have my throat cut. He said he would back me up and would report the whole thing to General Marshall by special messenger. I suppose I am the only person in the world who would be elated at the chance to commit personal and official suicide, but I am tickled to death an4 will make a go of it.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 16, 1944

I had the best compliment I have ever had today, given in a back handed manner . . . but I have been skipping like a gazell ever since. I guess a real love of fighting belongs to but a few people . . .

Tomorrow I’ll have my new battle jacket . . . If I am to fight I like to be well dressed.

Diary, February 17

Went to Middlesex Hospital at 0945 to have a spot on my lip treated with x-ray. While there . . . an aide phoned to say that Ike said I could return to Knutsford. Nothing more. He did not even think it worthwhile to tell me what had happened . . .

Gay came down to see me off and warned me to get rid of the Fifth Army staff for fear that they would cut my throat. He was working on the assumption that I was to relieve Clark and take over the whole show. This is an excellent example of how much forethought and loyalty he has for me.

We were all very sorry that the show was called off – it would have been very risky, but much honor could have been gained. No man can live forever.

Truscott was elevated from the 3d Division, which was at Anzio, to replace Lucas at the VI Corps. It made good sense. Truscott was already on the scene, knew the situation, and was a winner – highly aggressive and competent. He was also, unlike Patton, sufficiently junior in rank to be no threat to Clark.

Diary, February 18

Called on Ike . . . He was very cavalier and told me of a General Cbrlett who had captured a Pacific Island in a “nearly perfect” maneuver. (He did not have to fight until after he got ashore.) Ike is going to get him for a corps commander (XIX Corps).

I told him that we had also done pretty well in landings.

This made him mad. He has an unfortunate habit of under-rating all Americans who come under him and overrates all British and all Americans who have served elsewhere.

I wish to God he was more of a soldier and less of a politician.

Called on Beedle Smith to bone (bootlick) [flatter him].

It must certainly have pained Patton that no one seemed to be taking advantage of his own considerable experience in preparing amphibious operations.

Charles Corlett too would discover, after he arrived in England, that no one was interested in his thorough knowledge of amphibious methods in the Pacific.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 19, 1944

George [Marshall] considers me the one fighting general . . . These remarks, together with Alex’s request for me to pull the chestnuts [out of Anzio], make me feel fine.

He had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stockdale of Alderly Edge, Cheshire, and was pleased when “Mr. Stockdale told me that he had never met such loyal and enthusiastic supporters as my staff.”

His wife bosses things. We had them to supper and she ran her hand down the banesters to see if they were properly dusted and said they were not – she was right. She looked at our books [in the library] and sent over some more that she thinks are edefying.

She is really pretty and nice.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 20, 1944

The lack of looks of the English women has amazed all of us. They must have died out . . .

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 20, 1944

I will have to take Everett in some capacity . . . It will be all right for me but will I fear imbarass him . . . Jake is . . . messing things up and at the same time running counter to Destiny, which is foolish . . .

I am seriously considering getting a . . . dog, and Lady Leese and Kay are both searching for one for me . . .

Jake would be a damned nusance to work under.

This house . . . is going to be quite nice after we get a few toilets etc. installed ...

Yesterday I went into Butch[er]’s room [office] and ran into the whole press, so I just told them I was a ghost and they admitted that while every one in town had seen me, no one would admit it.

“I wish I could stop being incognito,” he wrote Beatrice,

but really it makes no difference, as I am a very apparent entity.

I have a mobile loud speaker on a truck which I take around with me to exhort the troops just like a candidate for election.

Gen. Lee certainly is doing a good job in getting us what we need.

Diary, February 23

We suffer very much from lack of command. No one is running the show...

Ike has no conception of physical command, as he has never exercised it.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Virginia Knapp, Providence, R.I., February 24, 1944

I am glad your troop of Girl Scouts has been praying for me, and also I am interested to learn that they have corresponded with General Eisenhower and General Clark.

I am quite sure that between the three of us – and not forgetting General Bradley – we will eventually secure the victory you want.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Ed Fansler, February 24, 1944

I am taking very good care of myself. I play badminton or squash every day and also take a long walk. I eat very little and do not smoke and hardly take any drinks. I really believe that I am tougher than I was in the last war.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 26, 1944

I am glad you saw Mamie, as her husband in his own way is quite nice to me . . .

I am glad you have been nice to Georgie D. [Devers] as he has been pretty fair about letting me have my old men back although he is at swords points with every one else.

Here is a secret you must not divulge. I played golf yesterday and to day I bought two clubs and harrased cows all over the pasture practising up as Mrs. Stockdale beat the hell out of me. It is true of course that I have not played for 43 years so have lost some of my cunning, but I improved with the cows. Capt. [George] Murnane, Hap’s aide . . . coached me . . . But what a comedown from Polo!!!

I could hunt a little but hate to take the chance of a bad fall with a fine fight in prospect – I fear I am loosing my nerve? ?

The local relatives have certainly gone out of their way to be nice to all of us. I am having the Curate to lunch, then going to lunch my self with the Leicester-Warrens, then to tea with some one else. You see as yet we have not got all the tools here to work with so I have quite a lot of time. Besides, as there is nothing to do at night, I work after supper till about ten o’clock . . .

[Speaking of DDE], we shall miss JJP very much, but there is nothing that can be done about it ...

I think that more and more my luck is holding. The next party is realy something and I have a chance to play the same position [end] I used to in football. If I do, I may visit some of the places we saw when we lived with the ducks [Brittany] . . .

I am pealing as a result of having gotten too friendly with my sun lamp but I look very tanned and rugged.

Bradley phoned to ask him to London to discuss improving the armored division. Quite a few people advocated reducing the American model in size to correspond with the British version,

curious added evidence of the mania to trust anyone but Americans . . . [We] are just pawns. I fear that after we get landed in France, we will be boxed in a beachhead, due to timidity and lack of drive, which is latent in Montgomery. I hope I am wrong.

He would not be so very wrong.

Everett Hughes arrived in London and became Eisenhower’s personal representative – “in other words, his [private] eye.”

Diary, March 1

Ike told me that while he would not definitely order me to replace Gay, he certainly wanted me to do so, as he felt that while Gay was an extra efficient chief of staff, he did not have the presence to represent me at other headquarters, nor to take over should I get killed.

Keyes has always felt the same way.

Of course, I was originally selected for Torch through the direct action of Ike and therefore I owe him a good deal. On the other hand, I have paid my way ever since. I am very reluctant to supersede Gay, but it looks to me and to Hughes, and others with whom I have talked, that if I don’t, I will be superseded myself, so I will have to make the change.

The two people I have in mind are either Gaffey or Troy Middle-ton. I would prefer Gaffey as I know him better, as I had him in the Desert [Training Center], and also in Tunisia. Of course if something should happen to make Keyes available, I will take him like a shot.

Ike and I dined alone and had a very pleasant time. He is drinking too much but is terribly lonely. I really feel sorry for him – I think that in his heart he knows he is not really commanding anything.

Diary, March 2

Hughes says I should comply with Ike’s views on the chief of staff. I also went to see Beedle Smith to keep things greased, and saw Lee, who is making a fool of himself over the colored question. I fear that what he is doing is going to cause a great deal of unnecessary suffering and killing when we get back to the States.

Called on First Army Group to butter up Leven Allen.

After all the ass kissing I have to do, no wonder I have a sore lip.

Ike told me he had not decided which of us three, Hodges, Bradley, or I, should command . . . the army group. Brad will.

Diary, March 3

I feel very bad over this damn chief of staff business. I must do it in a way not to hurt Gay’s feelings, for I truly consider him the best chief of staff in Europe, Italy, or Africa.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 3, 1944

I too am sorry that I was not allowed to jump the ditch [straits of Messina] . . . I would have been with His holiness long since, but family pride was injured.

At the moment I am getting a great deal of undeserved credit for invincibility by people who say (I modestly add with truth) that had I had the beach head [at Anzio] I would be in Rome. Well it is all for the best . . .

I fear that Hap will have to give place to some one with more “IT” and play deputy. I hate to do it but forces like Destiny seem bent on bringing it about and one is a fool to fly in the face of providence or destiny or what ever you choose to call the thing that shapes our ends...

Which one of us three will be chosen [to head the army group] is like the Bible, “Many are called etc” but realy it makes no difference. There is glory enough for all.

The pacifists are at it again. I met a visiting fireman of great eminence who told me this was the “LAST WAR.” I told him that such statements since 2600 b.c. had signed the death warent of millions of young men. He replied with the stock lie – “Oh yes but things are different now.” My God! Will they never learn?

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Dillingham, March 4, 1944

The greatest gift a general can have is a bad temper [under control], A bad temper gives you a sort of divine wrath, and it is only by the use of a divine wrath that you can drive men beyond their physical ability in order to save their lives.

He bought a dog, a bull terrier, and named him Willie.

Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 6, 1944

My bull pup . . . took to me like a duck to water. He is 15 months old, pure white except for a little lemin on his tail which to a cursary glance would seem to indicate that he had not used toilet paper . . .

Troy Middleton is back on my team, also Bob Grow and Bug Oliver . . . fat Walker from the desert has a job with me too. Of course I wish I had vet[eran]s, but I haven’t so that is that and these men will do all right . . .

This damned secrecy thing is rather annoying particularly as I doubt if it fools any one. Every time I make a speech I have to say now remember you have not seen me – a voice crying in the wilderness.

Diary, March 6

Had a long talk with Cummings on what to do about Gay. He advised telling him, so I did. It was most distasteful. I really believe I would retain more self-respect if I resigned, but I am not quite that big-hearted. Gay was fine —could not have been better. I told him the exact truth, that Ike ordered me to do it.

Leaving for London in the morning . . . People there don’t realize what a long trip it is from here.

Gaffey said he had no wish to give up the 2d Armored Division, which was in the First Army, but “since he owed me so much, he would do it, if I can get Bradley to turn him loose.”

With Middleton, Patton called on Bradley who agreed to let Gaffey go. Patton then went to see Lee.

He informed me he had phoned Beedle Smith, recommending Middleton for my chief of staff, on the alleged grounds that since General Marshall had great confidence in Middleton, it would strengthen my position. I told Lee I was quite able to take care of myself and that for the future he would not meddle. He is either a conscientious doer of good deeds or has some ulterior motive. I am rather inclined to the latter belief.

I hurried back to see Bradley and asked him to come with me to see Ike ...

We went out to Widewing to see Ike. He was talking on the phone and said, “Now, listen, Arthur [Tedder], I am tired of dealing with a lot of prima donnas. By God, you tell that bunch that if they can’t get together and stop quarreling like children, I will tell the Prime Minister to get someone else to run this damn war. I’ll quit.” . . . He talked for some time longer and repeated that he would “ask to be relieved and sent home” unless Tedder could get the British and American Air and the two Navies to agree.

I was quite impressed as he showed more assurance than I have ever seen him display. But he should have had the warring factions in and jumped them himself, and not left it to his Deputy, Tedder . . .

He approved all our requests . . .

It is always depressing to me to see how completely Ike is under the influence of the British. He even prefers steel to rubber tracks on tanks because Monty does.

With most of the command and staff arrangements resolved, with the divisions scheduled to be in the Third Army now in the British Isles, Patton turned his attention to teaching his troops how to fight.