I believe you are right King- George Marshall had to balance Patton, MacArthur, Eisenhower plus co-operate with Montgomery and others and work with an ailing Commander-In-Chief of a two Theatre War effort- From what I read, George Marshall may have developed the patience of a Saint and the wisdom of a King Solomon-his "Marshall Plan" after WW11 paved the way for European economic recovery- Patton was right about the Russians-but I don't think they had the "clout" to bring about a plot to kill Patton- And we can only guess what his WW11 career might have truly been had he not slapped a soldier in Sicily in a Field Hospital tent- for an Officer to hit an Enlisted man, is usually a career ending move- Patton's thought may have been right but his temper and aggressive nature overcame his judgement- and as he wasn't the Stars and Stripes "Favorite General" they leaked the story to the Stateside press, which "torpedoed" his career- "Ike" wanted to sent him back, relieved of his command, George Marshall over-ruled Ike- a command decision which I am sure the 101st. Airborne units at Bastogne later appreciated. So much we will never know!!
Last edited by Run With The Fox; 06/25/08 10:09 PM.
