George Smith Patton, Jr. was born in San Marino, in California's San Gabriel valley on November 11, 1885.
Patton participated in the Stockholm Olympics of 1912 in the Pentathlon, in which he placed 5th.
His military career began as a member of General John J. Pershing's staff during the campaign into Mexico and during WWI. Patton joined the newly formed Tank Corps in Fort Meade, Maryland until they were abolished in 1920.
He became a distinguished graduate of the Army War College and his first post was control officer of the war games in Georgia and Louisiana. These games tested the practicallity of mechanized warfare.
When WWII began and the Armored Force was formed, Patton transferred to the 2nd Armor Division in Fort Benning, Georgia. On April 11, 1941 he was named the Commanding General.
On November 8, 1942 he commanded the Western Tank Force during the invasion of North Africa. He was later given leadership of all American forces in the Tunisia theatre.
He commanded the Seventh Army during the invasion of Sicily from July 1943 to March 1944. In August 1944 he was given command of the Third Army in France which lead the attack on German held territory after the invasion of Normandy.
After the war was won he took command of the Fifteenth Army which controlled the American sector of occupied Germany. Two months after taking this position, on December 21, 1945, General Patton died in a car accident.