Patton: The Man Behind the Legend 1885-1945

Rating:
Summary: An American Legend
Review: While not the definitive word on Patton, Blumenson's work is probably the best short biography on one of the most complex figures of American military history. I recommend reading it in conjunction with the newer and more comprehensive PATTON; A GENIUS FOR WAR by Carlo D'Este; after which you can graduate to Blumenson's two volume editings of THE PATTON PAPERS, 1885-1940 & 1940-1945. As a staff weinie, I also enjoyed BG Oscar Koch's interesting G-2: INTELLIGENCE FOR PATTON. Koch was perhaps the best G-2 in the ETO during WWII. Patton's urbane and erudite aide, COL Charles Codman, also produced a delightful memoir, DRIVE, which though OOP is available on the Net.