We all have heard of General Patton's exploits in World War Two, but he also had deep roots (and deep pockets) in the Los Angeles area.
He was born in San Gabriel Township, now San Marino, in 1885. His maternal grandfather was Benjamin Davis Wilson (the namesake of Mt. Wilson)
and at one time Wilson owned Rancho San Pascual, which included the modern day cities of Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, San Marino,
and San Gabriel. He was also the second elected Mayor of Los Angeles.
On June 9, 1945, General Patton returned to Los Angeles for a war bond drive with General Dolittle, which included a parade and speeches at the Coliseum and City Hall.
Six months later he would be dead from injuries sustained in a car accident in Germany.
Parade past Silverwoods:
militarymashup.com
Salute from Ft. Moore hill:
Los Angeles Public Library
Speeches at the Coliseum:
Los Angeles Public Library
Here is a video of the activities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yya7G...eature=related
Patton and the other top WW2 American generals of the European theater:
Captain Earl Witscher, U.S. Army Signal Corps.
If you look under Patton's right elbow, you can just see the tip of his ivory-handled
(not pearled-handled) pistol. As Patton would say, "Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse
would carry a pearl-handled pistol."