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| Gen. Geo. S. Patton, Jr. |
As you would imagine in 1940 Fort Benning, Georgia was a hubbub of activity. On the European continent The forces of Adolf Hitler were rapidly conquering neighboring countries. The swastika of Germany flew over Austria, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and France. The training of soldiers were top priority at the fort in Columbus, Georgia. At that time the 2nd Armored Division had as its training officer was one Colonel George S. Patton, Jr. Patton would be promoted to brigadier general and assume command of the 2nd Armored Division whose tagline was "Hell on Wheels" later that year. It was when he was commander of the tankers that the following incident occurred.
Geographically, Fort Benning sits adjacent to the city of Columbus, Georgia, on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Across the river is the smaller city of Phenix City, Alabama. At that time and a few decades later the city was ruled by organized crime. The city was famous for its houses of ill-repute, bars and gambling establishments. All of these were super inducements to the soldiers of Fort Benning. They were the red flag to the Army's bulls. Frequently soldiers were robbed and often would return to the fort beaten and bloody after a night in Phenix City. One one particular occasion some soldiers of the 2nd Armored division were jailed by the local police. The general requested that the chief of police release the soldiers. But, the Chief of Police of Phenix City, Alabama, refused the general's request. George S. Patton, Jr., Brigadier General, of the United States Army was not accustomed to having his requests refused. He proceeded to persuade the chief of police to honor his request. His method was one of simplicity. He took one of his Sherman tanks to downtown Columbus to the riverbank*. The big gun on the tank was aimed toward Phenix City. There was no response to the General's second request. He simply gave the command, "Fire". He called the Chief of Police again and asked that the soldiers be released and that the first shot had been a warning shot and that there would not be another. Within a few minutes the soldiers cold be seen returning across the 14th Street Bridge. In the crowd of onlookers someone was heard to say, "Boy, that's blood and guts!"
And that they say at Fort Benning is how Patton got his nickname, "Old Blood and Guts".
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| Sherman Tank |
