 In 1942, he stepped forth like some warrior of old to lead and inspire vast forces of men. At a pace never equaled, his third army swept across the continent of Europe. No American leader was more colorful and more successful. General George S. Patton, Jr. dedicated a glory and the victory that was won. The name, the symbol, the victories are history. The United States Army presents the Big Picture, an official report produced for the armed forces and the American people. Our guest narrator, Mr. Ronald Reagan. It's not easy to believe that George S. Patton, Jr. was once just Georgie. From his earliest years, this lad believed he was going to be General George S. Patton, Jr. His imagination was stirred by stories of great heroes of the past told by his father. His military career began at VMI. At West Point, he proved himself a model cadet. Although, like Washington and Napoleon, he could not spell. Rarely from this time on would Georgie flash this attractive smile. He just didn't go with his very serious ideas of soldiering. He established the first football team for soldiers to keep them from wasting their off hours and drinking and gambling. World War I convinced that this ponderous vehicle would someday come into its own. He studied it, rode into battle on it, became a hero alongside it. Our first tank commander, he would always be linked with the weapon that symbolized his driving, overwhelming personality. After the war, the tank school at Fort Meade. Two officers here shared a deep military interest. High guys in Howard and Georgie. The fierce expression, his get up at masquerades reflected some deep instinct to play the role of warrior or fighter. His wife joined in, sensing that even in fun, these roles suited her soldier husband. A time came, as it had before, when the clothing of battle was to be worn by millions of Americans. November 1942, in command of American forces for the invasion of North Africa, Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. For the outstanding features of a brief campaign was Patton's bold leadership, and later, the favorable impression he created on French and Arabs alike. Plans could now be discussed. Plans which would cast America's toughest general in a leading role. Meanwhile, a battle was raging to the east in Tunisia. He roused to a pitch of fighting spirit and entered the fray. Allied leaders such as General Alexander sensed Patton's remarkable military gifts. His judgment is sure instinct for what the enemy would do. Patton set a tank trap for Rommel. He marched right into it. His 10th Panzer Division lost half its 60 tanks. Retired and never attempted a counterattack. His reputation grew. He looked forward eagerly to his next campaign. He'd been selected to command a new army, the 7th, slated for the conquest of Sicily. We as attackers have the initiative. We must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking. Rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest. Keep punching. God is with us. We shall win. And when in doubt, attack again. Patton's major principle for fighting battles or a war. The mission he believed was to arouse the morale of his men. He urged them on certain that speed and boldness could shorten the war. He believed in showmanship. But he was aware that if the act could not be carried off in fine style, the men would see through it. Both leaders used every means to inspire the troops of their vast command. Sicily proved to be a model campaign. Sound tactics and a fighting spirit won the island in 38 days. The Supreme Allied Commander paid a visit. Passionately involved in the work at hand, Patton had acquired a reputation for being tempestuous, sometimes rash. There was a question as to his role in the invasion of Fortress Europe. Then his whereabouts carefully concealed from the German high command, he appeared in Great Britain. New troops heard him in an introductory speech and called him old blood and guts. The old timers referred to him as the old man, who knew more about fighting than any man alive. He called a spade a spade. He told them to get mad and stay mad. They listened. Bradley's first army, another army assembled. Patton's third. The body of armor, this outfit was like its commander. Fast, hard-hitting, spirited, spectacular. Rolling advance and all-out smashing attack. The Patton version of a German blitzkrieg. We push, the more Nazis we'll kill. And the more Nazis we kill, the fewer of our men will be killed. Pushing means fewer casualties. The third took the old man at his word and found he was right. Occupied by Germans one day, liberated the next. Crusading army, a man fulfilling a destiny he had dreamed of since early youth. The attacks now were in all directions at once. Toward the south and north and east, toward Germany. Fanced like a tidal wave. The enemy's response was fear. He told his men, in the last two weeks, the third has advanced farther and faster than any other army in history. My intention is to move farther and faster still. Outrunning its maps, the third army crossed the same. In his words, he was touring France with an army. He was everywhere at once, covering the great distances within his command. His use of light aircraft exemplified his eagerness to adopt any new means of increasing efficiency. Throughout, the night-deep tactical air command of the 8th Army Air Force gave incredibly close support. Astounding advances went on and on. Patton saw nothing in the way. He was ready to push on into the heart of Germany. Struggling to keep up with his fast-moving front was a miraculous supply effort known as the Red Ball Express. But now Patton's supply lines were strained to the utmost. Winter was approaching. Other allied armies were feeling the pinch. The third was ordered to hold up to take the defensive. Nothing but defeat itself could have made the general more depressed. This was a difficult time for an army built to roll. The tension for Patton was finally eased. He was assured by his old friend that the third would eventually receive adequate supplies to resume what they had begun. Patton urged his leaders to keep high the morale created during the offensive. He himself delivered the pep talks for which he was famous. Giving credit, instilling pride, urging men to even greater deeds. Then the green light. This fortress city had withstood every assault was no cheap victory. But the fall of this highly regarded fortification bore out Patton's belief that no defense position had ever been successfully defended. With General Walker at the front, new plans now. A great drive toward the highly reputed Siegfried line. But an instinct for what the enemy will do had alerted him to a new danger. Field Marshal Von Rundstedt struck with 20 divisions on a 40-mile front. The battle of the bulge. Patton was asked to speed what help he could. Could it be in three days, Ike asked? Patton's armored troops would make it in two. Dashing 100 miles over icy roads to Bastogne. Patton's concentrated armored power and a much needed air attack. A religious man, Patton frequently prayed. This time a prayer went out on thousands of printed cards for all his men to join him. Almighty and merciful father, Grantus Fairweather, for battle, was on the defensive. In Patton's book, they were destined to fail. Back of the German offensive and began preparations for their own. Always the old man pushed them harder than anyone had pushed them before. Always the results were more than they might have expected. For a commander who was so obviously a winner, they would do the impossible. Patton believed in decorations, in recognizing and exalting the heroic qualities of his men. And they sensed his sincerity when he used words like duty, patriotism and loyalty. To him, these words had real meaning. The Siegfried line, Patton's words, this monument to the stupidity of man, cracked easily. The famous third was now on the loose again. On a spring rampage that would bring the war to a close before summer. Again, Patton's army was going beyond expectations. The enemy believed Patton would pause at the Rhine. He went right across. His divisions fought toward the final goal. Always he took time out to give credit where it really belonged. To the men. To Private Harold A. Garman, the Medal of Honor. Exalting sacrifice, Patton never dwelt long on the horrors of war. But as his third army overran concentration camps in Germany, he saw horror of a new kind. Held up as the third turned southwest to link up with Soviet forces in the Danube Valley. It was over. For a moment, Patton relaxed his carefully maintained role of colorful leader to be himself. On his return, Americans showed their gratitude. In General Pershing's words, it didn't hurt America to have a general so bold that he was dangerous. Los Angeles went all out in its reception. With him was General Doolittle, whose eighth Air Force in Europe did so much to assure final victory. Although no unit, no individual won the war, we're fortunate in having won here tonight with us who had a large part in winning the war. I'm pleased and proud to have been privileged to fight by the side of General George Patton. Over a destroyed, utterly destroyed. You who have not seen it do not know what hell looks like from the top. That's what Germany looks like. That Austria looks like. That's what any place that the eighth Air Force and the Third Army worked on looks like. You must remember this. That from Brest to various towns in southern Germany and Austria whose names I can't pronounce, but whose places I have removed, the trail of the Third Army in the 19th tactic more than 40,000 white crosses. 40,000 dead Americans. Few realized how deeply he felt about his men. In Germany, with no more battles to win, Patton watched Americans compete on the playing field. Again he saw the fighting spirit, the will to win, a quality he loved and admired, and which he epitomized himself. Bill was the test of a man. War, the supreme struggle, provided the highest test. He had expected his own death to be spectacular. In this one prediction, he was more mistaken than in the planning of any battle. He died of injuries received in an automobile accident four months after the end of the war. The place of burial among the men of the Third Army who had fallen in the battle of the Bulge. His personality lives on in his statue at West Point. He lived for action and glory and reached the heights in serving his country.