Visiting the General George S. Patton Museum of Leadership, Fort Knox KY

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George S. Patton is arguably the greatest general in American military history alongside Ulysses S. Grant. He was immortalized in the classic 1970 movie “Patton” starring George C. Scott as the often controversial “Old blood and guts.” Could the Allies defeated Germany in World War II or ended it in 1945 without Patton? Allied commander Dwight D. Eisenhower was hailed a hero but was an orchestrator and planner. Second-in-command Omar Bradley was an administrator. Patton was boots on the ground flamboyant field commander relentlessly urging his men forward to victory sometimes too fast to Eisenhower’s chagrin. The German command feared him. In a duel of brilliant military minds, Patton outfoxed “the Desert Fox” himself, Germany’s best Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, in the North African campaign. The museum has been located on the Fort Knox base since 1949. There is a procedure to get on base. Visitors must stop at the welcome center and take a number. When called you surrender your driver’s license and state reason for visit. The license is scanned and returned and photo permit printed out. Next you drive to the sentry gate and present the permit. Now you are set. Yes, you do drive by the gold repository. The Patton museum has been renovated and expanded into a fairly recent new building. Notice the heavily artillery standing guard out front. The gift shop oddly does not sell the “Patton” DVD. The theater shows a documentary “The Big Picture” narrated by Ronald Reagan dating from the 60s. Very gung ho but informative. Thanks to the Patton family, the amount of personal memorabilia is enormous from his West Point cadet football uniform to his 4-star helmet and trademark ivory handled pistols. You could say Patton’s life story is related via artifacts dating back his grandfather’s 1864 saddle and wallet and grandmother’s stiletto dagger. Astounding to see young George’s baby shoes and socks, toy cap gun, 1890 ping pong paddle and school book bag from age 12. Patton became adept at weapons at an early age as evidenced by his slingshot, first rifle and pistol. Much emphasis is given his West Point years and being an Olympian during the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. See his 1919 class ring, cadet sword and chevrons. There is his silver Olympic medal. Patton collected military artifacts and some of his collection is displayed. A major section of the museum is devoted to World War II which was his shining hour. Parked inside is his 1938 Cadillac staff car seized from the Germans and last command jeep. There is his field jacket and the thermos and phone he used at the Battle of the Bulge. Not all exhibits exclusively pertain to the general. WWII is generally covered by tanks and weapons, soldier’s gear and German items. A huge Nazi flag hangs that was captured at Casablanca by his men. No explanation as to why the army placed this museum at Fort Knox. Patton only visited once in 1941 and the dress uniform he wore on that occasion is displayed. There is the dress uniform he wore at his daughter’s wedding and saber and gloves worn at his own wedding. All variety of items owned and used by the general. The museum does provide a portrait of a military leader who loved his country and men who loved him in return. After his death due to an auto accident, Patton chose to be buried with his fallen men in Europe. The criticism of his supposed harshness (the incident of slapping a soldier for being a coward) are avoided. Anyone interested in military history will love this museum.