While Europe was embroiled in the First World War, the United States had its own share of troubles on the home front. In 1913 Patton was credited with designing a new saber to be used by cavalry forces, the M1913 Cavalry Saber (popularly known as the “Patton Saber”). Out of 42 participants, Patton took 5 th overall in the event. In 1912 Patton represented the United States in the Olympics held in Stockholm, taking part in the modern pentathlon. Graduating in 1909, Patton was commissioned into the cavalry, a branch that was quickly becoming outdated with the advent of new weaponry on the battlefield. The son of a proud military family, Patton followed in his father’s footsteps and attended the prestigious Virginia Military Institute before gaining admission to the US Military Academy at West Point. Patton was the epitome of a military leader. The exploits of the Third Army would propel Patton into the history books and their feats would only be matched again decades later during the kinetic conflict of the first Gulf War. The disintegration of the German defenses allowed Patton and his Third Army to launch their daring march east in a lightening sweep across Northern France. The operation opened up a gap for one of the most daring commanders of American military history to exploit, General George Patton. General Omar Bradley gave the allies their opening with the commencement of Operation COBRA. Behind schedule, the Allied commanders understood that something had to give to push the German war machine east. Since the invasion of Normandy on 6 June, the Allies had been bogged down on this narrow strip of land on the French coast. The Third Army swept across Northern France light lightening crackling across the sky.
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