World War II-dated ALS signed “G. S. Patton, Jr.,” one page, 8 x 10, Headquarters, Third United States Army, Office of the Commanding General letterhead, August 24, 1944. Letter to secretary Helen Sprigg, in full: “I apologize for being such a poor correspondent but I have been quite busy. I had thought that you would be in Europe by now as I asked Gen. Arnold to send you. If and when you get home let us know. We are hard to catch however. Col. Hastings and Gen. Gay are fine.” Patton adds a brief postscript, “P. S. We are killing Germans to beat Hell!” In very good to fine condition, with scattered light overall creasing, and a block of uniform toning from prior display. Helen Sprigg Tracy served as Patton’s secretary at the War Department before later rejoining the general’s staff In Germany in August 1945, three months after the Allies announced the surrender of Nazi forces in Europe; Sprigg transcribed Patton’s wartime diaries following his untimely death later that same year. The battle record of Patton’s Third Army became active on August 1, 1944. Under the general’s singular directive of ‘Seek out the enemy, trap him, and destroy him,’ the Third Army and its Red Ball Express supply convoy rolled practically unimpeded through France. However, by the time Patton’s army had crossed the Marne River on August 28th, their rapid progress had ultimately distanced themselves too far ahead of other Allied forces and supplies. Low on fuel and ammunition, the Third Army’s early combat success waned considerably over the next four months, forcing the Third Army into several costly stalemates with German blockades. Brimming with exceptional wartime content, this is an exemplary handwritten letter from one of America’s finest military minds. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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