He was a harsh taskmaster who comforted dying soldiers and quietly commended their valor. A crusty, often foul-mouthed commander who wrote tender letters home to the love of his life. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. comes to life in these pages as one of the most colorful, enigmatic, and unfairly maligned leaders in U.S. military history. Often caricatured--as in the big-screen biopic, Patton--the general was a complex blend of battle-tested strengths and nearly fatal personal flaws. Without varnishing over his shortcomings, Patton: The Pursuit of Destiny shatters myths and builds a compelling case for a deeper appreciation of the man who inspired unsurpassed loyalty and admiration from the soldiers who served under him. Destined for an Outsized life, Patton parlayed his family's deep military roots, his World War I experiences, his Olympic exploits, and his passion for freedom to become one of the linchpins of Allied vicotry in World War II. --Book Jacket.

Bloodlines and childhood -- Military education -- An officer and a gentleman -- The Olympian -- Black Jack and Pancho -- Tank commander -- Between the wars -- War games -- Operation Torch -- Triumph -- The slapping debacle -- Breakout -- The Bulge and Bastogne -- Bastogne and beyond.