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Patton Signed Report 1943

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Patton Signed Report 1943
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Incredible report by General George Patton scrutinizing the WWII performance of General Omar Bradley, whom he privately referred to as having a ''lack of backbone.'' Here, Patton writes an ''Efficiency Report'' on Bradley, signing it ''G. S. Patton, Jr.'' as ''Lieutenant General, U.S.A., Commanding.'' Datelined 12 September 1943, Headquarters Seventh Army and addressed to the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, DC, report reads in full,

''1. Name and Grade of General Officer reported on: Omar N. Bradley, 03807, Lieutenant General Inf.
2. Period covered by report: 1 July 1943 to 8 September 1943 - 2 Months, 8 days.
3. a. Duties performed during period: Commanding General, II Corps, 1 July 1943 to 8 September 1943.
b. Manner of performance: Superior.
4. Physical activity: Superior.
5. Physical endurance: Superior.
6. Knowledge of his profession: Superior.
7. For what command or duty would you specially recommend him? An Army.
8. What opportunities have you had for observing him during period covered? Intimate daily contact.
[on second page] 9. Does he render willing and generous support to plans of superiors regardless of personal views in the matter? Yes.
10. Of all general officers of his grade personally known to you, what number would you give him on this list and how many comprise your list? Number 2. I know 12. [Which begs the question, who was Patton's first?]
11. Further remarks deemed necessary: I consider him not only a great soldier, but an utterly loyal friend.''

Serving under General Patton in North Africa, Major General Omar N. Bradley became head of II Corps in April 1943 and directed them in the final battles in April and May. On 9 June 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant General. One month later, fellow Lieutenant General Patton led the U.S. 7th Army, and Bradley and his II Corps, in the invasion of Sicily. By July 22nd, the Americans had captured Palermo and reached Messina on August 17th after the Germans had evacuated the island. On 8 September 1943, Italy surrendered. The period covered in Patton's report on Bradley covers Bradley military efficiency during this period. In contrast with the comments Patton makes in this report, his diary, published posthumously in 1947 by his family in ''War As I Knew It'' paints a different picture of Bradley, as Patton saw him. Not knowing his diary would be privy to anyone but himself, Patton wrote, ''His success is due to his lack of backbone and subservience to those above him. I will manage without him. In fact, I always have; even in Sicily he had to be carried.'' Bradley would later write of Patton in his autobiography ''From A General's Life,'' ''It may be a harsh thing to say, but I believe it was better for George Patton and his professional reputation that he died when he did...In time he would have become a boring parody of himself - a decrepit, bitter, pitiful figure, unwittingly debasing the legend.'' Two page report measures 8'' x 10.5'' on separate sheets. First page is a copy of the original page, but second page, bearing Patton's signature, is the original signed report. Countersigned by Major General E.S. Hughes on 24 September 1943, attesting that ''This report has been read by the Theater Commander who concurs.'' Second page is in near fine condition with two file holes near the upper edge. Rarely does a collector get to read, much less own, a general's opinion, during wartime, of the military ability and competence of a fellow general, each of whom greatly contributed to the military success of the United States in World War II.