Patton in Mexico : Lieutenant George S. Patton, the Hunt for Pancho Villa, and the Making of a General

The story of how Patton became Patton. Serving under Gen. John Pershing in the hunt for Pancho Villa in Mexico, Lt. George S. Patton learned leadership, logistics—and how to promote himself. These are the roots of the WW II general. Lanning tells the story deftly, focusing on the man as well the commander, and with an eye to Patton’s future career.

Had Lieutenant George S. Patton not served on the southern border during the Mexican Expedition of 1916, there might never have been a General George S. Patton who took the world by storm as a bold and daring commander during World War II.

Relying on Patton’s detailed personal journals of his eight months in Mexico, Michael Lee Lanning describes the young officer’s exploits during the hunt for Pancho Villa. As an aide to General John Pershing, Patton learned leadership and logistics from the man who would soon command American forces in World War I. Begging for a field command, he received it—and led the first motorized attack in U.S. military history and may or may not have killed two of Villa’s lieutenants. The press ate it up, and Patton learned not only how much he loved attention, but how to promote himself.

In Mexico are the roots of Patton the World War II general, and Lanning tells the story deftly, focusing on Patton the man as well Patton the commander, and always casting an eye forward to Patton’s future career. This is how Patton became Patton.