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Patton's Prayer: A True Story of Courage, Faith, and Victory in World War II
From Alex Kershaw, author of the New York Times bestseller Against All Odds, comes an epic story of courage, resilience, and faith during the Second World War
General George Patton needed a miracle. In December 1944, the Allies found themselves stuck. Rain had plagued the troops daily since September, turning roads into rivers of muck, slowing trucks and tanks to a crawl. A thick ceiling of clouds had grounded American warplanes, allowing the Germans to reinforce. The sprint to Berlin had become a muddy, bloody stalemate, costing thousands of American lives.
Patton seethed, desperate for some change, any change, in the weather. A devout Christian, he telephoned his head chaplain. “Do you have a good prayer for the weather?” he asked. The resulting prayer was soon printed and distributed to the 250,000 men under Patton’s command. “Pray when driving,” the men were told. “Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. . . . Pray for victory. . . . Pray for Peace.”
Then came the Battle of the Bulge. Amid frigid temperatures and heavy snow, 200,000 German troops overwhelmed the meager American lines in Belgium’s Ardennes Forest, massacring thousands of soldiers as the attack converged on a vital crossroads town called Bastogne. There, the 101st Airborne was dug in, but the enemy were lurking, hidden in the thick blanket of fog that seemed to never dissipate. A hundred miles of frozen roads to the south, Patton needed an answer to his prayer, fast, before it was too late.
General George Patton needed a miracle. In December 1944, the Allies found themselves stuck. Rain had plagued the troops daily since September, turning roads into rivers of muck, slowing trucks and tanks to a crawl. A thick ceiling of clouds had grounded American warplanes, allowing the Germans to reinforce. The sprint to Berlin had become a muddy, bloody stalemate, costing thousands of American lives.
Patton seethed, desperate for some change, any change, in the weather. A devout Christian, he telephoned his head chaplain. “Do you have a good prayer for the weather?” he asked. The resulting prayer was soon printed and distributed to the 250,000 men under Patton’s command. “Pray when driving,” the men were told. “Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. . . . Pray for victory. . . . Pray for Peace.”
Then came the Battle of the Bulge. Amid frigid temperatures and heavy snow, 200,000 German troops overwhelmed the meager American lines in Belgium’s Ardennes Forest, massacring thousands of soldiers as the attack converged on a vital crossroads town called Bastogne. There, the 101st Airborne was dug in, but the enemy were lurking, hidden in the thick blanket of fog that seemed to never dissipate. A hundred miles of frozen roads to the south, Patton needed an answer to his prayer, fast, before it was too late.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 21, 2024
About the author
Alex Kershaw
23 books992 followersAlex Kershaw is the author of the widely acclaimed best sellers Against All Odds, The First Wave, The Bedford Boys, The Longest Winter, The Few, #TheLiberator, the basis for the Netflix drama, and Escape from the Deep, as well as biographies of Jack London, Raoul Wallenberg and Robert Capa. His latest book is Patton's Prayer, published May 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
April 24, 2024
When you name your book, "Patton's Prayer," it will inherently be seen as controversial. To put a finer point on it, this title suggests General George Patton did not believe himself to be God.
I kid. MacArthur thought he was God. Patton just thought they were besties.
Alex Kershaw's new book looks mainly at Patton right before the Battle of the Bulge through the end of World War II. It is part war story but also a character study. My joke aside, Patton was a Christian who believed in the power of prayer. In fact, the book hinges on his request to a chaplain to create and distribute a prayer asking for better weather as the Allies drove towards Germany.
It would be overselling it to say this book had religion at its core. It is much more about Patton and how he continually pushed his men to accomplish their missions. If you are looking for a book which analyzes religion at war, then you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a good narrative and some insight into Patton specifically, then you will be happy. Kershaw is known for writing great World War II stories and his streak is not broken with this one.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Dutton Books.)
I kid. MacArthur thought he was God. Patton just thought they were besties.
Alex Kershaw's new book looks mainly at Patton right before the Battle of the Bulge through the end of World War II. It is part war story but also a character study. My joke aside, Patton was a Christian who believed in the power of prayer. In fact, the book hinges on his request to a chaplain to create and distribute a prayer asking for better weather as the Allies drove towards Germany.
It would be overselling it to say this book had religion at its core. It is much more about Patton and how he continually pushed his men to accomplish their missions. If you are looking for a book which analyzes religion at war, then you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a good narrative and some insight into Patton specifically, then you will be happy. Kershaw is known for writing great World War II stories and his streak is not broken with this one.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Dutton Books.)
September 8, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Detailing the final events of WWII focusing on the Battle of the Bulge and General Patton’s prayer that he sent to the whole 3rd Army. The first thing I loved about this book is, unlike MANY history books, it didn’t bog itself down with details and a holier-than-thou writing style. It was quick, to the point, and effective.
The second thing is how amazing Patton, his personality, and his character shine through in this book. Some examples:
He was a caring leader who showed empathy to every single trooper. From his driver: “We drove all day long from one outfit to another. He’d stop and talk to the troops, ask them did they get Turkey? How was it and all that”
He was a servant leader. “We were stuck in snow and he(Patton) came by in a jeep. His face was awful red, and he must have been about froze, riding in that open jeep. He yelled at us to get out and push. And first I knew there was General Patton pushing right alongside me.”
His faith and thankfulness shined through. “In his diary Patton wrote ‘I am very grateful to the Lord for the great blessings he has heaped on me and the Third Army, not only in the success He has granted us, but in the weather which He is now providing.”
He was always giving credit and thanks to those who served under him. To his staff Patton said “There is probably no Army commander who did less work than I did. You did it all and the imperishable record of the Third Army is due largely to your unstinting and outstanding efforts. I thank you from the depths of my heart for all you have done.”
A fantastic General, whose personality was perfectly placed for that moment in time. What is so amazing is that, as with many cases, what made him so great also turned out to be his undoing. He was ferocious, always on the attack, and utterly relentless. Which served him perfectly as a wartime General and terribly when peace was found. Great book.
The second thing is how amazing Patton, his personality, and his character shine through in this book. Some examples:
He was a caring leader who showed empathy to every single trooper. From his driver: “We drove all day long from one outfit to another. He’d stop and talk to the troops, ask them did they get Turkey? How was it and all that”
He was a servant leader. “We were stuck in snow and he(Patton) came by in a jeep. His face was awful red, and he must have been about froze, riding in that open jeep. He yelled at us to get out and push. And first I knew there was General Patton pushing right alongside me.”
His faith and thankfulness shined through. “In his diary Patton wrote ‘I am very grateful to the Lord for the great blessings he has heaped on me and the Third Army, not only in the success He has granted us, but in the weather which He is now providing.”
He was always giving credit and thanks to those who served under him. To his staff Patton said “There is probably no Army commander who did less work than I did. You did it all and the imperishable record of the Third Army is due largely to your unstinting and outstanding efforts. I thank you from the depths of my heart for all you have done.”
A fantastic General, whose personality was perfectly placed for that moment in time. What is so amazing is that, as with many cases, what made him so great also turned out to be his undoing. He was ferocious, always on the attack, and utterly relentless. Which served him perfectly as a wartime General and terribly when peace was found. Great book.
June 1, 2024
A fresh look at General Patton's legacy through the lens of the famous prayer printed prior to the German attack in December of 1944. The prayer was the brainchild of Patton executed by his Chaplain. Enough copies were printed so that every soldier in the 3rd Army would have a personal copy. God's answer was forthcoming and provided the kind of weather the American Air Forces needed to turn the tide and blunt the German's last gasp attack. Kershaw follows Patton's remaining time as the 3rd Army commander. Alex does a masterful job in pulling together a new look at a man who was a legend during his time and continues to receive attention from historians, too.
July 20, 2026
Captain Dick Winters from Easy Company, the 101st Airborne, would not, probably, heap so much praise on General Patton. According to Stephen Ambrose's "Band of Brothers," Easy Company did not need General Patton to "save the day" in Belgium.
However, Mr. Kershaw's account of The Battle of the Bulge is an excellent read; General George Patton not withstanding.
However, Mr. Kershaw's account of The Battle of the Bulge is an excellent read; General George Patton not withstanding.
June 10, 2025
Just finished:
New York: Dutton, 2024.
Bought this book simply because I don't have a book on the Battle of the Bulge and I was curious to know more about Alex Kershaw, he's a popular author.
Kershaw knows how to write an engaging narrative and popular history that keeps readers engages - just as well as an author of fiction. While I disagree with Kershaw's assertion that Patton was a devout Christian (I don't think his views on reincarnation would what they were [yes, I realize Patton might have said that to promote his own lore]).
A good read, I'd recommend this book.
New York: Dutton, 2024.
Bought this book simply because I don't have a book on the Battle of the Bulge and I was curious to know more about Alex Kershaw, he's a popular author.
Kershaw knows how to write an engaging narrative and popular history that keeps readers engages - just as well as an author of fiction. While I disagree with Kershaw's assertion that Patton was a devout Christian (I don't think his views on reincarnation would what they were [yes, I realize Patton might have said that to promote his own lore]).
A good read, I'd recommend this book.
August 21, 2025
Really enjoyable read. Intense, bringing the war to life through words. But also didn’t bog everything down with things not crazy important. Just overall a great read that made me want to research more overall.
February 7, 2026
I finished the book Feb 7, 2026. This was maybe my second time reading it. This was an incredibly good book.
November 8, 2024
Audible Credit 7 hours 49 min. Narrated by Rob Shapiro (B)
I purchased PATTON'S PRAYER soon after it was released on Audible early this year. I am a great admirer of Alex Kershaw's writing style. I knew this story centered on General Patton's leadership of the 3rd Army during the Battle of the Bulge and the fight to relieve the men of of the Screaming Eagles who were improperly provisioned, inadequately armed, and then surrounded and pinned down in Bastogne, Belgium during November and December of 19444. I saved this book to read during those months this year, but I just could not hold off a few more weeks!
This book deals with the horrible weather the American troops faced in the winter of 1944. Rain, rain, rain, muck and mire, unavoidable and rampant trenchfoot, followed by snow, more snow, plunging temperatures, ice that made tank and troop advancement dangerously slowed. Patton and his army were called upon to break the siege and relieve fellow American troops, but they were no match against the weather. General Patton needed a miracle.
Patton, a devout Episcopalian since childhood, called upon his personal chaplain Father O'Neill, a Roman catholic for a prayer for favorable weather. That night, O'Neill went back to his Catholic prayer book and diligently sought a suitable prayer to no avail and even consulted the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Knowing Patton and his earnest desire for the Almighty's intervention, O'Neal finally composed an original prayer and included a personal Christmas greeting from the general to his troops. The next day his presented the prayer to Patton. Patton was so impressed that he ordered 250, 000 copies printed and distributed to each man in his army. No mean feat under the conditions. He then ORDERED the prayer to be prayed frequently throughout each day ahead.
The weather continued to frustrate the Allied forces throughout Britain and other countries, grounding air support and reprovisioning for weeks. What would God do about Patton's prayer?
Was even the weather god-saken? Christmas neared, morale was low, the troops continued to read the prayer, and to trudge through knee-high snow on frozen ground. Tanks and artillery ground slowly over icy roads. Was God obliged to answer prayers from troops intent on killing?
On the morning of December 23, Patton awarded a bronze star to Chaplin Father James O'Neill, the only chaplin during WWII to receive a medal for writing a prayer.
Those men closest to Patton knew he had diligently studied the life of Christ and the Old Testament, especially the battles fought. He never missed attending attendance at the Episcopalian church except during war. As a general, Patton never doubted whose side God favored. He relied on prayer, not only his own but also those he knew were being prayed by folk back in America who had loved ones and friends fighting. He was a rare mixture of the profane and highly religious.
In a letter to his faithful wife, he wrote during these perilous weeks, "Perhaps God prepared me for this effort." In his diary, he wrote when he recognized the doubts of other staff, "I seem to be the ray of sunshine, and by ___, I always am. It is the enemy who must worry. Give us victory, Lord."
General Omar Bradley wrote, "He was profane but also reverent. He strutted imperiously before his men, but he knelt humbly before his God."
Kershaw has done it again and delivered a highly readable story and offered insights into the heart, the mind, and actions of arguably the greatest general in the European field of the Second World War. He is certainly one the most complex! As a Christian, I have long wondered at the apparent dichotomy between Patton's devoutly religious life and the profanity he used. He was definitely born to fulfill a place in history.
I purchased PATTON'S PRAYER soon after it was released on Audible early this year. I am a great admirer of Alex Kershaw's writing style. I knew this story centered on General Patton's leadership of the 3rd Army during the Battle of the Bulge and the fight to relieve the men of of the Screaming Eagles who were improperly provisioned, inadequately armed, and then surrounded and pinned down in Bastogne, Belgium during November and December of 19444. I saved this book to read during those months this year, but I just could not hold off a few more weeks!
This book deals with the horrible weather the American troops faced in the winter of 1944. Rain, rain, rain, muck and mire, unavoidable and rampant trenchfoot, followed by snow, more snow, plunging temperatures, ice that made tank and troop advancement dangerously slowed. Patton and his army were called upon to break the siege and relieve fellow American troops, but they were no match against the weather. General Patton needed a miracle.
Patton, a devout Episcopalian since childhood, called upon his personal chaplain Father O'Neill, a Roman catholic for a prayer for favorable weather. That night, O'Neill went back to his Catholic prayer book and diligently sought a suitable prayer to no avail and even consulted the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Knowing Patton and his earnest desire for the Almighty's intervention, O'Neal finally composed an original prayer and included a personal Christmas greeting from the general to his troops. The next day his presented the prayer to Patton. Patton was so impressed that he ordered 250, 000 copies printed and distributed to each man in his army. No mean feat under the conditions. He then ORDERED the prayer to be prayed frequently throughout each day ahead.
The weather continued to frustrate the Allied forces throughout Britain and other countries, grounding air support and reprovisioning for weeks. What would God do about Patton's prayer?
Was even the weather god-saken? Christmas neared, morale was low, the troops continued to read the prayer, and to trudge through knee-high snow on frozen ground. Tanks and artillery ground slowly over icy roads. Was God obliged to answer prayers from troops intent on killing?
On the morning of December 23, Patton awarded a bronze star to Chaplin Father James O'Neill, the only chaplin during WWII to receive a medal for writing a prayer.
Those men closest to Patton knew he had diligently studied the life of Christ and the Old Testament, especially the battles fought. He never missed attending attendance at the Episcopalian church except during war. As a general, Patton never doubted whose side God favored. He relied on prayer, not only his own but also those he knew were being prayed by folk back in America who had loved ones and friends fighting. He was a rare mixture of the profane and highly religious.
In a letter to his faithful wife, he wrote during these perilous weeks, "Perhaps God prepared me for this effort." In his diary, he wrote when he recognized the doubts of other staff, "I seem to be the ray of sunshine, and by ___, I always am. It is the enemy who must worry. Give us victory, Lord."
General Omar Bradley wrote, "He was profane but also reverent. He strutted imperiously before his men, but he knelt humbly before his God."
Kershaw has done it again and delivered a highly readable story and offered insights into the heart, the mind, and actions of arguably the greatest general in the European field of the Second World War. He is certainly one the most complex! As a Christian, I have long wondered at the apparent dichotomy between Patton's devoutly religious life and the profanity he used. He was definitely born to fulfill a place in history.
December 25, 2024
This is not a book about religion or Christianity. It is a book about Patton the warrior, historian, and believer. Kershaw uses Patton's request for a prayer for good weather to investigate what motivated the man.
U.S. troops were trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, which was Hitler's last attempt to force the Allies to negotiate for peace. As history records, he failed, Germany was completely defeated, and Hitler committed suicide. Unfortunately, the defenders of Bastogne were not only trapped by the Nazis, but also by the weather. 1944 was one of the worst winters recorded in Europe and the extreme fog and cloud cover prevented air support for Bastogne. Patton asked his priest (Patton was Episcopalian) to write a prayer for good weather so that the air support could be used and his tanks could reach Bastogne faster. And the next day, the weather cleared and supplies could be air dropped in Bastogne. It would still take many days for relief columns to reach the troops, but rescue in time was now almost certain.
Kershaw uses the prayer as a key to Patton's psyche. He portrays a complex man who could curse a blue streak, but who also would cry when meeting wounded soldiers and at other emotional events. He was also a devout Episcopalian, but he believed in reincarnation. Patton was a man of contradictions who loved the challenge of war and who appreciated poetry and art. Kershaw shows that Patton was an insecure man who was afraid of being forgotten and not appreciated, but he also thought he was the best commander in the war and that he had a direct connection with God.
So did God answer Patton's prayer? That question is impossible to answer for a multitude of reasons. What is clear is that Patton was a Gordian knot of a man, but one that was exactly what was needed by the Allies in WWII. He accurately predicted many actions by the Germans (thus, saving many lives), and he predicted that the Soviets would not leave eastern Europe after the war and were acting as conquerors and not liberators. Unfortunately, his lack of tact and propensity to speak the unvarnished truth made him a man out of step in a "peaceful" world. Perhaps his death at the end of the war was, is some ways, a blessing to him.
U.S. troops were trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, which was Hitler's last attempt to force the Allies to negotiate for peace. As history records, he failed, Germany was completely defeated, and Hitler committed suicide. Unfortunately, the defenders of Bastogne were not only trapped by the Nazis, but also by the weather. 1944 was one of the worst winters recorded in Europe and the extreme fog and cloud cover prevented air support for Bastogne. Patton asked his priest (Patton was Episcopalian) to write a prayer for good weather so that the air support could be used and his tanks could reach Bastogne faster. And the next day, the weather cleared and supplies could be air dropped in Bastogne. It would still take many days for relief columns to reach the troops, but rescue in time was now almost certain.
Kershaw uses the prayer as a key to Patton's psyche. He portrays a complex man who could curse a blue streak, but who also would cry when meeting wounded soldiers and at other emotional events. He was also a devout Episcopalian, but he believed in reincarnation. Patton was a man of contradictions who loved the challenge of war and who appreciated poetry and art. Kershaw shows that Patton was an insecure man who was afraid of being forgotten and not appreciated, but he also thought he was the best commander in the war and that he had a direct connection with God.
So did God answer Patton's prayer? That question is impossible to answer for a multitude of reasons. What is clear is that Patton was a Gordian knot of a man, but one that was exactly what was needed by the Allies in WWII. He accurately predicted many actions by the Germans (thus, saving many lives), and he predicted that the Soviets would not leave eastern Europe after the war and were acting as conquerors and not liberators. Unfortunately, his lack of tact and propensity to speak the unvarnished truth made him a man out of step in a "peaceful" world. Perhaps his death at the end of the war was, is some ways, a blessing to him.
May 25, 2024
I heard an interview with the author and, it being Memorial Day weekend, I thought I’d listen to the tape. Was hoping for more depth than the movie, which I love. It is more in depth and covers more of his career in the war, but not a true or complete biography. Not much at all before the war or his upbringing. And the prayer angle: Patton’s religiosity is, for me, the least interesting thing about him. My impression is this book, which doesn’t cover things other books on him don’t cover, uses the prayer angle as marketing. We have to interrupt tales of military accomplishments to get quotes from Patton and others about his devotion to god or something. All, I think, so they can sell this book to “Christians” insecure about the fact that they themselves are total wimps. “Look Patton was tough and prayed a lot. So…” So nothing. But they’ll lap up sanctimonious pronouncements about Pattons religious beliefs. Oh, and that famous prayer? The movie makes it look like a miracle. In reality they had time to print it and deliver copies to hundreds of thousands of soldiers before there was any break in the weather. Sunshine in Belgium in December might not be the norm but its appearance is hardly “manna from heaven.”
November 27, 2025
As WWII is not a very serious interest of mine I do not go out of my way to read books covering that war unless there is a good reason. One good reason for reading a WWII history is that it is written by Alex Kershaw so when I ran across this book in my continuing search to restock my TBR shelf I bought it.
My appreciation for Kershaw's work is based on the fact that most of his books deal with war from the perspective of the frontline soldiers and sailors. His books give the reader a real feel for what these men went through like no other author that I have discovered so far. His books contain real tension, fear, horror, and sadness and bring the history alive and its impact more enduring. This book continues my regard for this author and his treatment of history even a history I don't particularly care for.
This book is about General George Patton and the Third Army in WWII from the lead up to the Battle of the Bulge until the end of WWII and Patton's untimely accidental death. As it is primarily about the battle and how it was dealt with it doesn't have as much of the GI perspective as in his other books but there is enough here to still give the reader a feel for the battle and the conditions under which it was fought. However, since it focused on Patton and the Third Army it doesn't present the full story of or the entirety of the Battle of the Bulge which may disappoint some readers but that wasn't the aim of book. I was satisfied that the author achieved what he wanted and I appreciated the story. Enjoy.
My appreciation for Kershaw's work is based on the fact that most of his books deal with war from the perspective of the frontline soldiers and sailors. His books give the reader a real feel for what these men went through like no other author that I have discovered so far. His books contain real tension, fear, horror, and sadness and bring the history alive and its impact more enduring. This book continues my regard for this author and his treatment of history even a history I don't particularly care for.
This book is about General George Patton and the Third Army in WWII from the lead up to the Battle of the Bulge until the end of WWII and Patton's untimely accidental death. As it is primarily about the battle and how it was dealt with it doesn't have as much of the GI perspective as in his other books but there is enough here to still give the reader a feel for the battle and the conditions under which it was fought. However, since it focused on Patton and the Third Army it doesn't present the full story of or the entirety of the Battle of the Bulge which may disappoint some readers but that wasn't the aim of book. I was satisfied that the author achieved what he wanted and I appreciated the story. Enjoy.
June 10, 2025
This book was an excellent retelling of the days before the Battle of the Bulge, the fight against Germany's last stand in Europe. Days of rain and fog had hampered the allies, as planes could not fly, and vehicles were bogged down in mud. General Patton had 250,000 prayer cards printed, to exhort the soldiers to pray that good weather would come. The prayer began, "Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains..." The prayer was answered.
General Patton was a complex man, both "deeply religious and violently profane," as one of his obituaries stated. As difficult as he was, he was definitely the man for the job.
I highly recommend this book as a very readable account of the end of the war in Europe.
General Patton was a complex man, both "deeply religious and violently profane," as one of his obituaries stated. As difficult as he was, he was definitely the man for the job.
I highly recommend this book as a very readable account of the end of the war in Europe.
December 6, 2024
Very easy read about Patton, and the Battle of the Bulge. Well written. Timeline is November 1944 to his death in December of 1945.
Amazing man who many credit with shortening the war because of his constant push to give the Germans no time to do anything but fight his 3 army. He pushed himself, his men, and his equipment, at all times.
Amazing man who many credit with shortening the war because of his constant push to give the Germans no time to do anything but fight his 3 army. He pushed himself, his men, and his equipment, at all times.
June 7, 2024
I loved this book so much. Alex Kershaw just knows how to make you feel like you are there in the snow with these guys. I didn't know much about Patton before this outside of him yelling at soldiers and such. Great to learn more about him and his leadership.
November 1, 2024
Another outstanding book from Alex Kershaw, my seventh with more on the list.
A highly readable book about Patton and his Third Army during approximately the final year of his life. I highly recommend.
A highly readable book about Patton and his Third Army during approximately the final year of his life. I highly recommend.
December 29, 2024
Really enjoy Kershaw's style. This book was a unique variation on a topic -Patton- that has been discussed over and over again. The details provided were new to me on several accounts and added a lot of new perspective. Overall another excellent book and read.
January 24, 2025
Outstanding book of Patton’s leadership of the third Army from the right before the Battle of Bulge in December 1944 to his death in December 1945. As expected Kershaw delivers and an engaging narrative that brings the personal perspective to the historical events and facts.
February 27, 2025
It was a pretty good book. Not riveting. While the writing was good, the history was just not as intriguing as I thought it would be. When you drive too deep into Patton, the more he looks like a jerk. A very good leader of men, but a a jerk.
May 30, 2024
What an amazing book. The author does a fine job of researching and sharing stories of Patton in a way that endears him to the reader. I learned a lot about Patton that I didn’t know.
June 10, 2024
Excellent
July 26, 2024
4.5 stars. Man, Patton was one-of-a-kind. I found myself endeared to his love and care of his troops and disappointed at how his life ended. We owe much Patton. He will always be one of my favorites.
August 27, 2024
My opinion of Patton went up dramatically after reading this account. It's very plausible that the Allies would have lost the war if not for Patton's offensive brilliance and tactical leadership.
August 29, 2025
What a character. I knew of Patton but this was a great dive into his role in WWII. Good read
January 3, 2026
A succinct history of this controversial but undoubtedly talented fighting general.
March 3, 2026
Reads like a journey of troops and their progress through WW II admiral acts and story. Just not a way I enjoy reading. More aof a Hisyory book than a story.
May 22, 2026
"My soul followeth hard after thee...
but those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory; but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."
The book begins with prayer, just as the title promises, and then throws us into the strange storm that is Patton himself. Through his aggressiveness, fearlessness, relentless drive, and dependence on prayer, he crashes into Germany's defenses with full force. He is weirdly genius, or maybe geniusly weird. A little unhinged, but somehow exactly the kind of character you would want fighting against Nazi Germany.
Patton is not a clean, polished hero. He is loud, too outspoken for his own good, reckless at times, and almost addicted to movement and war itself. Reading him is like trying to hold onto a moving tank. One moment he makes you laugh with some ridiculous quote, then suddenly he says something so strange that you stop and think, "George... what is wrong with you?"
My feelings toward him kept changing through the book. In the first part, I liked him. In the second part, I started realizing how deeply weird he really was. But then the ending arrived and completely caught me off guard.
This is the part that surprised me most: this nonfiction book wrecked me the same way fiction does. I came looking for information and military history. Instead, I found drama between top military officials, clashing personalities, prayers in the middle of war, and unexpectedly became attached to a man I spent half the book calling weird.
After surviving war itself, Patton's ending hit me harder than I expected. I genuinely sat there in disbelief.
Rest in peace, Patton - whether you liked it or not.
but those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory; but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."
The book begins with prayer, just as the title promises, and then throws us into the strange storm that is Patton himself. Through his aggressiveness, fearlessness, relentless drive, and dependence on prayer, he crashes into Germany's defenses with full force. He is weirdly genius, or maybe geniusly weird. A little unhinged, but somehow exactly the kind of character you would want fighting against Nazi Germany.
Patton is not a clean, polished hero. He is loud, too outspoken for his own good, reckless at times, and almost addicted to movement and war itself. Reading him is like trying to hold onto a moving tank. One moment he makes you laugh with some ridiculous quote, then suddenly he says something so strange that you stop and think, "George... what is wrong with you?"
My feelings toward him kept changing through the book. In the first part, I liked him. In the second part, I started realizing how deeply weird he really was. But then the ending arrived and completely caught me off guard.
This is the part that surprised me most: this nonfiction book wrecked me the same way fiction does. I came looking for information and military history. Instead, I found drama between top military officials, clashing personalities, prayers in the middle of war, and unexpectedly became attached to a man I spent half the book calling weird.
After surviving war itself, Patton's ending hit me harder than I expected. I genuinely sat there in disbelief.
Rest in peace, Patton - whether you liked it or not.
July 5, 2025
A revaluation and deeper understanding of the grit our forefathers possessed that saved the world
General G S Patton has been an historic character popularized by the movie of the same name. This book takes the reader much deeper into the actual war with details, quotes from those soldiers and officers who lived to tell the tale. I was especially interested in the seriousness of the situation of the Battle of the Bulge. Why it was so important and how seemingly impossible the winning of that battle must have seemed to the soldiers caught inside and the men tasked with the job to rescue them and secure the important hub from German forces. The writing of this book obviously took hours of research and understanding volumes of interviews and military reports as well as newspaper articles. I was impressed with the accuracy and dedication to facts that truly made the story come alive. The prayer is also a testament to Patton’s strong faith and trust in God. I loved that too.
General G S Patton has been an historic character popularized by the movie of the same name. This book takes the reader much deeper into the actual war with details, quotes from those soldiers and officers who lived to tell the tale. I was especially interested in the seriousness of the situation of the Battle of the Bulge. Why it was so important and how seemingly impossible the winning of that battle must have seemed to the soldiers caught inside and the men tasked with the job to rescue them and secure the important hub from German forces. The writing of this book obviously took hours of research and understanding volumes of interviews and military reports as well as newspaper articles. I was impressed with the accuracy and dedication to facts that truly made the story come alive. The prayer is also a testament to Patton’s strong faith and trust in God. I loved that too.
September 7, 2025
The story covers the life of General George Patton and his military expertise during the Battle of the Bulge from Dev. 16, 1944-January 25, 1945. This was the last great German offensive in the Ardenness region (densely forested areas) between Belgium and Luxembourg. The author tells of the dense fog and constant rain that prevented air cover for Allies and tank movement as 200,000 Germans made a final attempt to recapture Bostogne and force the Allies to make a truce so they could then focus energies on the East and the Russian advance. Patton instructed the chaplain to write a weather prayer and 250,000 copies were given to the men to pray for good weather so Allies could end the war. The book also covers Patton’s postwar activities, his extreme distaste of Russians, his strong tendency to openly criticize and cause Eisenhower problems and then his death in an auto accident. Patton, a great military leader, who was brash, vulgar, but also a Christian who believed in reincarnation, and believed he was brought for this moment in time for this mission. Good book on leadership.
April 27, 2025
This book was mainly focused on Patton’s contribution in the liberation of Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. However, it also covered the rest of Patton’s war and to his death in December 1945. Patton really comes alive in this book, which is filled with anecdotes and stories, providing a vivid picture in late 1944-1945.
A NYT obituary quote from the end of the book: “Long before the war ended, Patton was a legend. Spectacular, swaggering, pistol-packing, deeply religious, and violently profane, easily moved to anger because he was first of all a fighting man, easily moved to tears, because underneath all his mannered irascibility he had a kind heart, he was strange combination of fire and ice. Hot in battle and ruthless too, he was icy in his inflexibility of purpose. He was no mere hell-for-leather tank commander but a profound and thoughtful military student.”
A NYT obituary quote from the end of the book: “Long before the war ended, Patton was a legend. Spectacular, swaggering, pistol-packing, deeply religious, and violently profane, easily moved to anger because he was first of all a fighting man, easily moved to tears, because underneath all his mannered irascibility he had a kind heart, he was strange combination of fire and ice. Hot in battle and ruthless too, he was icy in his inflexibility of purpose. He was no mere hell-for-leather tank commander but a profound and thoughtful military student.”
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