He Was Given A Purple Heart In World War I

The following fact about George Patton is that he was given a Purple Heart in WW1. On September 26, Patton's brigade was transferred to help the U.S. I Corps during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He personally commanded a squad of tanks as they advanced 5 miles (8 km) into German lines amid dense fog. Patton was hurt at 09:30 while commanding six soldiers and a tank in an assault against German machine guns close to Cheppy. Patton was saved by his orderly, Private First Class Joe Angelo, for which he was subsequently given the Distinguished Service Cross. Before being rescued, Patton continued to lead the combat from a shell hole for another hour. Varennes was eventually taken by the 35th Division, of which Patton's tank troop was a part, but at great cost. In an effort to advance his reserve tanks, Patton claims that he may have killed one of his own soldiers.

Before proceeding to a hospital, Patton halted at a rear command post to give his report. In Patton's absence, the 326th Tank Battalion commander Sereno E. Brett assumed command of the brigade. On October 17, as Patton recovered from his injury, he was promoted to colonel in the U.S. National Army's Tank Corps. On October 28, he reported back for duty, although he was inactive until the armistice of November 11, 1918, which coincided with his 33rd birthday and ended hostilities. Patton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his deeds at Cheppy. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for leading the brigade and tank school. Following the creation of the decoration in 1932, he was also given the Purple Heart for his fighting injuries.