Webinar Examines Patton’s Successes, Flaws
Webinar Examines Patton’s Successes, Flaws
posted Thu, 07/30/2026 – 12:27 by the Association of the United States Army
Though Gen. George Patton excelled at waging war, he was not without faults, author and historian Kevin Hymel said.
“I think too many historians become Patton acolytes, like everything he said had to be true,” Hymel said July 28 during a Noon Report webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. “And when you step back and look at the big picture, a lot of times he’s right, but there’s other times he’s wrong. He’s not perfect, you know?”
Kevin Hymel explores the combat leadership of General George S. Patton Jr. through the lens of his three-volume series, Patton’s War. The discussion highlights the critical discovery of discrepancies between Patton’s original handwritten diaries and the transcribed versions edited by his wife and staff. These edits often shifted Patton’s image from a tactical commander to a prophetic figure, most notably regarding his supposed prediction of the Battle of the Bulge. Hymel clarifies that Patton actually recorded his observations on the vulnerability of the Eighth Corps the day after he relieved Bastogne, rather than weeks in advance. He details the complexities of Patton’s character, including his struggles with dyslexia, his belief in reincarnation, and his experience with post-traumatic stress following World War I.
The webinar also examines the controversial Hammelburg raid, which Patton launched in an attempt to rescue his son-in-law from a prisoner of war camp. This mission resulted in a tactical disaster that deeply affected Patton’s emotional state and leadership during the final months of the war. Hymel assesses Patton against the Army Field Manual’s definition of leadership, noting his exceptional physical presence and decisive nature alongside significant personal prejudices and moral failures. The webinar further touches on the historical impact of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, the only all-black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II. Hymel concludes by addressing common myths regarding Patton’s role in the D-Day deception campaign and his eventual relief from command by General Eisenhower.
Read a book review of Patton’s War By Maj. Joseph Bedingfield in the Special Warfare Journal, published by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
