It seems that they were drinking buddies, a weird pair indeed, an American general and a German citizen. But this general was very eccentric, and very unpredictable. He was called "the cowboy general" because he always wore one or more pearl handle forty five caliber six-shooters. He also had another nick name, "old blood and guts" because of his aggressiveness in combat. This is the famous General George S. Patton Jr., one of America's greatest heroes of all time.

"One of my girlfriends, who works in an army can-teen told me, beware of that American general. He is a very big bad "curser." He has been known to curse the blue down out of the sky."

"I did not expect to see the general at all. I was going to leave Franz's note and bottle of brandy at the first available guardhouse. But when I arrived, the guard telephoned ahead, and insisted that I go right in."

"The general has his office in that large stone house," another guard pointed out." "He is waiting to see you, in that

big office at the end of the second flight of stairs."

"I hesitated as I had not come for a visit, but now I had no other choice. So I walked into the general's office and stood in front of his large desk. The person behind it was a very neatly dressed army officer who leaned back in his chair."
"Please have a seat," he said, as he gave me the once-over.

"He was such a soft spoken and kindly looking American gentleman. How could he possibly be the big curser? I had to lean

over his big desk, to give him Franz's note and the bottle of brandy. I could not help but see the fancy forty five caliber six-shooter, with a pearl handle."

"How do you do," I said, in my best school girl English."

"I am fine," he said kindly, "and how are you?"  "Surely my girlfriend was mistaken. He even reminded me of my sweet old uncle."

"I certainly do thank you for bringing me a present from Franz. We had some grand ole' times together, down in bad Tolz," the general said. I replied, "The only reason that I am here, is because I am the only person in the family that speaks English."

"Yes, and you are doing very well, I am looking forward to having some of that good brandy with my dinner tonight. But I have nothing to give you in return... for this is a big surprise."

"Suddenly he leaned forward, and pointed to a round ornamental cigar container."

"Here, have a cigar, take two or three, in fact you can have the whole box. I am not supposed to smoke them anyway."

I was flabbergasted.

"Thanks, but I do not smoke."

He smiled, "I knew that, but surely someone in your family must smoke."

"I have always been taught to be modest about everything. Therefore, to please the general, I took just one cigar, although no one in my family smoked cigars. As I told the general good-bye, he stood up and thanked me again. I wondered what my mother would think of me when I showed her my cigar. Then as I left the big stone office building and headed for the headquarters' complex exit... it occurred to me, Maxi, the shoe-maker loves cigars, and they are very rare in Germany now. He will be very glad to half sole my shoes for this prize."

This is just one of the unusual episodes in the fabulous life of General George Smith Patton Jr. more will follow later.

Source: Adapted from a story in World War II Magazine.
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