Posted on 12/26/2010 6:31:05 AM PST by Saije
In early December 1944, Gen. George S. Patton Jr., commander of the United States' 3rd Army, stood with his troops at Germany's doorstep. He'd pushed his men across France toward Germany with furious speed during summer and early fall, but in the last months, as he drove through France's Lorraine region toward the Saar River, progress stalled. Fuel and supplies were running short, and perhaps even more deviling, the weather wouldn't cooperate. Driving rains had mired his troops and grounded the fighter planes and bombers needed for air support.
On Dec. 8, Patton turned to a higher power to clear the skies. He asked Chaplain James H. O'Neill if he knew of a "good prayer for the weather," according to military historian and Patton expert Kevin M. Hymel. "We must do something about these rains," Patton said, "if we are to win the war."
After some thought and research, O'Neill came up with the following:
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."
...Throughout history, soldiers have called upon their gods for protection and victory over their enemies. But Patton's now legendary prayer was extraordinary in its presumption and audacity, said Hymel. "There were four other American commanders in the European Theater during that time, and none of them were asking God to fix the weather."
The prayer also makes one question what led Patton to his conviction that he could control the weather?
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Patton was a great General and man of God. The Holy Spirit worked well through him. May we always find open hearts and faithful people willing to serve and obey God.
Amen to that.
But the clearing skies and Patton’s progress were both answers to the 101st Airborne’s prayers, hayna? Or no?
We could use a few more Pattons in the new year...
Didn’t Eisenhower pray for the weather to cooperate on D-Day?
Amen, what a jerk for a reporter! We need a lot more Pattons and a lot fewer Al Gores today!
............and a californian.
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, Gore’s prayer to Gaia for a warmer climate didn’t work - costing him a few billion dollars. :)
Another reason to be thankful during this Christmas season!
In both the govt and military.
I agree. She certainly is not a Patton fan. She probably also hates God and homeschooling, another twofer for a liberal.
A lefty’s take on it,Patton asked GOD for fair weather,True American Warrior RIP Sir.
Earth to reporter: Patton knew he couldn't control the weather which is why he asked for God's help.
"They have us surrounded, the poor bastards!"
"Sir, we're surrounded."..."We're paratroopers, son. We're supposed to be."
In today’s military the US needs a lot more leaders like Patton. Instead the US has a bunch of pansiified military leaders that are ballless wonders and have no backbone to so to the president and Congress go to h - e- double hockey sticks and start knocking some doors down to deal with the problems in the world. A pansified military like the gay Thebes military and the gay Spartan military were all wiped out. Military leaders whom are strong pray to God. It is the weak military leader whom relys on himself to think he knows what God thinks that is the problem.
Patton prayed to God and asked if was in his will for the 3rd US Army to be able to have a battle against the forces of evil that Germany represented. Patton also wanted to keep going eastward and wipe out the SOBs in Russia, but Patton died shortly after the war was over in a military vehicle and horse drawn carriage accident (what an irony)
“The prayer also makes one question what led Patton to his conviction that he could control the weather?”
I think the writer doesn’t understand the whole prayer thing. Patton control the weather? No, he couldn’t, so he asked for divine help.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.