Terry Graham, M.A., Legal Marketing & Public Relations Consultant • www.terry-graham.com
I have to admit I am a fan of General George S. Patton. Many years ago, I worked on "Patton Army Base" in Heidelberg, W. Germany. There, I heard stories told by men who had served under Gen. Patton during World War II. Unlike many so-called military leaders, Patton rode into battle with his men. He didn't hide behind a desk, or run a digital war from thousands of miles away. Heidelberg became the headquarters of US Army in Europe and the 7th Army following our victory. Patton died in Heidelberg shortly after the war ended. On November 11, 2009, at a local celebration for Veterans Day, I was lucky enough to find one of Gen. Patton's command jeeps (there were many), and sit in the driver's seat. This great man had sat to my right, and the jeep's owner pointed out to me that the passenger seat that held General Patton was several inches higher than the driver's seat so that Gen. Patton looked "larger than life", and stood out to his men as he drove through camps and battle sites. It occurs to me that besides being a brilliant, brave, and noble man, General Patton understood how important his image was, that "first impression" his soldiers had as he drove among their ranks in his jeep. (He stood 6'3", by the way.) Patton, in addition to being an outstanding man, was a marketing master.

 

  
 

 

Contact Terry Graham by email tg@terry-graham.com or (415) 686-8442.