Patton Park Traditional Cache
Massquerade: I am regretfully archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note.
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The size and location of the geocache container here have changed, for this recent version please bring your own writing implement. If you see the Hamilton-Wenham Generals teams playing here, you’re much more likely to be muggled.
George Smith Patton, Jr. (also George Smith Patton III) (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well-known for his controversial outspokenness. Fascinating material at Wikipedia. (visit link)
I will highlight some of the biographical details that would be most interesting to locals. The Relevant Web Site link above speaks about Hamilton as well as this park. Patton attended Virginia Military Institute for one year, then left VMI and enrolled in the United States Military Academy. The Academy required him to repeat his first "plebe" year because of his poor performance in mathematics. He repeated his plebe year with honors and was appointed Cadet Adjutant (the second highest position for a cadet), eventually graduating in 1909 instead of 1908 and receiving his commission as a cavalry officer.
Patton participated in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm in the first-ever modern pentathlon. He placed sixth out of 37 contestants in 300 meter freestyle swimming. Patton was third out of 29 fencers. In the equestrian cross-country steeplechase, he was among the three riders who turned in perfect performances, but he placed third because of his time. He finished fifth overall. His equestrian background made Hamilton a logical spot for him to settle, as Hamilton hosts many equestrian events, including the neighboring Myopia Hunt Club’s polo matches. (visit link)
At the outset of the U.S. entry into World War I, then-Major General Pershing promoted Patton to the rank of captain. While in France, Patton requested a combat command. Pershing assigned him to the newly formed United States Tank Corps. During the buildup of the United States Army prior to its entry into World War II, Patton commanded the 2nd Armored Division, which performed with mixed results. From then on, however, he saw more successes and promotions as he fought his way through North Africa, Italy, France, and finally Germany.
Patton was the focus of the epic 1970 Academy Award-winning film Patton, with the titular role played by George C. Scott in an iconic, Academy Award winning performance. Patton has come to symbolize a warrior's ferocity and aggressiveness as a result of the movie and Scott's now-famous opening monologue in front of a gigantic American flag, which is based on portions of speeches that Patton made at different times (including Patton's Speech to the Third Army, made to troops shortly before the Normandy invasion).
Alan Axelrod in his book Patton (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006) quotes German Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as stating "Patton was your best" and, surprisingly, Joseph Stalin as stating that the Red Army could neither have planned nor executed Patton's advance across France. Even Adolf Hitler was impressed by Patton's ability, reportedly calling him "The most dangerous man (the Allies) have."
The man was an impressive piece of work! I have had the privilege of shooting skeet with his late son, GSP IV, over with the Miles River Marsh Rats (MRMR), and you could tell this crack shot with a shotgun was an apple that didn’t fall far from the tree. If you enjoyed the Patton history here, please go further northwest on Asbury Street for "A Stone's Throw From Patton," GC5857Q (visit link) , for a swag-sized geocache of ours along the same theme.
If you really want to learn more about the M4 Sherman Tank, you should chase down a copy of this out-of-print publication:
(visit link) . The M4 Sherman tank is one of the most famous and significant armored vehicles ever built. It was constructed in greater numbers than any other tank, which was helpful in that sheer numbers helped the Allies overwhelm the far superior German Panzer tanks. I am both lucky and geeky enough to own this publication!
The cannons in this park are from the Civil War and WWI.
The First-To-Find prize isn’t just an American coin rarer than our usual leave, but our first “two-fer” leave, a 1943-D and a 1943-S steel penny from the Denver and San Francisco mints, respectively. This is a zinc-coated steel version that was meant to help alleviate the copper shortage during WWII. I wonder if some of that copper saved made it into the Patton Park tank (or its ammunition)? This change in composition lead to the false rumor that Ford Motor Company would give a free car to anyone who possessed a 1943 copper cent when it was known that a few copper cents were mistakenly struck that year. This different alloy means that these coins oxidize easily, so please keep them someplace fairly airtight. We also left an Eisenhower bicentennial dollar as a regular exchange prize, as he was Patton’s commander and contemporary. Joint FTF honors to Dreamer75 and no1papafire -- well done!
Finally, if we could’ve selected “Canada Geese” as a cache attribute, we would’ve. They really LOVE this park (read: lots of goose droppings). Lots of mallards, too.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Tb oruvaq gur ovt bar. Purpx oruvaq gur fznyyre barf.