By Kevin M. Hymel

General Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed visiting troops in the field. After the Battle of Normandy and the race across France, the Supreme Allied Commander toured the front in mid-November, 1944. He competed his tour by spending two days, November 15-16, with Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s Third Army in Nancy, France. There, he took a measure of Patton’s men, inspecting rear-echelon troops as they repaired vehicles, hauled supplies, and distributed scarce fuel. He also chatted with wounded soldiers in a hospital.

As he made his rounds, Eisenhower would ask individual soldiers what they did in civilian life, followed by a few questions about their lives before the war. He would then kid them by asking for a job once the war ended. “Meantime,” he would conclude, “do me a favor, will you, soldier? Go in and get this war finished up, fast—so I can go fishing.” The men loved it. Patton noted that the problems of command left his boss, who seemed pleased just to stand in the mud, talking to soldiers.

At the 12th Evacuation Hospital, both generals talked to the wounded. With cold and wet weather already affecting the men’s health, Eisenhower concerned himself with trench foot, a swelling of the feet from cold water immersion that could lead to amputation. Patton had made battling trench foot a priority, issuing extra socks to his men along with instructions on how to ward off the malady. Patton’s aggressive measures impressed Eisenhower.

By the time Eisenhower returned to his headquarters, muddy and wet, he felt satisfied with his travels. The men’s high morale impressed him, despite the harsh living conditions and an enemy that had not yet been defeated.

Eisenhower examines a damaged 2-and-a-1/2-ton truck that had run over a land mine.
Eisenhower examines a damaged 2-and-a-1/2-ton truck that had run over a land mine.
Eisenhower chats with ordnance troops on the front line during his tour of Patton’s sector in Nancy, France.
Eisenhower chats with ordnance troops on the front line during his tour of Patton’s sector in Nancy, France.
Eisenhower and Patton talk to Private Paul D. McDaniel of Maumee, Ohio, at the 12th Evacuation Hospital, while a doctor, nurse, and reporter look on.
Eisenhower and Patton talk to Private Paul D. McDaniel of Maumee, Ohio, at the 12th Evacuation Hospital, while a doctor, nurse, and reporter look on.
Never one to stand on protocol, Eisenhower autographs a cast on the leg of Pfc. John T. Dietz of Manchester, Connecticut, at the 12th Evacuation Hospital.
Never one to stand on protocol, Eisenhower autographs a cast on the leg of Pfc. John T. Dietz of Manchester, Connecticut, at the 12th Evacuation Hospital.
Eisenhower discusses salvage operations with Tech5 Ralph Austin of Seattle, Washington, with the 945th Quartermaster Salvage Repair Company.
Eisenhower discusses salvage operations with Tech5 Ralph Austin of Seattle, Washington, with the 945th Quartermaster Salvage Repair Company.
Eisenhower talks with Private William J. Forgus, of Columbus, Ohio, who served in an ordnance unit.
Eisenhower talks with Private William J. Forgus, of Columbus, Ohio, who served in an ordnance unit.
Private Edward Clay of New Iberia, Louisiana, explains the fuel situation with Eisenhower. The lack of gasoline seriously hampered all of Eisenhower’s armies as they reached the German border.
Private Edward Clay of New Iberia, Louisiana, explains the fuel situation with Eisenhower. The lack of gasoline seriously hampered all of Eisenhower’s armies as they reached the
German border.

Back to the issue this appears in