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Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D'Este During his lengthy hospital stay Patton's friends decorated his room with streamers of colored toilet paper and someone placed a sign above his door reading HULA HULA NIGHT CLUB in large red letters. Liquor flowed freely, and his nurses fawned over him. When he got better and could roam the halls on crutches, Patton told obscene jokes and left laughter and chaos in his wake. To a woman friend who had recently given birth and remarked how nice it was to be able to lie on her stomach again, Patton replied in a loud voice for the benefit of other patients and hospital staff: "Why, my dear young lady. had you retained that position in the first place, you would probably not have been in your recent unenviable condition." Outwardly all was festive, but behind
the facade Patton had fallen victim to a deep depression,
which the injury exacerbated. Only Beatrice was able to
detect his growing despair. Ever since their first voyage to
Hawaii in 1935, the Pattons had often spoken of designing
and sailing their dream schooner and used to joke about
"when and if" they ever had the opportunity, or as Patton
put it, "When the next war is over, and if I
live through it." To prevent Patton from sliding any deeper
into the well of depression, Beatrice invited noted boat
designer John Alden to collaborate with her husband to
design such a boat, using the notebook they had been
cramming full of ideas for more than two years. Alden
designed a schooner they christened the When and If,
and when it was launched it became the family pride and joy.
It was Patton's intention that one day he and Beatrice would
sail the boat around the world, a dream that was never
fulfilled." |
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All royalties after out-of-pocket expenses from Jack Corbett, Mariner will be donated by the Hatch family to The New York City Rescue Mission founded by Jerry McAuley and A. S. Hatch 130 years ago. See The New York City Rescue Mission on 9/11. |