Editing George S. Patton (section)

== Early military career ==
Patton's first posting was with the [[15th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|15th Cavalry]] at [[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]],{{sfn|Brighton|2009|p=20}} where he established himself as a diligent leader who impressed superiors with his dedication.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|pp=26–27}} In late 1911, Patton was transferred to [[Fort Myer]], Virginia, where many of the Army's senior leaders were stationed. Befriending [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] [[Henry L. Stimson]], Patton served as his aide at social functions on top of his regular duties as [[quartermaster]] for his troop.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|pp=28–29}} Patton had a high-pitched voice and worried that this would make it impossible for him to inspire his troops.<ref>[http://www.americainwwii.com/articles/patton-loved-hated-appreciated/ "Patton: Loved, Hated, Appreciated"], Richard Sassaman, www.americainwwii.com, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2022</ref>

=== 1912 Olympics ===

[[File:1912 fencing patton and mas latrie.jpg|thumb|right|Patton (right) fencing in the [[modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics|modern pentathlon]] of the [[1912 Summer Olympics]]]]

For his skill in running and fencing, Patton was selected as the Army's entry for the first [[modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics|modern pentathlon]] at the [[1912 Olympic Games]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden.{{sfn|Zaloga|2010|p=8}} Patton was the only American among the 42 pentathletes, who were all officers.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acTcAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 |page=104 |title=Sport, Militarism and the Great War: Martial Manliness and Armageddon |editor1=Thierry Terret |editor2=J. A. Mangan |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135760885 |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626153449/https://books.google.com/books?id=acTcAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 |url-status=live }}</ref> Patton placed twenty-first on the pistol range, seventh in [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], fourth in [[fencing]], sixth in the [[equestrianism|equestrian]] competition, and third in the footrace, finishing fifth overall and first among the non-Swedish competitors.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=30}}

There was some controversy concerning his performance in the pistol shooting competition, in which he used a [[.38]] caliber U.S. Army-issue pistol while most of the other competitors chose [[.22 Long Rifle|.22 caliber]] firearms. He claimed that the holes in the paper from his early shots were so large that a later bullet passed through them, but the judges decided that one of his bullets missed the target completely. Modern competitions at this level frequently now employ a moving backdrop specifically to track multiple shots through the same hole.{{sfn|Blumenson|1972|pp=231–234}}{{sfn|D'Este|1995|pp=132–133}} If his assertion was correct, Patton would likely have won an [[Olympic medal]] in the event.{{sfn|D'Este|1995|p=134}} The judges' ruling was upheld. Patton's only comment on the matter was:

{{blockquote|The high spirit of sportsmanship and generosity manifested throughout speaks volumes for the character of the officers of the present day. There was not a single incident of a protest or any unsportsmanlike quibbling or fighting for points which I may say, marred some of the other civilian competitions at the Olympic Games. Each man did his best and took what fortune sent them like a true soldier, and at the end we all felt more like good friends and comrades than rivals in a severe competition, yet this spirit of friendship in no manner detracted from the zeal with which all strove for success.{{sfn|Blumenson|1972|pp=231–234}} |author=|title=|source=}}

=== Sword design ===

Following the 1912 Olympics, Patton traveled to [[Saumur]], France, where he learned fencing techniques from Adjutant Charles Cléry, a French "master of arms" and instructor of fencing at the cavalry school there.{{sfn|D'Este|1995|pp=140–142}} Bringing these lessons back to Fort Myer, Patton redesigned saber combat doctrine for the U.S. cavalry, favoring thrusting attacks over the standard slashing maneuver and designing a new sword for such attacks. He was temporarily assigned to the Office of the [[U.S. Army Chief of Staff|Army Chief of Staff]], and in 1913, the first 20,000 of the [[Model 1913 Cavalry Saber]]—popularly known as the "Patton saber"—were ordered.

[[File:Patton Sword.png|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]

Patton then returned to Saumur to learn advanced techniques before bringing his skills to the [[Mounted Service School]] at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas, where he would be both a student and a fencing instructor. He was the first Army officer to be designated "Master of the Sword",{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|pp=31–32}}{{sfn|D'Este|1995|p=145}} a title denoting the school's top instructor in swordsmanship.{{sfn|Brighton|2009|p=21}} Arriving in September 1913, he taught fencing to other cavalry officers, many of whom were senior to him in rank.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|pp=33–34}}
[[File:Wooltex and George S Patton.jpg|thumb|Patton on his steeplechase horse, Wooltex, in 1914]]
Patton graduated from this school in June 1915. He was originally intended to return to the 15th Cavalry,{{sfn|D'Este|1995|p=153}} which was bound for the Philippines. Fearing this assignment would dead-end his career, Patton travelled to [[Washington, D.C.]], during 11 days of leave and convinced influential friends to arrange a reassignment for him to the [[8th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|8th Cavalry]] at [[Fort Bliss]], Texas, anticipating that instability in Mexico might boil over into a full-scale civil war.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=35}} In the meantime, Patton was selected to participate in the [[1916 Summer Olympics]], but that Olympiad was cancelled due to [[World War I]].{{sfn|D'Este|1995|p=148}}