FORT KNOX, Ky. — On Sept. 26, 1918, Lt. Col. George S. Patton Jr. was in a bunker near Cheppy, France during World War I; alongside of him was his handpicked orderly, Pvt. Joe Angelo.
Patton decided to get out of the bunker to better lead his men when a bullet from an enemy weapon ripped through his hip. Angelo drug him back to the bunker and quickly dressed his wounds, using Patton’s dressing for the entry wound and Angelo’s for the exit wound, despite Patton's demands that Angelo not use his own bandage on him.
Both men eventually received the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions, and Angelo received an engraved Tiffany pocket watch from Patton’s wife for saving his life, which reads: “Joseph Angelo, [Distinguished Service Cross], from Mrs. George S. Patton Jr., in grateful remembrance of the Argonne, September 26, 1918.”
Over 100 years later on July 26, Patton’s grandson Ben joined several Army cadets and Fort Knox leaders in the Gen. George S. Patton Museum of Leadership to witness the gifting of that watch and other memorabilia to the museum by Angelo’s grandson, Firth Bowden.
Bowden said the time was right to give the museum his grandfather’s artifacts, including the pocket watch.
“My grandfather would’ve liked for all to enjoy it rather than it being in my safe where no one would,” said Bowden. “It’s very emotional. The most emotional is meeting Mr. Patton under the idea that without my grandfather, I wouldn’t be meeting him. That kind of brings the significance of everything together.”
A depiction of the battle, with Angelo dragging Patton back toward the bunker, stood in the middle of the floor as both men talked about their grandfathers’ actions that day.
Bowden said the watch originally came with a heavy gold chain, which is missing from the collection.
“During the Depression my grandfather hocked the chain for $40,” said Bowden. “So, if you get $40 during the Depression for a gold chain, it must have been pretty big or pretty thick. He said he didn’t have enough money to eat, so he hocked the chain to buy food, but he wouldn’t part with the watch.”
The watch wasn’t the only gift Angelo received. Bowden said Patton’s mother also presented Angelo with a stickpin that features a bullet and a pearl. That was also presented to the museum.
Ty Reid, the museum’s curator, told Bowden that his grandfather’s artifacts will be displayed later in the same room where the presentation was held.
“We’re a museum that teaches leadership,” said Reid.
“These items are going to be assessed in the Army Museum Enterprise as part of the greater Army collection,” he continued. “It’s a teaching collection that’s used to teach Soldiers. … Our primary audience is the cadets of the ROTC; they come here every summer for their summer training.”
Ben Patton, who is an author, filmmaker and film educator, said he was here as a 5-year-old when the museum opened, even getting the opportunity to carry in his grandfather’s famous pistols during the opening ceremony. It was extra special for him to be a part of this latest ceremony, and he recognized the significance of the moment.
“I know a lot about my grandfather but it’s usually at least secondhand, and this is thirdhand, but to know somebody that knew someone that really was close to my grandfather and basically saved his life, which enabled my father and me to be here, is pretty incredible,” said Patton. “And to hear stories from a perspective is important, too.”
Patton said his father, George Patton IV, who served as the assistant commandant of the Armor School at Fort Knox and also deputy commander of the post, always encouraged his children to be avid readers, especially of biographies.
“He said that was really a much more personal way to get your history," said Patton. "I grew up knowing that people who don’t know their history are destined to repeat it."
He remembered hearing the stories about Angelo's heroic actions and his grandmother delivering the watch to Angelo in person.
“There was a great appreciation by our whole family for everything he did,” said Patton. “Our family stayed connected with him for years.”
Reid said the Wednesday ceremony opened a new chapter in the continuance of that special bond between Patton and Angelo, as well as presenting a fresh perspective on leadership.
“The story here of Pvt. Angelo saving Lt. Col. Patton’s life -- there’s an old Army saying, ‘Take care of your Soldiers and they’re going to take care of you,’” said Reid. “That is the ultimate reflection of this story.”
Social Sharing