Lieutenant General Patton wearing leather jacket and helmet with three stars, March 30, 1943. George Smith Patton, Jr. (November 11, 1885 - December 21, 1945) was a general in the US Army. He joined the newly formed US Tank Corps of the AEF and saw action in WWI. Rising through the ranks, he commanded the US 2nd Armored Division at the time of the US entry into WWII. He led troops into the Mediterranean theater with an invasion of Casablanca during the North African Campaign in 1942. He commanded the Seventh Army during the Invasion of Sicily. He returned to command the Third Army following the Invasion of Normandy in 1944, where he led a highly successful, rapid drive across France and advanced his army into Nazi Germany by the end of the war. His strong emphasis on rapid and aggressive offensive action proved effective. He was regarded highly by his opponents in the German High Command. After the war Patton became the military governor of Bavaria, but was relieved because of his statements on denazification. He died following an automobile accident in 1945 at the age of 60.