Baptism of fire: St. Mihiel, September 12, 1918 image - Tank Lovers Group

Patton’s two tank battalions were committed to action in the St. Mihiel salient in support of the 42nd Rainbow Division. Patton was instructed by his commander, Gen. Samuel Rockenbach, to remain at the brigade headquarters and to stay in touch by radio. However, communication with the advancing tanks was virtually impossible and by mid-morning, Patton left his adjutant in charge of the headquarters and headed into the field to determine the progress of his advancing tanks. The rainy season had already begun and the ground was “sticky, soggy, awful mud in which the tanks wallowed belly deep.” Although Patton had shown the foresight to have the tanks carry extra drums of fuel, the soggy soil soon exhausted their fuel supply and many tanks were left behind out of gas or stuck in the mud. Here, Patton is seen consulting with one of his tank company commanders from the 344th Tank Battalion in the afternoon after the attack had run out of steam. Patton later wrote: “General Rockenbach gave me hell for going up but it had to be done. At least I will not sit in a dug-out and have my men out fighting.” Patton would pay the price for his aggressiveness a few weeks later on September 26 when he was severely wounded while checking on his tanks’ progress during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.