Here is a 1944 Christmas Card and Prayer
from General George Patton
to and for his troops of the Third Army
sent to us by Paula Baker.

The Patton card came to me in the military papers of my uncle Frank Jackson, who was a T-5 in the 974th Field Artillery Battalion, which saw 281 days of continuous combat over 2,226 miles, from Omaha Beach to Altendorf, Austria. Uncle Frank's job was to ride in the command car with the C.O. and see that the artillery was lined up correctly.

Patton's prayer was uttered during the Battle of the Bulge (Bataille des Ardennes in French). The Germans were threatening the allied front and the weather did not permit intervention by air. After Patton gave his prayer, the weather let up, the air support went in, and Patton was able to stabilize the situation.

Thanks to Paula Baker for providing these artifacts.