Alexander Patch

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Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu (right) with Brigadier General Alexander M. Patch.

Alexander McCarrell "Sandy" Patch (1889–1945) was an officer in the United States Army, best known for his service in World War II. He commanded Army and Marine forces during the invasion of Guadalcanal, and the US Seventh Army in the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon.)

Patch was born on Fort Huachuca, a cavalry post in Arizona where his father commanded a detachment. He never considered any career other than the army, and received his appointment to West Point in 1909. He wanted to follow his father into the cavalry, but realizing that they were becoming obsolete, he was commissioned into the infantry in 1913.

In World War I Patch served as an infantry officer and as an instructor in the Army's machine gun school. While commanding troops on the front line, his leadership came to the attention of George C. Marshall, then a member of Gen. John Pershing's staff. During the buildup before the United States' entry into World War II, Marshall was appointed Army Chief of Staff. Marshall promoted Patch to brigadier general, and sent him to Fort Bragg to supervise the training of new soldiers there.

In 1942, Patch was sent to the Pacific to organize the reinforcement and defense of New Caledonia. He took command of a loose collection of units, and formed them into the Americal Division (a name adopted on Patch's suggestion after it was proposed by a soldier in the division.) This unit first saw action in the invasion of Guadalcanal, where they were brought in to relieve the tired 1st Marine Division. Patch gave up direct command of the Americal Division and was given charge of the entire offensive on Guadalcanal. Patch personally led troops under his command on a dangerous offensive to capture the Mount Austen stronghold from the Japanese forces; under his leadership, the Japanese were driven from the island.

Impressed by Patch's performance on Guadalcanal, Marshall ordered him to Europe, where he took over command of the Seventh Army from Patton. Under Patch, the Seventh Army landed in the French Riviera on August 15, 1944. Patch lead the Army in a fast offensive up the Rhone. On September 9 they met up with elements of Patton's Third Army that had driven east from the beaches of Normandy.

Patch retained command of the Seventh Army until the end of the war, crossing the Rhine and leading the Seventh's attack on the German Siegfried Line.

In August 1945, Patch returned to the U.S. to take command of the Fourth Army, but he was soon hospitalized with lung problems. He died of pneumonia on November 21 in a hospital at Fort Sam Houston. He is buried at the West Point Cemetery.

Kurmärker Kaserne, in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, was renamed Patch Barracks in his honor on July 4, 1952. Patch Barracks is the home of Headquarters, United States European Command (HQ USEUCOM), the supreme US military command in Europe. Patch Barracks also has an elementary and high school named after General Patch.

Patch was promoted to brigadier general on August 4, 1941, to major general on March 10, 1942, to lieutenant general on August 18, 1944 and to general on July 19, 1954 (posthumous, Public Law 83-508).