Patton's Prayer: A True Story of Courage, Faith, and Victory in World War II

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NOW IN PAPERBACK NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From Alex Kershaw, author of the New York Times bestselling Against All Odds, the bestselling story about General Patton, nearly unsurmountable odds, and the power of prayer during war From Alex Kershaw, author of the New York Times bestseller Against All Odds, comes an epic story of courage, resilience, and faith during the Second World War General George Patton needed a miracle. In December 1944, the Allies found themselves stuck. Rain had plagued the troops daily since September, turning roads into rivers of muck, slowing trucks and tanks to a crawl. A thick ceiling of clouds had grounded American warplanes, allowing the Germans to reinforce. The sprint to Berlin had become a muddy, bloody stalemate, costing thousands of American lives. Patton seethed, desperate for some change, any change, in the weather. A devout Christian, he telephoned his head chaplain. "Do you have a good prayer for the weather" he asked. The resulting prayer was soon printed and distributed to the 250,000 men under Patton's command. "Pray when driving," the men were told. "Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. . . . Pray for victory. . . . Pray for Peace." Then came the Battle of the Bulge. Amid frigid temperatures and heavy snow, 200,000 German troops overwhelmed the meager American lines in Belgium's Ardennes Forest, massacring thousands of soldiers as the attack converged on a vital crossroads town called Bastogne. There, the 101st Airborne was dug in, but the enemy were lurking, hidden in the thick blanket of fog that seemed to never dissipate. A hundred miles of frozen roads to the south, Patton needed an answer to his prayer, fast, before it was too late.

Reviews

Praise for Patton's Prayer:

"There is also no dearth of books on George Patton . . . But Mr. Kershaw has a way of digging out gripping individual stories in the context of larger drama and bringing pace and suspense to the telling." Wall Street Journal

"With careful research, Kershaw tells an engaging story, blending Pattons virtues and flaws into a well-drawn portrait." Kirkus

"Kershaws novelistic rendering of Pattons exploits amuses with its punchy dialogue and propulsive action. WWII buffs will want to check this out." Publishers Weekly

Scintillating. . . . Kershaw writes . . . with verve, energy, and insight on every page of this book. New York Journal of Books

Readers interested in World War II history, and Patton specifically, will enjoy. Library Journal

"Readers of all stripes will find something to enjoy inPattons Prayer. The faithful will love its religious overtones; military buffs will appreciate the vivid combat scenes and stories of weatherworn GIs; and lay readers will revel in a tale well told. For his efforts, Father ONeill was rewarded by Patton with a medal. For his, Kershaw, too, deserves an award. This is a superlative contribution to World War II literature." Washington Independent Review of Books

Author Bio

Alex Kershaw is a journalist and a New York Times bestselling author of books on World War II, including Against All Odds and The First Wave. Born in York, England, he is a graduate of Oxford University and has lived in the United States since 1994.