Oral History Interview with C. L. Pryor, December 5, 1987 Page: 55
This book is part of the collection entitled: UNT Oral Histories and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Oral History Program.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
let his subordinates do things that a front-line
commander would have put a stop to.
Jones: I see.
Pryor: In our military, you know as well as I know that
we've got our people that rise up through the ranks
according to their political mind set. They are just
of that nature that they ingratiate themselves with
those, let's say, that are in a position to
influence their well-being. You see a lot of people
that are condemned because they're maybe very
aggressive as a front-line commander.
Well, there are those critics, and in your
study of history, you've come across it more than
one time--criticism of General Patton. They say he
lost 10,000 men, by God, in this one assault. He
lost them in one fell swoop--he lost 10,000 men.
When you look to it, certainly he took usually the
most direct way.
All military units probably are confounded with
the same problem. You've got your people that earn
their way politically, and then you've got those
that earn it the hard way, by thunder, the real
professional ways of being a military man. Patton
was one like that.55
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Jones, Waller F. & Pryor, Charley L. Oral History Interview with C. L. Pryor, December 5, 1987, book, December 5, 1987; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1584976/m1/57/?q=%221920-02%22: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Oral History Program.