ALS signed “George S. Patton, Jr.,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.5 x 8, personal letterhead, April 9, 1917. Letter to his mother. In part, “Yesterday B and I and B Jr. went to church and as I had to miss polo to do it I feel very pious indeed. The sermon was stupid in the extreme and the bishop who preached was a poor fool at best. I almost got a captain Saturday, but at the last moment another captain went on recruiting duty so they left me with “A” troop. I was rather pleased as it shows that they think me a good troop commander. At first I was much discouraged with the troop but it really has improved a lot since I got it and last Saturday at inspection there was really nothing to crytacise [sic] about it. That year in Mexico was very demoralizing to the men and they got very undisciplined but I have been giving them hell most of the time and they are a lot better. Yet none of the noncommissioned officers are worth a d- and if I only had some to make in their place I would do it. I expect that we will get raised to war strength now which will be fine for now I can’t get more than forty men to hill which is too few.” In fine condition, with a bisecting horizontal fold. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
