George S. Patton

George S. Patton III was a highly successful and highly controversial general who held Corps- and Army-level commands during World War II. Because of his great competence as a battlefield commander, Patton might have led the American troops during the invasion of Normandy; however, his impolitic ways and a degree of emotional instability (which manifested itself in the slapping of two soldiers suffering from shell-shock at an Army field hospital) put the kibosh on that. Patton was relieved of his command and put on ice for many months in order to recuperate. The command of the American forces on D-Day, instead, went to his former deputy in North Africa, Omar N. Bradley. Patton was known as "Blood & Guts" ("Our blood, his guts," was a common gripe among his troops for his hard-driving discipline, which paid off in lower casualties and great success on the battlefield.