While visiting her brother in El Paso in 1916, Nita Patton was introduced to Black Jack Pershing, so named for having commanded the African-American soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. He arrived at Fort Bliss in the spring of 1914 in command of the 8th Infantry Brigade, charged with protecting the US-Mexican border. His wife and three daughters—aged seven, eight, and three—had died a year later from smoke inhalation when their home at the Presidio in San Francisco burned down; the only survivor was his five-year-old son Warren, who now lived with his father and aunt at Fort Bliss. 

The saga of the Pershing-Patton relationship was a three-year affair that spanned two continents, a world war, and the involvement of many meddling family members. After a somewhat unusual courtship that lasted about a year, Pershing asked for Nita’s hand in marriage during a visit to Lake Vineyard in March 1917. Since everyone’s lives were uncertain, Nita accepted his diamond engagement ring, but no official announcement was made. While George Patton Sr.’s misgivings about the match mainly concerned Pershing’s age and family background, Beatrice and George initially felt conflicted about the relationship because of the effect it would have on George’s career.

Joking to Beatrice that “Nita may rank us yet,” if Pershing and Nita got married, “everyone will say I rode up on the [gravy] train, and I don’t want that.” Preventing this kind of backtalk figured at least partly into George’s decision to join the Tank Corps, but it wasn’t until he proved himself during the Meuse-Argonne offensive that both Beatrice and George were fully committed to Nita’s relationship. By the war’s end, however, George worried the game was up since Pershing “could get anyone in the world, and they are after him. Ambition is a great thing and without soul.” 

Continue reading in Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton.