Sandy Patch: A Biography of Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch

Well, it's expensive but I bought it anyway. Having read a lot of other WW2 bios related to the ETO, I wanted to fill in some of the blanks about General Patch and Operation Dragoon. This is one of the only books that does that, but I have to agree with one reviewer of the Dever's bio which goes about like this: Sometimes there just ain't enough source material to write a good bio.The primary problem here is that apparently Gen. A.P. didn't keep a diary, or if he did it was lost and neither could his daughter find very many letters. Consequently, you get very few insights (in his own words) into what and how he thought. One wonders what is buried in the Congressional and Military archives and considering the importance of Patch and the 7th Army, I'm almost tempted to go digging myself.Regardless, for buffs who want to fill in details it is helpful if you can afford it.

This book may have excellent content but the binding is awful. I can't believe is cost $113. When I opened the book it was very stiff and I was afraid if I opened it to far, the pages would come out.

Wyant has written (1991) an overdue biography of Alexander Patch. Written from a member of the Seventh Army staff the emphasis is on the personal side rather than being a scholarly study of Patch's military thinking and place in the Allied effort. This results in more of a travelogue and lengthy stories about Patch, his son, staff, and their kin. The tragic story of Patch's son is told well. Unfortunately at 211 pages there is much left out: the discussion of his command on Guadalcanal is barely 20 pages, there is no real discussion about his military thinking, and there are hints but no discussion about Patch drinking too much after his family tragedy. I would have liked to see more about the relationship with Jake Devers and Patch's place in the command/decision making in Europe. You would think Patch did nothing more than host visitors from Wyant's book. Still, this fills a void and is worth buying.