Patton's Welcome Home Parade in Los Angeles

On June 9, 1945, General George S. Patton participated in a welcome home parade in Los Angeles. During this event, he addressed a crowd of 100,000 people at the Memorial Coliseum. Patton's speech aroused controversy among the Gold Star Mothers when he stated that a man who dies in battle is 'frequently a fool,' while adding that the wounded are heroes. This statement caused a stir among the audience, which included 400 wounded Third Army veterans. Patton's return to the United States was marked by several public appearances and speeches, including in Bedford, Massachusetts, and Denver. Despite his public engagements, Patton was disappointed with his postwar assignments and expressed his frustration in his diary, particularly after learning that he would not be sent to the Pacific Theater. Instead, he was appointed as the military governor of Bavaria, where he led denazification efforts. Patton's behavior and statements became increasingly erratic during this period, with some biographers suggesting that he may have suffered from brain damage due to multiple head injuries throughout his life.