Patrick Fox@RealCynicalFox
On Dec. 8, 1944 George S. Patton had a number of worries, including how much his embattled Third Army was praying. Patton was a firm believer that the US Army had done so well in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy not only because the folks back home were praying for them, but because they were also praying for themselves. Famously remarking that individual prayer by soldiers was a necessity to prevent from "cracking up."
In particular he was annoyed with the weather, remarking to his wife Beatrice that “There is about four inches of liquid mud over everything and it rains all the time, not hard but steadily.” So he called up the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army, James H. O'Neill and asked for a weather prayer. O'Neill couldn't find anything suitable, so he wrote one:
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.
Patton loved it, and ordered a quarter million copies to be printed and distributed throughout Third Army. O'Neill sent it to the 486 Chaplains under him and the senior officers of over 20 divisions with the following instruction (in Patton's name): “Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle…Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace.”
8 days later the Germans launched Operation Watch on the Rhine protected by the same bad weather, mauling allied forces and trapping the 101st Airborne and elements of other units at Bastogne. Patton, anticipating this, halted his eastward advance, changed his axis of attack, and assaulted north into the German left flank.
The weather cleared on December 23rd and Patton at his headquarters in Luxembourg noted in his diary, “What a glorious day for killing Germans!” Three days later 4th Armored Division broke through to the besieged Airborne troopers and relieved Bastogne.
In the aftermath, Patton credited O'Neill saying: “God damn! That O’Neill sure did some potent praying. Get him up here, I want to pin a medal on him.”
When Father O'Neill turned up at headquarters, Patton told him “Chaplain, you’re the most popular man in this headquarters. You sure stand in good with the Lord and soldiers.” O'Neill was awarded the Bronze Star.