George S. Patton
U.S. Army 1st Armored Corps
Desert training
Major General
1942
Dragon 73090

The War Department believes that American troops need desert warfare training in anticipation of combat in North Africa, and have selected me to establish the first Desert Training Center. I've found just the right spot, too -- in the desert near Indio, California, about 200 miles east of Los Angeles. It's a quaint little spot ... 130 degrees in the shade at midday, freezing cold at night. Reminds me of the old days, when I hunted Pancho Villa in Mexico with Pershing back in 1915!