On December 21st US General George S. Patton died.
During the Second World War, Patton commanded the US Seventh Army and later the Third Army. He had previously seen action in World War I as a member of the US Tank Corps, and has a strong association with armour. He also cultivated a noteworthy image, including carrying an embellished Colt Single action Army .45 revolver, often paired with an embellished Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum.
Patton successfully fought his way across Europe, but his actual death had nothing to do with combat. On December 9th, Patton's staff car collided with a truck. Patton spent the following time in hospital, before dying.
Image: Image: By User Husnock on en.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons