Thing are Not Always as They Appear

One can only imagine what it must have been for him to be on the sidelines watching. Possibly one of the finest American generals, and one who would yet make his most significant mark, watched the greatest invasion in history, not from the turret of a tank, but from England. His sole function was that of decoy.

Gen. George S. Patton wrote on 6 June 1944, "It is hell to be on the sidelines and see all the glory eluding me." 

Andrew Carroll edited a compilation letters, Extrordinary Correspondence from American Wars: WAR LETTERS (Scribner; 2001) including correspondence from Patton to his son at West Point on the day of the invasion. Carroll gives the background: "But as much as he hated it, Patton was as integral part of one of the most brilliantly orchestrated deceptions in military history: Operation Fortitude. As tens of thousands of Allied troops poured onto the beaches of Normandy, Adolf Hitler was certain it was a feint. The real invasion force, he insisted, would leave from Dover and strike at Pas-de-Calais. German reconnaissance had determined that an army of enormous size was mobilizing near Dover under the command of Patton, the Allied general the Germans most feared. In fact, there was no army. Hollywood set designers had helped the Allies construct dummy airfields, oil storage depots, and landing craft near Dover. Full-sized inflatable rubber tanks were lined up in massive rows. Fake messages were transmitted to simulate radio traffic, and double agents fed the Germans misleading information. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel pleaded with Hitler to release armored divisions from the Calais region after the Normandy landings, but Hitler refused, convinced the main assault was still to come. On D-Day itself, the commander of the fake army had virtually nothing to do. Crushed he was missing the "opening kick-off," a restless Patton whittled away the hours writing in his diary and sending off letters, including one to his son George, enrolled at West Point."

Here is a brief sample of that letter (as written) if you care to read further:
"At 0700 this morning the BBC announced that the German Radio had just come out with an announcement of the landing of Allied Paratroops and a large number of assault craft near shore.  So that is it.

This group of unconquerable heros whom I command are not yet in but we will be soon - I wish I was there now as it is a lovely sunny day for a battle and I am fed up with just sitting.

I have no immediate idea of being killed but one can never tell and none of us can live for ever so if I should go dont worry but set your self to do better than I have.

All men are timid on entering any fight whether it is the first fight or the last fight all of us are timid. Cowards are those who let their timidity get the better of their manhood. You will never do that because because of your blood lines... ...What success I have had results from the fact I have always been certain that my military reactions were correct. Many people do not agree with me; they are wrong. The unerring jury of history written long after both of us are dead will prove me correct."