During the invasion of Sicily in World War II, General
George ("Blood 'n' Guts") Patton was preparing to take the
city of Palermo. He checked with his meteorologists and learned
the day he had chosen would be incredibly rainy. So he issued
an order to place copies of the New York "Times" immediately
beneath the tailgates of the transports carrying his troops.
In this way the men could keep their feet dry.
His staff was mystified. Why the "Times"? Why not the New
York "Daily News"? Patton was adamant; and one did not argue
with the General. As five tons of old copies of the "Times"
were being loaded, the General issued one of his greatest
quotes to the assembled war correspondents:
"THESE ARE THE 'TIMES' THAT DRY MEN'S SOLES."
