The Clayton Kibbee character is a thinly disguised version of Ernest Hemingway.
The title was from the nickname for World War II tank commander General George S. Patton Jr.
Gene Evans and Harry Morgan both spent their earlier years in Hollywood frequently appearing in westerns. They appeared together in the James Garner western comedies "Support Your Local Sheriff" (1969) and "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971). In both films, Evans played a villainous, but thick-headed henchman, and Morgan played a benevolent character who solicited help from Garner's hero character.
Father Mulcahy is eager to talk to Clayton Kibbee about the first Louis vs Walcott fight. This occurred on December 5, 1947, when Joe Louis, the reigning heavyweight champion, won a highly controversial split decision against Jersey Joe Walcott, who knocked down the champ twice. (Six months later, Louis KO'd Walcott in Round 11 in their rematch.)
Gene Evans was a WWII veteran. He starred in two movies about the Korean War that were released during the war: The Steel Helmet (1951) and Fixed Bayonets! (1951).