When Patton and his army entered Messina (16 August 1943), General Eisenhower wrote him, saying he had received word of the slapping incidents. Patton was still yelling when he left the hospital tent. He hit the soldier and told him he had to return to the front lines. Then Patton angrily swore at the soldier, calling him a coward. In reply to Patton's usual question of what was wrong with him, the soldier replied "it's my nerves." The general yelled "What did you say?" Bennet repeated himself. Ī week later, at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital, the general came upon Private Paul G. Kuhl, said "I guess I just can't take it." The general was immediately angry: he swore at the soldier and slapped him with his gloves. The General asked him what he was there for. He found a soldier sitting on a supply box. On 3 August 1943, Patton was visiting the 15th Evacuation Hospital. Any display of fear reminded him of his own earlier problems with fear. He expected the same from all the men he commanded. Through his own strength of will, he conquered his fear. He came from a long line of military heroes and one of his greatest fears was that he might be a coward in battle. Growing up, Patton had serious doubts about himself. General Omar Bradley, who knew Patton well, said that when it came to his men Patton was softhearted in spite of his gruff manner. His aides followed him, pinning medals on soldiers as they went. His usual visit included talking to the soldiers and telling them how much he appreciated their courage. He did this more than other generals, even though he personally found it hard to do. ![]() George Patton believed it was part of a general's work to visit his wounded soldiers in hospitals. He was sent back to England and played no part in the D-Day landing in Normandy. ![]() General Patton slapped two soldiers he thought were cowards who were in hospitals for battle fatigue. These happened during the World War II Allied campaign in Sicily. Patton slapping incidents refer to two events that involved an American general, George S.
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