November 24, 1943

PATTON STRIKES SOLDIER
Apology Ordered by Eisenhower
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, ALGIERS—Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Jr., struck a shell-shocked soldier twice while he was being treated in a hospital tent. The general berated the soldier and said he and others like him are “yellow bellies” and would have been shot in the First World War. General Patton believed the soldier to be a malingerer, but he in fact had an excellent record in Tunisia and Sicily. General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote to General Patton immediately on hearing of the incident and, according to a staff officer, “took the hide off him.” The incident occurred during the campaign for Sicily in August, but was only disclosed yesterday. After revelation of the incident, Congress censured the general, but took no additional steps toward investigating the incident despite calls for such by some members.

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