Controversy Surrounding General Patton's Actions During the Sicily Campaign in August 1943

On 10 August 1943, during the Sicily campaign, General George S. Patton slapped Private Paul G. Bennett under similar circumstances to the incident involving Private Charles H. Kuhl. Patton ordered Bennett back to the front lines and issued orders to his commanders to discipline any soldier making similar complaints. This incident, along with the one on 3 August, attracted national controversy. General Dwight D. Eisenhower privately reprimanded Patton and insisted he apologize to the soldiers and the medical staff who witnessed the incidents. Patton complied, apologizing individually to the soldiers and later to all soldiers under his command in several speeches. Despite Eisenhower's efforts to suppress the incident in the media, journalist Drew Pearson revealed it on his radio program in November, leading to harsh criticism of Patton in the United States. The general public's views were mixed, but Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson eventually stated that Patton must be retained as a commander due to his aggressive, winning leadership. As a result of the controversy, Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months.