Details
PATTON, George S. (1885-1945), Lt. General. Typed letter signed ("G.S. Patton, Jr.") to Morry Luxenberg, Headquarters Seventh Army, 22 December 1943. 1 page, square 4to, typed on thin tissue, which has been neatly backed with poor-quality browned paper. THE SLAPPING INCIDENT. Luxenberg wrote Patton (copy of his letter included) complaining that "that stinker, Drew Pearson, had to open his big mouth and start making mountains out of molehills." He reassures Patton that, in spite of the public uproar over the slapping incident, "every sensible American knows the job you have done and are doing. If they would only stop to figure out the number of American lives you have saved by your fine leadership, they would be ashamed of the fuss they are making. Your old friends know you and are all for you." Patton replies: "I might have expected that you as one of my old friends would stick up for me. Nevertheless, it is a great pleasure to receive your letter for which I am sincerely grateful."
During the Sicilian campaign, Patton, visiting a military hospital, had slapped two enlisted men suffering from battle fatigue. Eisenhower had ordered Patton to apologize to the men, and tried to keep the incident out of the public eye, but the story was revealed by radio commentator Drew Pearson. Patton was subjected to angry denunciations in Congress and there were calls for his immediate dismissal; when Omar Bradley was appointed to command the U.S. invasion forces in Britain, Patton felt it was due to the slapping incident.
During the Sicilian campaign, Patton, visiting a military hospital, had slapped two enlisted men suffering from battle fatigue. Eisenhower had ordered Patton to apologize to the men, and tried to keep the incident out of the public eye, but the story was revealed by radio commentator Drew Pearson. Patton was subjected to angry denunciations in Congress and there were calls for his immediate dismissal; when Omar Bradley was appointed to command the U.S. invasion forces in Britain, Patton felt it was due to the slapping incident.