Editing George S. Patton (section)

=== Slapping incidents and aftermath ===
{{Main|George S. Patton slapping incidents}}
[[File:Wounded-on wayto-hospital-RG-208-AA-158-A-015.jpg|thumb|right|Patton talks to wounded soldiers preparing for evacuation]]
Two high-profile incidents of Patton striking subordinates during the Sicily campaign attracted national controversy following the end of the campaign. On 3 August 1943, Patton slapped and verbally abused [[Private (rank)|Private]] Charles H. Kuhl at an evacuation hospital in [[Nicosia, Sicily|Nicosia]] after he had been found to suffer from "[[Post-traumatic stress disorder|battle fatigue]]".{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=331}} On 10 August, Patton slapped Private Paul G. Bennett under similar circumstances.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=331}} Ordering both soldiers back to the front lines,{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=118}} Patton railed against cowardice and issued orders to his commanders to discipline any soldier making similar complaints.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=117}}

Word of the incident reached Eisenhower, who privately reprimanded Patton and insisted he apologize.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=329}} Patton apologized to both soldiers individually, as well as to doctors who witnessed the incidents,{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=336}} and later to all of the soldiers under his command in several speeches.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=338}} Eisenhower suppressed the incident in the media,{{sfn|D'Este|1995|pp=535–536}} but in November journalist [[Drew Pearson (journalist)|Drew Pearson]] revealed it on his radio program.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=120}} Criticism of Patton in the United States was harsh, and included members of Congress and former generals, Pershing among them.{{Sfn|Edey|1968|pp=160–166}}{{Sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=379}} The views of the general public remained mixed on the matter,{{Sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=377}} and eventually Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson stated that Patton must be retained as a commander because of the need for his "aggressive, winning leadership in the bitter battles which are to come before final victory."{{sfn|D'Este|1995|p=543}}

Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=122}} In September, Bradley, who was Patton's junior in both rank and experience, was selected to command the First United States Army forming in England to prepare for [[Operation Overlord]].{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=345}} This decision had been made before the slapping incidents were made public, but Patton blamed them for his being denied the command.{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=121}} Eisenhower felt the invasion of Europe was too important to risk any uncertainty, and that the slapping incidents had been an example of Patton's inability to exercise discipline and self-control. While Eisenhower and Marshall both considered Patton to be a skilled combat commander, they felt Bradley was less impulsive and less prone to making mistakes.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=348}} On 26 January 1944, Patton was formally given command of the [[U.S. Third Army]] in England, a newly formed field Army, and he was assigned to prepare its inexperienced soldiers for combat in Europe.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=407}}{{sfn|Axelrod|2006|p=124}} This duty kept Patton busy during the first half of 1944.{{sfn|Blumenson|1974|p=423}}