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(THE GEORGE S. PATTON "SLAPPING" INCIDENT) CHARLES H. KUHL
THE RECIPIENT OF PATTON''S FAMOUS "SLAP" RECOUNTS THE EVENT AND HIS FEELINGS ABOUT THE GENERAL CHARLES H. KUHL (1915-1971) American Army private of the 26th Infantry Regiment. Initially diagnosed with "exhaustion,", Kuhl was transferred from an aid station to the Army''s 15th Evacuation Hospital near Nicosia, Sicily for further evaluation. On a tour of that hospital on August 3, 1943, Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. encountered Kuhl, who was sitting slouched on a stool midway through a tent ward filled with wounded soldiers. When Patton asked Kuhl where he was hurt, Kuhl shrugged and replied that he was "nervous" rather than wounded, adding "I guess I can''t take it." Patton slapped Kuhl across the chin with his gloves, then grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the tent entrance, shoving him out of the tent with a final kick to Kuhl''s backside. Yelling "Don''t admit this son-of-a-bitch," Patton demanded that Kuhl be sent back to the front at once, adding "You hear me, you gutless bastard? You''re going back to the front." Following the incident, Kuhl was found to have both chronic dysentery and malaria. When Eisenhower learned of the matter, he ordered Patton to make amends, after which Patton formally apologized to the soldier "and to all those present at the time." However, enormous stateside press coverage tarnished Patton's image for years to come. Amazing postwar A.L.S. by CHARLES H. KUHL with holograph transmittal envelope which is also signed in the return address, 4pp. 8vo., [South Bend, In.], Aug. 4, 1970. Kuhl describes the infamous Patton "slapping" incident and his opinion of the general. In part: "...It was in Aug. of 1943. It was in Sicily...I think it was in the 8nd Field Hosp. Tent. I thought I had lost my nerves and was just shot. I was sitting in the tent when it happened. Waiting to be admitted. When Gen. Patton and his guard walked in. I don't remember for sure but I would say there were about 25 or 30 soldiers in there. After the incident I was admitted and that is when they found out I had Malaria. I was flown back to Africa to recuperate. Then I was brought back to Palermo, Sicily for the Gen. to apologize...He was a very rough and tough Gen. I will say he got what he went after no matter what. Sometimes I think they need some one like him in Viet Nam. Personally I don't like him as a man but still don't have any hard feelings against him. I hope this answers most of what you wanted to know..." Fine condition. Following the war, Kuhl retired to a relatively peaceful life as a janitor in Indiana. Also included are copies of correspondence between Eisenhower and Patton concerning the incident, with a cover letter from the Eisenhower Library.

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April 17, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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