GEORGE S. PATTON DIARIES Annotated transcripts July 24-Aug 26, 1943 BOX 3 FOLDER 2 GEO S PATTON JR DIARIES TYPED (IV) July 24, 1943 - August 25, 1943 [26] VOL 4 Volume 4 (corrected by P.H.) JULY 24 to AUGUST 24, 1943 beginning Vol IV Appendices 73,74 July 24, 1943 Generals Huebner, Gruenther and Hamblen (1) came in at 0930. Huebner has been relieved as Deputy Chief of Staff at 15th Army Group, largely, and in doing so was forced to go over Richardson's (2) head. I know, because he stood up for American interests. Bedell Smith (s.o.b.) relieved him at the request of Alexander, probably instigated by Richardson, Chief of Staff. I believe the British have hurt themselves very much and have hurt the entente between themselves and the Americans by relieving Huebner. It is a sad commentary that a man must suffer for being an American. Gruenther is just snooping, trying to find out how we do things. Every time I say anything he writes it in his notebook. Huebner showed me a copy of a dispatch from Montgomery, from Alexander, as follows: Fol 0484. "Most Secret - Most immediate - 12 July 1943. 'To be handed to General Alexander from General Montgomery'. My battle situation very good. Have captured Augusta and my line runs thence through Sartina - Vizzini - Ragusta - Scicli. Intend now to operate on two axes. XIII Corps on Catania and northwards. XXX Corps on Caltagirona - Enna - Leonforte. Suggest American Division? (BAP's ?)[45th Div] at Comiso might move westward to Miscimi and Gelatos. The maintenance and transport and road situation will no allow of two armies, both carrying out extensive operations. Suggest my army operate offensively northward to cut the island in two and that American army hold defensively on line Caltanissetta - Canicatti - Licata facing west. Proposition available maintenance to be allocated according. 1. Brig Gen A. L. Hamblen 2. Brig T.W. Richardson (Br) (c/s to Alexander) July 24, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) Once my left Corps reaches area Leonforte - Enna, the enemy opposing the Americans will never get away." "Dist" "Pa to C in C 2 action personal "Som 0600B/43" [1] On the 13th Alex (see diary) stopped me from going east, clearly as a result of the above message, and was very reluctant to my taking Agrigento. On the 16th Colonel Henriques (British) told me that the Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army said to pay no attention to any order from Alexander. Whether this is in good faith or as a bait I did not and do not know. Nice people. On the 17th we got an order (see diary) completely tying us up, and making us a subsidiary to the Eighth Army wholly in consonance with message from Monty of the 13th - see above. In other words, Monty was trying to command both armies and getting away with it. Had the order of the 13th left the Seventh Army Route 117 we could have taken Enna - Leonforte and Nicoisis by the 17th or 18th and would now be in or near Messina, because at that time the 3rd German Division was not on the island. Now the British have given me 117 and 120 and are damned glad we are there. The Canadians never too Enna, and lost 700 men trying; then they took three days to take Leonforte. The rest of the Eighth Army has not gained a foot and the Seventh Army has taken most of the island. Visited temples in the afternoon accompanied by the Mayor. There are three the highest up. . Juno, is the middle on Concordia 1. The "Garbled Telegram". Story - July 24, 1943 (Cont'd p. 3) and the lowest on Hercules. Concordia is quite intact, only the roof missing, and is said to be larger than the Parthenon. They all three date from between 500 and 600. Hercules is badly bashed, so I asked the Mayor what happened to it. He said it was destroyed in the war. I asked which, and he said the 1st and 2nd Punic War. There is a Via Savra connecting the temples, along which there are hundreds of tombs out in the split rock. The stones were pulled into place up inclined planes, and in order to get them close together, they cut a "U"-shaped slot in the ends so that they rope could still pull while the stones were being forced up. slot for rope. Got a message about 1800 to report at Siracusa Airport tomorrow at 1100 to see Alexander and Monty. I fear the worst, but so far have held my own with them. July 25, 1943 The Headquarters started for Palermo at 0800. Harkins, Codman, and I left in General Houses' C-47 with two Spits for escort at 0950 and got to Siracusa at 1020. Monty was there with several staff officers. I made the error of hurting to meet him. He hurried a little too, but I started it. He then asked me to look at a map on the hood of his car. On this he had drawn a boundary so that we had route 117 north of Plazza Armernia and route 120 as far as Randazza. I told him that it would be necessary for us to have route 120 as far east as Linguaglossa, so as to permit my using July 25, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) the road running north from there for a deployment. I also told him that if I got the last mentioned town ahead of him I would go on to 114 and turn north. He stated that this would be undesirable to him as it would get in the way of his army, but I stated that if his army were not there I would do it anyway, but we could decide that afterward. The nine miles between Randazzo and Linguaglossa are to be for mutual use of ourselves and the British. He agreed so readily that I felt something was wrong but have not found it yet. When this much had been arranged, Montgomery did not see why we did not take all of route 117. As it is useless to both of us, he did not have any objection to our taking it. Eighth Army will push on with the Canadians and try to get Adrano; then on 2 August the Canadians will turn north on Bronte- Rondazzo and the 51st will attack Paterno in a northeasterly direction and the XIII Corps north on Catania and to west. If they break through they will move north on 114. We will attack east along 120 and 113 trying to reach the line Nicosia - S. Stefano by 2 August. I hope to reach it by night of 28 July if we do not have to stop. After all this had been settled, Alex came. He looked a little mad, and, for him, was quite brusque. He told Monty to explain his plan. Monty said he and I had already decided what we were going to do, so Alex got madder and told Monty to show him the plan. He did and the Alex asked for mine and agreed, but said there were supply difficulties which General Miller [1] would explain. All Miller wanted to do was to cut my LST's to 35. I held our for 45, to which Miller 1. Brig Miller (Br) G-4 A.F.H.Q July 25, 1943 (Cont'd p.3) reluctantly agreed, but said it was up to Admiral Cunningham. ON this Bedell Smith broke in and told Miller that AFHQ would make the division and that he, Miller, was too prone to forget the existence of AFHQ. (So is everyone else as it never asserts itself). I then said I wanted LCT's for at least a reinforced Battalion for small amphibious operations. Alex did not think much of this but agreed to try. I also said I needed cruisers, and Richardson said he would see that we got them. I doubt if he does. He also asked if I knew Huebner had been relieved, and I said I did. He said, "I want to assure you that 15th Army Group is completely Allied in mind and favors neither Army". I know this was a lie, but said I felt that he was right -- God pardon me. The meeting then broke up. No one was offered any lunch and I thought that Monty was ill bred both to Alexander and me. Monty gave me a 5c cigar lighter. Some one must have sent him a box of them. We flew back to Palermo in just one hour, arriving at 1430 at the same moment that the rest of the staff came in by motor. Keyes met me with a Guard of Honor from the 3rd Division and a band. We occupy the Royal Palace. I am in the King's room and there are, by count, seven ante-rooms between my room and the State dining room. My bed has three mattresses on it, but is very uncomfortable and there is a bathroom with warm water, also electric lights. Many fine oil paintings on the walls and much gold furniture, mirrors etc. You drive up an incline between two courts to reach my rooms. There is also a grand staircase - very dirty. All sorts See - July - 26, 1943 - next page. In June 1943 Gen. Eisenhower called Gen Patton - on phone - from Algiers (. Patton at Mostaganem) and stated he planned on returning Gen Terry Allen to the US to take a new command. Gen P asked that this be delayed until after the landing in Sicily. and promised that he (Gen P) would relieve Gen Allen for this duty as soon [quickly] after the landing - as such could be done with out jeopardizing the efficiency of the 1st DW. Gen P further stated that such relief should be with out prejudice Hq July 25, 1943 (Cont'd p.4) or retainers live in holes about the place and all give the Facist salute. Stiller has no flair for history and said he was sure he could find me a nicer place in some good boarding house. I prefer the historical lift of sleeping in a royal bed and cleaning my teeth in a glass etched with the Arms of Savoy. The center part of the palace was built in 1000, with the wings being built between 1500 and 1600. It is a very gorgeous and tawdry looking building on the inside, but very well constructed. [*appendices 75, 76, 77, 78*] July 26, 1943 Heard radio broadcast that Mussolini had retired. Drove to near Cefalu to see General Middleton. On the way at about 0930 heard firing at sea and saw clouds of smoke. One of our destroyers had been hit. Before I left, Lucas went back to Algiers to see about Naval gun fire support and L6T's. I told him to see about relieving Terry Allen and Teddy Roosevelt without prejudice, and replacing them with Huebner and Cota 1. I sent Ike a letter by him to the same effect. The 45th is having hard going, due to roadblocks and Germans, but is pushing on. First Division got run off a hill but retook it. Bradley came in after lunch at Headquarters 45th Division. He is a little windy about his rear, and last night halted the 45th when some ships appeared at sea off the coast. They were ours. I told him to forget it and push on. 1. Col Norman Cota (U S Army) July 26, 1943 (Cont'd p.2) Came back and called on the Cardinal. He lives in a convent, as his palace was bombed. He is very small and quite intelligent. They took a lot of pictures of us in the bosom of the church. I offered to kiss his ring but Keyes said no, that only the faithful did that - he did it. We went into a chapel and prayed. The Mother Superior is a French woman and we talked a little. The Cardinal is coming to call on me at 11:00 tomorrow. I feel that he is on our side and this fact will have a good effect on the inhabitants. I raised a little hell about supply, which is not what it should be, and wired General Eisenhower, "Hewitt seems reluctant to send ships to support this operation. Request you use spurs." Paddy Flint took over the 39th Combat Team, 9th Division. He is in fine spirits and is delighted with his job. McSherry and Truscott came in. [*Appendices - 79, 80*] July 27, 1943 Inspected CAC Anti-aircraft. The Colonel did not know where his batteries were. I told him to visit all of them at once and be able to guide me personally next time. The Cardinal had a red hat, red cape, red gown covered with white lace. The Arch-Bishop also was pretty snappy. We gave them canapes of bacon on toast and cheese, and they seemed very much pleased. The Church is on our side. Score for today: Prisoners 72000 Guns 300 Trucks 670 Tanks 150 July 28, 1943 Tried to fly to Command Post II Corps at 0830 but weather too bad with heavy wind and dust. General Monty, his air officer, and Chief of Staff arrived at noon. Codman met them at the airport with escort of scout cars and motorcycles. Keyes and I met them at the Palace with company of 15th Infantry and a band. I hope Monty realized that I did this to show him up for doing nothing for me on the 25th. After lunch he showed me his plan. Three brigades of Canadians hope to take Agira today and pass on to the east. The fourth Canadian brigade moving north of the river Pittino will attack Regalbuto from the south. The 78th Division, now leading, will attack on August 2 from Catenanuoyba on Adrano. The 51st will attack in the direction northeast on Paterno, having reached the foot of Etna, the 78th and 51st swing east on Belpasso and the Canadians start north on Bronte. XIII Corps, 5 and 50 to hold. Monty kept repeating that the move of our [41] 45st Division along the coast was a most significant operation. I can't decide whether he is honest or wants me to lay off 120. On the other hand, he said that if we got to Taormina first, we were to turn south. Previously he had insisted that we not come as far as the coast. Air Marshall Broadhurst talked over air support with House. The First Division took Nicosia this PM. The 45th has not yet got S. Stefano. The 157 Inf Regt is approaching it and the 179 Regt is trying to get Mistretta. I spurred both Bradley and Middleton a little today. I felt they were getting sticky, but probably I am wrong. At 1830 just got word that after we took Nicosia, Germans on next hill to east waved white flags. 91st Reconnaissance sent two half-tracks July 28, 1943 (Cont'd p.2) and a peep to accept their surrender. When they got close the Germans opened fire and killed or captured all but one man. This will mean the death of many more Germans, damn them. [*Appendices 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 88, 89, 90, 91*] July 29, 1943 Tried to fly to II Corps at 0815. Too much fog. At 1030 took off in scout car. Drove via 120. The road from Petraizia to Gangi is terrible and made worse by the crazy driving of the 47th QM Truck Battalion, colored. Wrote the colonel a letter. Gangi is the queerest town I have ever seen - it looks like plant lice on a rosebud, or like an armadillo on top of a pyramid. Got to II corps two miles east of Gangi at 1530. We talked over the use of the 9th Division and also about replacing the 45th with the 3rd. The 1st Division is doing well but is certainly lacking in elan. It was too foggy to fly back, so I drove, arriving at 2000, quite dirty. Eddy, who came last night, spent the night with II Corps. Got a wire in reply to my request sent by Lucas to relieve Allen and Roosevelt. The wire said, "Allen to be relieved without prejudice and returned to the U. S. for an equivalent command. " It made no similar statement with respect to Roosevelt so left the impression that he was relieved with prejudice. In my telegram I specifically said that unless they could both be removed without prejudice, I would not ask for their relief. While I think General Roosevelt is not the best general in the world, particularly for organization and disciplinary purposes, he none the less, is a July 29, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) gallant fighting soldier who has fought well and incessantly for nearly nine months. Both he and Allen are now suffering from battle fatigue. Admiral Davidson is coming tomorrow with two cruisers to work the Navy and they should be of great value. [*appendix 92*] July 30, 1943 Left at 0715 to see Middleton. Got there at 1000. The Command Post is 2 miles south on the road 5 miles east of Cefalu. Middleton looked tired and his attacks have lacked drive so I said, "I think I will give the 45th a rest and use the 3rd". He said, "I would never ask for a rest." I said, "It is my duty to see that the best interests of the United States are served so I shall give you a rest." He replied, "I think that is what you should do". I thought this was an excellent example of willingness to play ball and unwillingness to ask for help. I wired Truscott to come up and talk over with Middleton the question of relief. While this was going on, Bradly called up and I told him that as a result of my present observations I was going to relieve the 45th as I had talked about with him yesterday. Drove to the Command Post of the leading battalion, 157, just west of S. Stefano. They were attacking. I talked to the men and said, "I hope you know how good you are for everyone else does. You are magnificent". I also told the engineers what fine work they had done. They have, but love to be told. I caught a cub and flew back because Alex had said he would be in at noon. I got back at 1245 and he was not here so at 1315 I dismissed the Guard of Honor 1. July 30, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) and at 1400 he wired he was not coming. Huebner and Wyman 1 came in to lunch. I will hold them until I have talked to Ike about doing the right thing by Teddy R. Got some letters dated May 9th. July 31, 1943 General Ike was to arrive at 0930 but due to the fact that he came in a C-47 instead of a B-17, he did not arrive until 1035. We had a scout car escort and Guard of Honor, the last from his old battalion of the 15th Infantry, the only unit he ever commanded. This touch was the thought of General Gay, and Ike was quite pleased with the compliment. He was quite relaxed but did not compliment us. He did say that I had moderated, which he thought a compliment, but which I regret. I tried to get him to stay all night so I could take him to the Front and show him the truly appalling nature of the mountains, but he had to leave at 1400. We had lunch and I showed him the harbor but he was not much interested. He says the Eighth Army will pause or cross at Messina and the Fifth U. S. Army land at Naples with one American corps, the VI, (34th and 36th Divs.) and the 10th British Corps. If things get serious the Seventh Army will land later near Florence, otherwise we will go to UK for the big push. I have a feeling that the UK show will never materialize. The British don't want to have England bombed. The Philadelphia, light cruiser, had a dive bomber attack today but was not hurt. There were 4 Spits over her chased the Boche away. [*Brig Gen W. G. Wyman*] July 31, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) However, as soon as the Dive Bombers appeared the Navy began to radio me in the clear, "Being attacked by dive bombers, what are you going to do about it?" We sent up some other Spitfires but the enemy had already left. The 1st Division got to Troina today. The 45th is still sticky and is only in S. Stefano. I got Ike's permission to relieve both Allen and Roosevelt on the same terms, on the theory of rotation of command. There will be a kick over Teddy but he has to go: brave, but otherwise no soldier. Heubner and Wyman go up in the morning. I telegraphed Allen's and Roosevelt's relief to General Bradley and sent him a personal note suggesting that he postpone it until the 1st Division is relieved by the 9th. [*Appendix 94*] August 1, 1943 We were bombed for an hour last night from 0400 to 0500. Our anti-aircraft got two of them, our Spits two others. We lost one coaster and one train with 100 tons of ammunition and 50 tons of gasoline. Prior to this two other trains with heavier loads had just pulled out so we were quite fortunate. Keyes, Lucas and I drove around. About 0415 we were on the dock when a bomb hit in the water quite close but did no harm. The 3rd Division has passed through the 45th and has progressed some miles east, taking San Stefano. On the right the 39th Regimented Combat Team has passed through the 1st Division and is west of Troina - we have started to move and more. All the men of the 9th Division (2d RCTS) who came in last evening should be ashore by August 1, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) dark. I expect we will get bombed again tonight - hope we don't lose any combat equipment. Lucas went up to the front to see the country. The mountains are the worst I have ever seen. It is a miracle that our men can get through them but we must keep up our steady pressure. The enemy simply can't stand it, beside we must beat the Eighth Army to Messina. [*Appendices 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100*] August 2, 1943 Inspected all sick and wounded at the 91st hospital. Pinned on some 40 purple hearts on men hurt in air raid. One man was dying and had an oxygen mask on, so I knelt down and pinned the Purple Heart on him and he seemed to understand although he could not speak. Went to a special Mass in the Royal Chapel. Colonel Campanole and I were the only 2 present. They wanted a Te Deum Mass, but I told Campanole to have a short one. The chapel was built in 1040 by a Norman duke and is very beautiful, with frescoes on the wall and bas-relief sculpturing. The head of the Christ above the altar is the best I have ever seen. The Monsignor who runs the chapel said it was the first time that anyone but royalty had ever been there, but that from now on it is for the use of the Americans. Alex came at 0930 and we had an escort and Guard of Honor and took him around waterfront and to lunch. After lunch I showed him around the palace. It has one very fine room 140 feet long and 60 feet wide, with frescoes of the Labors of Hercules on the wall. I was very much amused at his statement that he was delighted with our ability to carry out his plans for the early capture of Palermo. August 2, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) A glance at this diary will show that he did everything to prevent not only its early capture, but its capture at all. I told him I either had to retain the 82d Airborne Division or have it replaced by an equal number of combat infantry. General Miller, his G-4, was as usual trying to steal some of our boats. I told him there was no use starting on a new war till we had won this one and that we needed the boats to win it, and he had to agree. General Ridgeway wrote that his Public Relations Officer objected to an order I had issued, to shoot "without trial" people who cut telephone wires. I investigated and found that the order is in accord with International Law if one leaves out the words "without trial". I ammended the order and had the officer relieved. [*Appendices 101, 102, 103, 104*] August 3, 1943 Lucas, Stiller and I left in the command car, followed by a peep, at 0730, to visit Headquarters II Corps at front. We stopped along the road to talk to men and find out why tanks had not been repaired. Reached Bradley at 1300. His Command Post had been raided at 0645 by enemy planes, who dropped 9 bombs but hit no one. On the way I stopped at an evacuation hospital and talked to 350 newly wounded. One poor fellow who had lost his right arm cried; another had lost a leg. All were brave and cheerful. The 1st Sergeant of "C" Company, 39th Infantry was in for his second wound. He laughed and said that after he got his third wound he was going to ask to go home. I had told General Marshall some months ago that an enlisted August 3, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) men hit 3 times should be sent home. In the hospital, I also met the only arrant coward I have ever seen in this army. This man was sitting, trying to look as if he had been wounded. I asked him what was the matter, and he said he just couldn't take it. I gave him the devil, slapped his face with my gloves and kicked him out of the hospital. Companies should deal with such men and if they shirk their duty they should be tried for cowardice and shot. I will issue an order on this subject tomorrow. After lunch with Bradley, we drove to Cerami from which we had a good view of a battle in which the 1st Division reinforced by 39th RCT of 9th was attacking Troina. One old civilian was sitting in front of his house -- the picture of woe. The Germans here at Troina are resisting very bitterly and I believe it must be their main line of resistance, or at least the main line of their outpost position. While we were looking on, some German Shells hit about a block from us but did no harm. General Roosevelt came up, all perturbed about being relieved. I reassured him and also Allen. Flint came up looking fine. We then drove via Nicosia to San Stefano. We went east on the Coast Road to quite near San Agata where we talked to Truscott, Ratay and Johnson, who commands the 15th RCT, leading the attack. Truscott is very confident that he will take San Agata tomorrow. I doubt it but did not say so. The smell of the dead along the road is very noticeable. We got a couple of cubs and flew to Palermo in 50 minutes arriving at 2000. The cars did not get in until after midnight. San Stefano road is a truly terrible road, particularly south of the town of Mistretta, which looks exactly like a stage set and August 3, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) many of the streets are so narrow that a command car cannot drive through them. There are a large number of well dressed people in the town, probably refugees. [*Repitition*] We went east on the Coast Road to quite near San Agata where we talked to Truscott, Ratay and Johnson, who commands the 15th RCT, leading the attack. Truscott is very confident that he will take Can Agata tomorrow. I doubt it but did not say so. The smell of the dead along the road is very noticeable. We got a couple of cubs and flew to Palermo in 50 minutes arriving at 2000. The cars did not get in until after midnight. [*Appendices 105, 06, 07, 08, 09, 116*] August 4, 1943 Had an air raid at 0400 for about 50 minutes. Little harm was done. Worked on my diary. Asked General McSherry, in charge of Civil Affairs, to have the local civilians bury German and Italian dead found in their fields, and bring us the dog tags. Also told him to put a crimp in the Facists, who are running a black market and stealing food from the poor. General RA McClure 1 in charge of publicity, was in. I told him he should take a motor trip over the country so he could see how bad it is, and get proper credit for our men. He will do it tomorrow. August 5, 1943 Inspected all the rear echelon sections and told the soldiers of each section that although they are not doing very romantic work they are doing work of great importance and without their efforts 1 Brig Gen R A McClure August 5, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) the more romantic aspects of war would be impossible . Busted some pictures of Mussolini with my dagger and had one really good bust smashed at the Post Office. Told Provost Marshal to destroy all busts and pictures of him. I consider such acts a pity, but if one is not an iconoclast one is considered unpatriotic. Bought a bed spread for Bea 1 for $100.00 and also sent $1,800 to Riggs Bank and kept $200.00. We are having a good deal of trouble in getting the Navy to go in for amphibious operations east of San Stefano. They appear to have no idea of the value of time or the need for improvisation. If they can't get everything they want they say they can't move. I think this is the result of many years during which all officers who lost a ship were tried. It is true that they have had two destroyers smashed by bombs and really think they should pull out, but we have had many thousands of men hit. General Spaatz came to see me. As usual he was dirty and unshaved and accompanied by his deputy, a British Air Vice Marshal. He asked me if I had any kick. I told him that I thought that offensively, the air was excellent, but defensively, that is, as a means of preventing counter-attacks, it was very inefficient. I told him that in future amphibious operations it would be necessary to have at least a squadron of light bombers overhead at hourly intervals, who could be called into the air from the Ground. These bombers could be given a secondary mission so that when their gas became low they could go over and drop bombs, and then be replaced by a second 1. This exquisitely embroidered rose satin spread took the prize in an exhibition in Palerma in 1893. August 5, 1943 (Cont'd p.3) squadron in an hour with a second mission. Spaatz told me that this was wholly feasible and he would attend to this in the next operation. I also reiterated to him the necessity for using air on targets within artillery range and told him that these targets could be shown by colored smoke fired from guns. That each day, running on a roster, there should be two colors of smoke, one to indicate friendly troops and one to indicate hostile troops. Also that the air could have similar smoke bombs and show the friendly smoke when they came over, it would save a great deal of indiscriminate shooting at our own planes. He acquiesced in this idea. We will move the advanced Command Post to San Stefano tomorrow. [*Appendices 109, 110, 111, 112, 113*] August 6, 1943 All the officers left for the Advanced Command Post at 0800. I left in a cub at 1600 arriving at the landing field east of San Stefano at 1700. I stopped to inspect the Field Hospital of the 3rd Division and saw two men completely out from shell shock. One kept going through the motions of crawling. The doctor told me they were going to give them an injection to put them to sleep and that probably they would wake up alright. One man had the top of his head blown off and they were just waiting for him to die. He was a horrid bloody mess and not good to look at, or I might develop personal feelings about sending men to battle. That would be fatal for a General. The Germans are firing at the Command Post regularly with a long August 6, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) range gun, which I believe they keep in a railway tunnel, run out for fire, and then retract. Before dark they were getting overs, after dark they got shorts and the pieces came over. I think that it is probably impossible to hit the Command Post due to the shape of the hills. I was a little worried for a few seconds and I feel ashamed of myself but I got over it. I have trained myself so that usually I can keep right on talking when an explosion occurs quite close. I take a sly pleasure in seeing other bat their eyes or look around. Troina was taken at 0830 by the 16th Infantry. The losses so far in the 3rd Division run around 55 a day wounded which would make between 15 to 20 killed. [*Appendices 114, 115, 116*] August 7, 1943 I called Keyes right after breakfast to see how the amphibious operation was coming on. Yesterday the Germans dive-bombed one of our LST's so it could not go last night. Keyes said that it is off for tonight, so I told Keyes to put it on. Truscott and I, with Codman, drove to an observation post up the mountain. The 3rd Division engineers had built the road, 5 miles long, from noon on the 5th to daylight on the 6th -- a great feat. It was very hazy. San Fratello is not over 4000 yards from the OP air line, but it takes troops 7 hours to march it due to the necessity of climbing several ridges. We could see our shells hitting the enemy and also the little white puffs of our 60mm mortars. We August 7, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) could easily hear the machine guns and also individual rifle fire. On the way back we heard a lot of anti-air at San Stefano and later found that the Germans had again attempted to bomb our LST's. Flew in two cubs up to Bradley's and had a look at Troina from the command post then flew back -- it was pretty rough. The show tonight will consist of a battalion of the 30th Infantry, two batteries of Armored Field Artillery, and 5 tanks, plus some engineers and some navy beach-party men. The landing will take place just west of the mouth of the Rosmarino River. The troops will block the roads coming from the east and will attack towards the west. General Truscott has organized a pack train of some hundreds of mules with which to supply the three battalions, two of the 30th and one of the 15th, all under Colonel Rogers 1, who is making the attack. August 8, 1943 The landing operation near Torrenova was a complete success, the troops getting ashore unobserved. After they reached the shore they found some 200 Germans asleep in an orchard whom they attacked with bayonet, killing quite a number and dispersing the rest. When they reached the road, one of our soldiers, armed with a Thompson machine gun, saw what he thought was a man approaching. He challenged and the man failed to give the proper reply. He repeated the challenge, and when he again failed to get a reply, he opened fire with the machine gun and was so nervous that he forgot to take his finger off the trigger and emptied the magazine. When daylight came, there were 15 dead Germans. 1. Col Arthur Rogers August 8, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) After our troops had landed and got in place, a column of Germans with six tanks, two of which were M VI's and 4 M IV's approached from the east. Our troops engaged this column getting one MVI and two MIV's and driving the column to the east in confusion. They then attacked to the west and were severly counter-attacked, losing over 100 men. However, I think that most of these men were simply driven into the hills and will be back. The combined attack from east and west cleaned out the enemy at San Agata and netted 1500 prisoners. General Alex, who spent last night at Palermo, arrived at 0900 by cub with General Lemnitzer 1. Took them to command post 3rd Division where Truscott explained the situation. Alex very pleased over landing operation. Then we went to an observation post where we could see the final stages of the attack on the Fratello position. We then drove to the command post Seventh Army, at San Stefano and thence via Mistretta to Troina. Bradley met us enroute and explained method of capture. Alex called it "A great feat of arms" which it was; in fact it is the hardest fight in which American troops have engaged in either Africa or Sicily. As the weather was too bad to fly, we drove back to San Stefano. The road over the mountains is a fine example of the type of horrible country we have encountered. While we were gone, the Germans again bombed our landing craft but had no luck and lost 4 planes, shot down by 11 air support planes. Alex was most indefinite as to future operations. I think there is some sort of political chicanery going on so that we cannot exactly 1. Brig Gen L.L. Lemnitzer August 8, 1943 (Cont'd p. 3) say whether or not Seventh Army will be used and where. AFHQ and 15th Army Group are issuing contradictory orders with respect to instructions on Dukws and also with respect to the 82d Airborne Division. It occurs to me that the 15th Army Group may be trying to get the Dukws to the vicinity of Messina to help the Eighth Army, whereas AFHQ is trying to get them back to Africa to help the Fifth Army. This, however, is a supposition. August 9, 1943 General Middleton came in today on question of relieving General Cushman 1. I have recommended it. We are trying to get out another landing operation for tonight, but I am afraid that the 3d Division has not progressed far enough. The operation, to be successful would have to land in the vicinity of San Brolo, which is east of Cape Orlando. The road east of Cesaro is blown out in 7 places and mined. The 47th Infantry is pushing on without artillery and without anti-tank guns. So long as they keep one crater between them and the enemy they can't be attacked by tanks. At the moment they are receiving shell fire. They have progressed to a point just east of the Martello River on grid line 7 where they have been counter-attacked. Cast. Maniace (7.5) 3rd Division is near Zappulla. I hope we beat the British to Randazzo. We are just in receipt of a dispatch asking when we can spare the 9th Division. Not till we take Messina if I can help it. The British 78th Division is reported near Bronte. As a matter of fact, the 1. Brig Gen H. O. Cushman (See page 164.) August 9, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) 9th Division and the 78th are now racing for Randazzo. Bradley was in at 1030. He feels that we should try the two men responsible for the shooting of the prisoners by the 180th RCT. He also reports that at least 3 Italian soldiers in the 1st Division have deserted and were caught living in civilian clothes with the natives. I shall try to have them shot. Desertion in face of the enemy -- the bastards. I am staying home today as I feel that I should not appear too often when things are going well. I have asked General McSherry to report to me tomorrow so that I can make arrangements with him to use his offices to hunt for any deserters in the face of the enemy. [*Appendices 122, 123*] August 10, 1943 Keyes came in at 0800 and said everything was set for the landing tonight near Brolo, which is east of Point Orlando. He went on up to the command post, 3rd Division at east end of Acquedolci. The same battalion of the 30th Infantry, plus 2 batteries of self-propelled artillery and 5 tanks, with attached engineers, who made the first landing, will participate in this one. Bradley came in at 0945 on way to see Truscott. We waited for McSherry to arrive, which he did at 1000. I had Bradley explain our problems (1) Germans in civilian clothes to be jailed ant later tried as spies. (2) Italian Facists getting passes on false pretenses from Civil Affairs officials. (3) American soldiers of Italian ancestry deserting and living among natives. He is to offer rewards to local officials for their arrest. Bradley and I then drove to CP, 3d August 10, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) Division. Truscott was having difficulty in getting guns forward and wanted some 75mm pack guns. Bradley called II Corps and located 6. We had lunch. Landing all set, using same battalion of 30th Infantry as last time, loading to take place at Caronia. Air to furnish cover from 1400 on. Drove back, stopping at an evacuation hospital run by a doctor from Hamilton 1. Met Lieutenant Colonel Harry Whitfield's 2 son-in-law there -- he is on a surgical team for head wounds. Saw another alleged nervous patient -- really a coward. I told the doctor to return him to his company and he began to cry so I cursed him well and he shut up. I may have saved his soul if he had one. One boy with a shattered leg said, "Are you General Patton? I have read all about you." All seemed glad to see me except one man with a head wound who kept shouting "How about chow?" They said he would die. I also inspected all the other wounded. Most of them are in good shape, and I saw only two who the medical people were going to die. One was the head wound mentioned and the other was a belly wound. Got back to Seventh Army command post at 1530 and saw General House about sufficiency of air cover, which is good. Major General Davenport Johnston 3 (1912 USMA) came I sent Codman along with him to visit the front. At 1945 Keyes called up to say that Bradley and Truscott wanted to call off the landing on the ground that 3d Division had not gotten on fast enough to support it. I told Keyes that the landing would go on. Truscott then asked to speak to me and strongly protested going on the landing. I told him it would go on. He replied, 1. Perrin H. Long (Hamilton Mass) 2. H. D. Whitfield of Burnleigh, Va., a longtime hunting friend. [3.] August 10, 1943 (Cont'd p. 3) "Alright, if you order it," and I said, "I do". I then decided to go up to see Truscott and took Gay along to see that the boats got off, dropping in at Caronia for that purpose. The ships seemed to be under way. I got to the command post, 3d Division at 2045. The first person I met was Captain Davis, U. S. Navy, Chief of Staff to Admiral Davidson. He said the landing should be called off, as it had started an hour late and could not land before 0400. I told him that if it did not land until 0600 it still had to go on. Truscott was walking up and down holding a map and looking futile. I said, "General Truscott, if your conscience will not let you conduct this operation I will relieve you and put someone in command who will." He replied, "General, it is your privilege to reduce me whenever you want to." I said, "I don't want to. I got you the DSM and recommended you for a Major General, but your own ability really gained both honors. You are too old an athlete to believe it is possible to postpone a match." He said, "You are an old enough athlete to know that sometimes they are postponed." I said, "This one won't be. The ships have already started". Truscott replied, "This is a war of defile and there is a bottleneck delaying me in getting my guns up to support the infantry. They -- the infantry -- will be too far west to help the landing." I said, "Remember Frederick the Great: L'audace, L'audace, toujous l'audace!" I know you will win and if there is a bottleneck you should be there and not here. Bradley called at this moment to see whether we were going to attack. I told him we were, and that I took full responsibility for a failure but that if things went well he could have the credit along with Truscott. August 10, 1943 (Cont'd p. 4) I then told Truscott I had complete confidence in him, and, to show it, was going home and to bed, and left. On the way back alone I worried a little, but feel I was right. I thought of Grant and Nelson and felt O.K. That is the value of history. I woke General House up to be sure we would have air cover for the Navy in the morning as we may need their support. I also told him to put all his air in front of the Third. I may have been bull-headed but I truly feel that I did my exact and full duty and under rather heavy pressure and demonstrated that I am a great leader. We sent Colonel Tank 1 to Tunis today to explain that if they take all our LCT's we can't unload, as the docks at Palermo won't take a Liberty Ship until she is half empty, and there are no barges. Also sent a letter to Algiers to explain the question of troops asked for by Fifth Army people. The Fifteenth Army Group and AFHQ seem to be completely in a muddle as to what troops we have in Sicily and what troops are still in Africa. It seems to me the height of stupidity for Clark to have troops sent back to Africa to train. Here they are getting the best training possible, and back in Africa they would be trained by people who never heard a gun go off. We have been at war in Sicily one month today. August 11, 1943 There was very heavy firing all night -- at least at 2400 and at 0300. When I woke up this morning the phone was out until 0630. Then we heard that the landing had been successful against light opposition. There is very heaving firing at the moment, 0900, sounds 1. Lt Col C F Tank (G. 4. sect 7th Army) August 11, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) like Navy. It may be Germans getting rid of their ammunition before pulling out, if they can pull out. Our troops got ashore with very little opposition and to quite a strong position in the hills. 9th Division with Paddy Flint leading got within 1 mile of Randazzo. 3d Division took Brolo after a very hard fight. We lost seven of the eight 105 self-propelled guns and three M5 tanks out of five in the landing operation. However, three of the 105's were knocked out by our own air in spite of all the trouble we took to tell them not to attack. I believe that these attacks on our ground troops from the air are due to the bad maps and to the inability of the young fliers to read even good maps. Colonel H. C. Lodge arrived at 1600. I intend to take him to the front in the morning. He asked me whether he should resign from the Senate and take up his commission. I told him not to do so unless he had a promise from the Secretary of War that he could get combat duty because otherwise, he might resume his commission and then be put on a desk job in Washington where he would do less good to himself and his country than he would in the Senate 1. I am not going to the front today as I feel it would show lackof confidence in Truscott, and it is necessary to maintain the self- respect of generals in order to get the best out of them. 1. It is interesting to note that he was in Sicily shortly after the slapping incident and undoubtedly heard about it from all sides. Yet in November, when appealed to by me for a statement on the decent character of Gen. P., he said that he must see "how the wind was blowing". He never made any statement. BAP August 12, 1943 We left by car for the front at 0730. Lodge was much impressed, as I hoped he would be, with the difficulty of ground and the fine work our men were doing as killers and as engineers. From Cape Orlando on, the ground was covered with dead Germans. At the west end of Brolo we met elements of the 30th Infantry and some of the 7th coming out of the hills. They looked very tired but were in good spirits. Lodge talked to a number of them. Some we saw sitting among German corpses eating -- this takes a strong stomach. The hazards of the landing were more than justified, as it pushed the enemy so fast that he had no time to make demolitions. The bridge at Brolo was cut so we had to turn back. We met Colonel Rogers of the 30th on this bridge. He had a broken hand but was carrying on. (Give him a Legion of Merit) Returned to the command post at 1430 and left by cub for Palermo at 1545. I felt very sick and had a chill. Lodge had dinner with the 2nd Armored. During the night the 3d Division took Patti and the 9th Division entered Randazzo. British 78th also came in. They are to halt here and let us push on. Some of their engineers were killed helping us to remove mines. Randazzo is very badly smashed from the air and since the rock on which it is built is full of iron ore, the mine detectors do not work. When we were driving back and had nearly reached the road intersection at Cape d'Orlando, three German planes flew over. We could see the bomb bays open and the bombs drop, but as we were on a road with a wall on one side and a cliff on the other, we could do nothing about it, so Codman, Lodge and myself just stood there. The bombs August 12, 1943 (cont'd p.2) did not hit too close but might well have done so. While this bombing was going on, Truscott came up and I had a chance to congratulate him on his splendid work. I think that Lodge was very much impressed and rather glad to be bombed. He and Codman certainly did not bat an eye. I wish that there could have been more spectators present to see how officers conduct themselves in tight positions. August 13, 1943 Stayed in bed and ran high fever. Supposed to be due to sand fly bites. 39th [Reconnaissance] Inf Regt fully occupied Randazzo and pushed east. August 14, 1943 Still quite sick. At 1730 had a message that the 3rd Division was pushing on to Falcone so I flew up to the new command post near Naso. August 15, 1943 Drove to front in the morning and saw Truscott near Spanbafora. There was an enemy ammunition train going off. Saw Bradley on the way back. He is doing fine. 3d Division has made contact with 9th and 1st and is in the vicinity of Barcellona. 157th RCT, 45th Division is to land east of Falcone. We are going to put on a third amphibious operation tonight with the 157th Combat Team of the 45th Division landing east of Falcone. August 16, 1943 Truscott and Bradley again tried to call off the landing operation due to the fact that elements of the 3d Division had passed Falcone. I insisted that the landing go on because the plans had August 16, 1943 (cont'd p.2) been made and also so we would get an extra regiment to the front without effort. Necessary precautions were taken to see that the 3d Division did not fire on the 157th when they tried to land. We received a message from Truscott at about midnight that leading elements of the 3d Division entered Messina at 2200 the night of the 16th-17th. I immediately sent a message in clear to General Alexander and one to General Eisenhower. Phoned Bradley at 0300 on the 17th that we would enter Messina in the morning at 1000 hours. I also phoned Truscott to make the necessary arrangements. August 17, 1943 Left by cub at 0850, Lucas, Gay and self. Met Keyes at Command Post 3d Division east of Falcone and drove to RJ 665 at top of hill overlooking Messina. Bradley not there - must have failed to get the message. This is a great disappointment to me as I had telephoned him, and he certainly deserved the pleasure of entering the town. We started into town about 1010. On the way, the enemy shelled the road from the Italian side. One of these shells hit the second car behind me, wounding all the occupants, including the G-2 of the 3d Division. The next car behind that, in which Truscott's Aide was riding, had all four tires blown off without injuring the car or anyone in it. In the town of Messina we met three British tanks and a few men who had arrived at 10:00 o'clock under the command of a general. It is very evident that Montgomery sent these men for the purpose of stealing the show. They landed from one LCT about 15 miles south and had come directly up the road. I think the general was quite sore August 17, 1943 (cont'd p.2) that we had got there first, but since we had been in for eighteen hours when he arrived, the race was clearly to us. We then went to the town hall and saw the Mayor, the Chief of Police, etc. I told Truscott to do the honors as he had captured Messina. The town is terribly destroyed - the worst I have seen. In one tunnel there were said to have been 5,000 civilians hiding for over a week. I do not believe that this indiscriminate bombing of towns is worth the ammunition, and it is unnecessarily cruel to civilians. On the way back we met General Bedell Smith and General Lemnitzer. Smith had stopped back of the crest, just why I do not know, although it would be reasonable to suppose because the road beyond the crest was under fire. I took Smith in my car and we drove ahead to the 3d Division where we had lunch. During lunch I had quite a discussion with him about promotions for the staff of the Seventh Army. He said that when it was organized we were told that we would not get the makes. I said I knew that, but now that we had demonstrated our ability, we demanded recognition, not as a favor but as a right. I feel sure he will do his best to prevent it, but I will get them anyhow. Smith is a typical s.o.b. Well, I feel let down. The reaction from intense mental and physical activity to a status of inertia is very difficult. I got a second DSC yesterday and ended a war. I feel that the Lord has been most generous. If I had to fight the campaign over I would make no change in anything I did. Few generals in history have ever been able to say as much. So far in this war I have been a chip floating on the river of destiny. I think I had best keep on floating - I will surely be used some more, though at the worst things August 17, 1943 (cont'd p.2) look gloomy. For the moment the future of the Seventh Army does not look bright but I trust that the same fortune which has helped me before will continue to assist me. I have been very lucky. August 18, 1943 Stayed in camp all day as I still feel rather shaky as a result of my sand fly fever. We are moving the troops west of a general line Gela-San Stefano. The British will occupy the island east of this line. August 19, 1943 General Giraud and 3 officers came at 1000 to inspect the Tabor of Goums[iers(?)]. Bradley and I met them at landing field. Bradley accompanied them to see the Goums, where several were decorated both with French and American decorations. In the afternoon, units of the British 78th and 51st Divisions began to use Route 116 north of Naso. This was contrary to our agreement, by which they were not to use this road until 1400 on the 20th so we had to halt them so that the 3d Division could clear on its move to the west. Army Command Post will move back to Palermo in the morning. August 20, 1943 After lunch General Blesse, Chief Surgeon AFHQ, brought me a very nasty letter from Ike with reference to the two soldiers I cussed out for what I considered cowardice (see appendices #124 and #125). Evidently I acted precipitatly and on insufficient knowledge. My motive was correct because one cannot permit skulking to exist. It is just like any communicable disease. I admit freely that my method was wrong and I shall make what amends I can. I regret that incident as I hat to make Ike mad when it is my earnest study to please him. General Lucas arrived at 1800 to further explain Ike's attitude. I feel very low. August 21, 1943 I had Pvt. Paul G. Bennett, ASN 7000001, C Battery 17th Field Artillery in end and explained to him that had cussed him out in the hope of restoring his manhood, that I was sorry, and that if he cared, I would like to shake hands with him. We shook General John A. Crane, to whose Brigade he belongs, stated to me afterwards that the man was absent without leave and had gone to the rear by falsely representing his condition to the battery surgeon. It is rather a commentary on justice when an Army Commander has to soft- soap a skulker too placate the timidity of those above. Appear day ? Headquarters Seventh Army APO #758 U.S> Army General Order Number 18 Soldiers of the Seventh Army: Born at see, baptized in blood, and crowned with victory, in the course of 38 days of incessant battle and unceasing labor, you have added a glorious chapter to the history of war. Pitted against the best Germans and Italians could offer, you have been unfailingly successful. The rapidity of your dash, which culminated in the capture of Palermo, was equaled by the dogged tenacity with which you stormed Troina and captured Messina. Every man in the Army deserves equal credit. The enduring valor of the Infantry, and the impetuous ferocity of the tanks were matched by the tireless clamor of our destroying guns. The Engineers performed prodigies in the construction and main- tenance of impossible roads over impassable country. The services of Maintenance and Supply performed a miracle. The Signal Corps laid over 10,000 miles of wire, and the Medical Department evacuated and cared for our sick and wounded. On all occasions the Navy has given generous and gallant support. Throughput the operation, our Air has kept the sky clear and tirelessly supported the operation of the ground troops. August 22, 1943 (cont'd p.2) As a result of this combined effort, you have killed or captured 113,350 enemy troops. You have destroyed 265 of his tanks, 2,334 vehicles, and 1,162 large guns and in addition, have collected a mass of military booty running into hundreds of tons. But your victory has a significance above and beyond its physical aspect - you have destroyed the prestige of the enemy. The President of the United States, the Secretary of War, the Chief of Staff, General Eisenhower, General Alexander, General Montgomery have all congratulated you. Your fame shall never die. G.S. PATTON, JR., Lieut. General, U.S. Army Commanding (Appendix 125) HEADQUARTERS NORTH AFRICAN THEATRE OF OPERATION Office of the Surgeon A.P.O. 534 705.M 16 August 1943 SUBJECT: Mistreatment of Patients in Receiving Tents of the 15th and 93d Evacuation Hospitals To : The Surgeon NATOUSA 1. Example No. 1-Pvt. Charles H. Kuhl, ASN 35536908, L Company, 26th Infantry; 1st Division was seen in the 3d Battalion 26th Infantry aid station on August 2, 1943 at 1410 hours where a diagnosis of "Exhaustion " was made by Lt. H.L. Sanger, M.C. He was evacuated to C Company 1st Medical Battalion. There a note was made on the patient's E.M.T that he had been admitted to Company C three times for "Exhaustion " during the Sicilian Campaign. From C Company he was evacuated to the clearing company over the signature of Captain J.D. Broom, M.C. There he was put in "quarters" and was given sodium amytal 1 capsule bedtime and A.M., signed Capt. N.S. Nedell, M.C.; on 3 August 1943 the following note appears on the E.M.T. "Psychoneuroses anxiety state moderate severe (soldier has been twice before in hospital within ten days. He can't take it at front evidently. He is repeatedly returned.)" Signed Capt. T.P. Covington, M.C. He was evacuated to the 15th Evacuation Hospital. While he was waiting in the receiving tent of that hospital , Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. came into the tent with the commanding officer and other medical officers of the 15th Evacuation Hospital. The General spoke to the various patients in the receiving tent and especially commended the wounded men. Then he came to Pvt. Kuhl and asked him what was the matter. The soldier replied "I guess I can't take it." The General immediately flared up, cursed the soldier, called him all types of a coward, then slapped him across the face with his gloves and finally grabbed the soldier by the scruff of his neck and kicked him out of the tent. The soldier was immediately picked up by corpsmen and taken to a ward tent. There he was found to have a temperature of 102.2 F and he gave a history of chronic diarrhea for about one month, having at times as high as ten or twelve stools a day. The next day his fever continued and a blood smear was found to be positive for malaria parasite. The final disposition diagnosis was chronic dysentery and malaria. This man had been in the Army 8 months and with the First Division since about June 2d. 2. Example No. 2- Pvt. Paul G. Bennett, ASN 7000001, C Battery 17th Field Artillery was admitted to the 93d Evacuation Hospital at about 1420 hours 10 August 1943. This patient was a 21 year old boy who had severed four years in the regular Army. His unit had been with II Corps since March and he had never had any difficulties until August 6th when his "buddy" was wounded. He could not sleep that night and felt nervous. The shells going over him bothered him. The next day he was worried about his "buddy" and became more nervous. He was sent down Appendix 125(cont'd p.2) to the rear echelon by a battery aid man and there the medical officer gave him some medicine which made him sleep, but still he was nervous and disturbed. On the next day the medical officer ordered him to be evacuated, although the boy begged not to be evacuated because he did not want to leave his unit. The following is a quotation from an informal report made by Major Charles B. Etter, receiving officer, 93d Evacuation Hospital, to the Surgeon II Corps, describing the incident. "Lt. General George S Patton Jr. entered the receiving tent and spoke to all the injured men. The next patient was sitting huddled up and shivering. When asked what his trouble was, the man replied, ' It's my nerves and began to sob. The General then screamed at him, ' What did you say? The man replied, It's my nerves, I can't stand the shelling any more. He was still sobbing. The General then yelled at him, your nerves hell; you are just a Goddamned coward, you yellow son of a bitch.' He then slapped the man and said, shut up that Goddamned crying. I wont have these brave men here who have been shot at seeing a yellow bastard sitting here crying.' He then struck at the man again, knocking his helmet liner off and into the next tent. He then turned to the admitting officer and yelled, Don't admit this yellow bastard; there's noting the matter with him. I won't have the hospitals cluttered up with these sons of bitches who haven't got the guts to fight. ' He then turned to the man again, who was managing to sit at attention though shaking all over and said, You're going back to the front lines and you may get shot killed, but you're going to fight. If you don't I'll stand you up against a wall and have a firing squad kill you on purpose .' 'In fact, he said, reaching for his pistol, 'I ought to shoot you myself, you goddamned whimpering coward'. As he left the tent, the General was still yelling back to the receiving officer to send that yellow son of a bitch back to the front line. Nurses and patients attracted by the shouting and cursing came from adjoining tents and witnessed this disturbance." 3. The deleterious effects of such incidents upon the wellbeing of patients, upon the professional morale of hospital staffs and upon the relationship of patient to physician are incalculable. 4. It is imperative that immediate steps be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. s/ Perrin H. Long Perrin H. Long, Lt. Colonel, M.C. Consulting Physician Appendix 124 Allied Force Headquarters Office of the Commander-in-Chief 17 August, 1943 Dear General Patton: This personal and secret letter will be delivered to you by General Blesse, Chief Surgeon, Allied Headquarters, who is coming to Sicily in connection with maters involving health of the command. I am attaching a report which is shocking in its allegations against your personal conduct. I hope you can assure me that none of them is true, but the detailed circumstances communicated to me lead to the belief that some ground for the charges must exist. I am well aware of the necessity for hardness and toughness on the battlefield. I clearly understand that firm and drastic measures are at times neces- clearly understand that firm and drastic measures are at times neces- sary in order to secure desired objectives. But this does not excuse brutality, abuse of the sick, not exhibition of uncontrollable temper in front of subordinates. In the two cases cited in the attached report, it is not my present in- tention to institute any formal investigation. Moreover, it is actually distressing to me to have an American Army under your leadership has attained a success of which I am extremely proud. I feel that the personal ser- vices you have rendered the United States and the Allied cause during the past weeks are incalculable value; but nevertheless if there is a very considerable element of truth in the allegations accompanying this letter, I must so seriously question your good judgement and your self discipline as to raise serious doubts in my mind as to your future usefulness. I am assuming, for the moment, that the facts in the case are far less serious than appears in this report, and that whatever truth is contained in these allegations represents an act of yours, when under the stress and strain of a winning a victory, you were thoughtless rather than harsh. Your leading of the past few weeks has, in my opinion, fully vindicated to the War Department and to all your assoc- iates in arms my own persistence in upholding your preeminent qualifica- tions for the difficult task to which you were assigned. Nevertheless you must give to this matter of personal department your instant and serious consideration to the end that know incident of this character can be reported to me in the future, and I may continue to count upon your assistance in military tasks. In Allied Headquarters there is know record of the attached report or of my letter to you, except in my own secret files. I will expect your answer to be sent to me personally and secretly. Moreover, I strongly advice that, providing there is any semblance of truth in the allega- tions in the accompany report, you make in the form of apology or otherwise such personal amends to the individuals concerned as may be within power, and that you do this before submitting your letter to me. Appendix 124 (cont'd p.2) No letter that I have been called upon to write in my military career has caused me the mental anguish of this one, not only because of my long and deep personal friendship for you but because of my admiration for your military qualities, but I assure you that conduct such as described in the accompanying report will not be tolerated in this theater no matter who the offender may be. Sincerely, s/ Dwight D. Eisenhower Lt.Gen. George S. Patton Jr. Commanding United States Seventh Army August 21, 1943 (cont'd p.2) After lunch at 1300 General Lucas decorated Keyes and Gaffey with the DSM, and me and a Lieutenant with the DSC. I then drove to the airport to see Lucas off. I have greatly enjoyed having him and feel that he has been a great help to us. Bob Hope and his troupe called on me at the officer later and we had them to dinner and they sang and carried on until after midnight. I put myself out to be amusing and human as I think it may help, particularly if this business about the shirkers comes up. August 22, 1943 Went to church in Royal chapel at 1000. At 1100 I had in all the doctors and nurses and enlisted men who witness the affairs with the skulkers. I told them about my friend in the last war who shirked, was let get by with it, and eventually killed himself. I told them that I had taken the action I had to correct such a future tradgedy. Campie and I went for a sail in a launch with a Lateen sail. It had no keel so crabbed badly but was good fun. After supper we went to a party at a private house - very few present and terribly hot. August 23, 1943 We left Washington for Norfolk ten months ago today. A great deal has happened and I have acquired quite a lot of fame and also sustained a great deal of mental anguish, which was, in the light of subsequent events, quite unnecessary. However, with a few brief lapses I have retained my self-confidence. I have always done my duty and have trusted my destiny. At 1500 Private Charles H. Kuhl, ASN 35536908, Company L, 26th Infantry, came in. He was one of the two men I cussed out for skulking. I told him why I did it, August 23, 1943 (cont'd p.2) namely, that I tried to make him mad with me so he would regain his manhood. I then asked him to shake hands, which he did. Tomorrow I will talk to the 2d Armored Division. Bradley came to lunch on his way to understudy Clark for the next show. August 24, 1943 Keyes and I drove to the Headquarters 2d Armored Division and gave them a talk on how good they were. The Command Post is nearing Fassini. The ground between the road and the ocean is beautifully cultivated. Major General Lord Rennel, head of AMGOT, called on me at 1500. In the course of the conversation he said, "Our Prime Minister is very much opposed to a cross channel operation, so I think all the troops in Africa and more too will be absorbed in Italy." Rennel used to be head of Morgan-Grenfell in Rome and has been all over Italy. He says that the Brenner Pass is not too bad. I asked him about the two roads running from Treviso to Trieste and Udine, and said I hoped he would get Alex to let the Seventh Army use them. He said he would do his best if he comes with me. I asked him to supper tomorrow. August 25, 1943 Drove to Trabia and made a speech to the 45th Division. They were a most impressive looking group. Had lunch with Middleton. We talked about Clark's operation at the Gulf of Salerno. Here again the Americans will be in the covering role, the 10th British Corps making the main attack. I am quite sure from my experience that the British should always do the covering and the Americans the attacking, but others do not agree with me. August 25, 1943 (cont'd p.2) General Rennel and two staff officers came for supper and we had a very pleasant evening. He is a very widely read and much traveled man and a most interesting companion. He is the first man I ever saw who takes snuff. August 26, 1943 Flew to Termini East and was met by Guard of Honor from Company "A", 47th Infantry, and a band. Many of the men had been wounded and I talked to each one with a Purple Heart or a Silver Star. One very small man had a DSC. Made a talk to all officers and non-commissioned officers of the 9th Division. They are a fine looking group of men and I am more satisfied with General Eddy every time I come in contact with him. While I was gone, General Miller, head chief (G-4) for [IKE]. [*cont'd end Vol IV*] *56* June 1943 NOTES ON THE ARAB Somewhere I have read that certain insects, as the ant and the dragon-fly, attained their present state of development some hundreds of millions of years ago. My observation of the local Arabs makes me wonder if the same sort of arrested development does not apply to man. Certainly, between 600 to 800 the Arab Race development remarkable ability as conquerors, as scholars, and as lovers--or were they great only in comparison with the unutterable stupidity of the Dark Ages ? It were folly to pursue this line of thought, else we would inevitably shatter an idol by concluding that at Tours, Charles Martel saved Europe by beating second-rate opponents. However that may be, save it he did, and by that act insured that we of today do not exist in world of bathrobe mendicants. Truly, the costume of the Arab is the index of his inefficiency. In the first place, it makes him a one-armed man, for in order to retain his various garments in place, he is always using one hand as safety pin. There may be more to this one-armed business than meets the eye--there certainly is as far as his clothing is concerned. The elephant, it is said, would have outstripped man in the struggle for the supremacy of the earth had he possessed two trunks, but having only one he did not develop the same flexibility of mind as are acquired for the use of two arms. For years, before coming here, I had read of the quiet dignity of the Arab. He is quiet, but his dignity, in my opinion, is pure dumbness. His aquiline face, which in the pure bred ones is quiet impressive, is really the face of a dumb man. The eyes have no depth. It is only the bony structure that makes -57- him look austere. As a friend of mine says, " know man can be either intelligent or proud of himself who spends his life pushing one undersized donkey up and down the road." It may well be that this donkey pace, which he has emulated for two thousand years, has reduced his mental reactions to a similar tempo. In driving a motor car it is very dangerous to approach Arabs at any speed because, habituated to donkeys, they are inept at judging pace. Furthermore , they invariably look before they move, which at the present tempo of human competition insures a fatal delay. There is another curious thing about the Arab and the donkey. He has been using it as a beast of burden for over thousand years and yet has never learned to pack it. He spends most his time on the road readjusting the pack or else sitting on top of it sideways, and if anything happens, both the Arab and pack fall off. The earliest base relief depicting horses indicates that they were guided by two stick with which the rider struck them on the side of the head to change their direction, and probably on top of the head to slow them up. Owing to the mono-arm tendencies of the Arab, he has but one stick, but he invariably drives the unfortunate donkey not with the bridle but by beating him on either side of the head. It should be said in his favor that he does not hit very hard, but I believe that this is due more to languor than to a charitable nature. The same nebulous condition which applied to the Arab's clothes is equally applicable to his shoes, which are always on the point of coming off, and if anything happens do come off. In fact, when an Arab falls off a horse, it is really a fall. At one of their fantasmas, during which they ride at speed, firing their flint-lock weapons, I saw many Arabs fall off. When they hit the ground, turbans, shoes, guns, -58- Knives, and satchels flew in all directions, and the proceeding had to be halted while they were retrieved. We have already mentioned that his reactions are slow. In order to make assurance doubly sure, he envelops his head, including his ears, with a bandage, and then pulls on a hood, thereby adding to his self-imposed deafness by reducing his arc of vision to about one third-normal. On the other hand, the Arab has developed the ability--so widely advertised by Coca Cola-- of relaxing. He can relax anywhere, at any time, in any position. His official relaxing hours are from 12:00 to 2:00, during which period he simply stops where he is and lies down on the sidewalks, on the docks, in the street-- wherever the relaxing hour strikes him. In common with many so called backward races, the Arab has no fixed meal hours, He eats when his stomach prompts, and he eats very little, except on certain festive occasions when he devours the major part of sheep wit consummate ease. One of the most amusing spectacles I have witnessed is the sight of five Arabs, twelve bulls, and a mule plowing, with one plow of a size which certainly could be pulled by either a Fordson tractor or one good horse. Two Arabs manipulate the plow, two Arabs beat the bulls, and one Arab walks in front of the mule, which in turn, walks in front of the two lead bulls and is attached to them by a chain. As long as this procession is going in a straight line, there is only a limited amount of conversation, and a very limited amount of plowing since the rate of movement is not over a half a mile an hour. But when it comes to a turn, the alleged placidity of the Arab disappears. Each of the five has a different theory as how to plow should be turned. The self-determination of small nations is nothing when compared to the self-expression of five Arabs. - 59 - Each one shouts, and each one waves, and nothing happens. Finally, the man with the mule becomes desparate and hits it over the head. This induces the mule to make the proper turn and the plowing continues. If there are any other bulls in the vicinity, their conductors cease operations and advise the one making the turn. I once saw seventeen teams plowing on one field without producing any results because whenever one of the teams came to a turn, the other sixteen stopped to advise it how to negotiate it. There is another practice, possibly derived from the Koran, although I do not remember seeing it, which prevents an Arab from allowing any animal to graze unattended. This is certainly at variance with the hymn, "As shepherds watched their flocks at night all seated on the ground," because an Arab in charge of a flock never sits still nor permits the flock to do so. A Texas friend of mine believes that the pathetic thinness of the animals is due to this perpetual motion. They are walked to death trying to find grass-- another argument against regimentation, perhaps? In Tunisia, where roads are extremely bad, the Arabs invariably drive their numerous flocks down the center of the road, inducing great delay in troop movements and considerable running around on the part of the Arabs to collect their animals after trucks have passed through or over them. They have a further practice inimical to rapid movement.The conductor of a pack train or even a wagon walks well to the rear so that he must run a considerable distance in order to move his animal or vehicle off the road. Among the plains Arabs and the mountain Arabs in Tunisia, there is intimate association between the sheep, the camels, the burros and the Arabs. They all occupy one tent or straw hut, and since they are all equally illiterate, sit for hours gazing vacantly into space--perhaps the animals are thinking. - 60 - When an Arab wants to sell a sheep, he carries it a cross his shoulders as a lady carries a wrap. When he wishes to sell a chicken, he attaches it to a rope around his waist head down. This has no bad effect on the chickens because they are inured to it through the bus rides they are always taking. Any Arab bus has a complete crown around the top of chickens and ducks hanging by their feet. Having no newspapers, the Arab is very sociable and will walk miles behind an ass for the purpose of entering a local fair. When he gets there he forgets why he came and stands in the middle of the street making no visible attempt to sell or trade. This street standing habit is also very adverse to military operations. The above reference to an ass reminds me of a statement attributed to a Harvard man visiting the Pyramids. It runs as follows: "As I sat on my ass on the ass of my ass, This paradox came to my mind That while half of my ass was in front of my ass, The whole of my ass was behind." The Koran advocates great cleanliness, but states that when water is absent, people may rub themselves with sand. Since in many parts of Morocco both water and sand are absent, cleanliness ceases. I once made a trip from the Border to Mexico City and was horrified at the squalor of the native dwellings along the road. Had I first visited Morocco I would have been less appalled because the most utterly abandoned Mexican Hakal is really quite a dwelling compared with the pigsty habitations of many of the Arabs. Among the poorer class these huts are constructed of a framework of reeds, covered with straw with a sort of conical beehive-shaped top. There are no windows, no chimney, and the door is not over two feet high and about as wide. - 61- In Tunisia, they actually seem to live in manure piles. Whether this is for warmth or necessity, I do not know. On the other hand, the Arabs are very industrious--at about twenty per cent efficiency--are not excessively cruel to animals, and are extremely good to their children, whom, since it is the Will of Allah, they permit to die of infantile diseases at an enormous rate. The fatalism attributable to the Koranic Law may well be the basis for Mohammedan decadence. If a man is unsuccessful he does not bestir himself. It is the Will of Allah. If a murder is committed, that too was preordained. It is the same with sickness; it is the same with everything--it is Kismet! Another factor tending to retard racial development is the status of women. To me it seems patent that if the mothers of a race are utterly degraded and utterly uneducated, are treated as chattels, and are deprived even of the debatable attribute of a soul, it must react on the children. Too truly it is a far cry from the Rudolf Valentino of the movies to the actual Shiek of the desert. The fair but frail European ladies who yielded to the forceful blandishments of that celluloid hero would have a terrible time in real life, particularly if they had retained a sense of smell-even incense is inadequate. So far as my observations have gone, the Arab has no toilet facilities. Now while this to a degree may account for the fertility of the soil in the vicinity of their villages and encampments, it is also responsible for the flies, for the plague, for cholera, and for dysentery. In complying with the imperious dictates of nature, the Arab is supposed to emulate the setter rather than the pointer, but since paper is nowhere in evidence, one can only surmise--unfortunately the surmise seems very accurate. In common with most Occidentals I was raised on the theory that the Arab women were beautiful, and hence resented the fact that all the respectable ones covered their loveliness behind a veil. When I visited the Atlas regions, where the use of the veil is not the custom, I was again impressed with the wisdom of Mohammed. The Arab women are prettier when you do not see their faces. Of the women I have seen, wither veiled or unveiled, I have never seen one who looked happy or even contented - why should they! But the Arab has many fine traits. He is law-abiding, he is sober, and he is a natural warrior. While not physically as husky as our men, he has more endurance. Once at a remote station, I was received by a guard of honor composed of native irregulars who had in the preceding twenty-four hours marched 136 kilometers (85 miles) and were still alert and very snappy. The high-caste Arabs whom I know are the most courteous, considerate , and generous gentlemen I have ever met. Should we attempt to Occidentalize the Arab, we would make a mistake. Despite the complete difference in our outlook on life, he is, in his filth and poverty, contented and perhaps happy. Our clamorous urge for a more generous life is unknown to him. Our heartaches at failure pass him by. Kismet is less exigent than ambition. After all, whether you call him God or Allah, a benign being rules the world. If the Arab way of life were wholly wrong, He would not permit it - or am I, too, becoming a fatalist? Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.