Video: 'General George S. Patton 360°: Rogue General - S1E4 (part 3/4) Full History Channel Documentary' (Aug. 10, 1943, at 1:33)

(Tuesday, August 10, 1943; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — For the second time in a week, General George S. Patton, Jr., struck a U.S. Army soldier today after losing his temper.

This time, his encounter was with Private Paul G. Bennet at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in San Stefano, in Sicily. Patton asked Bennet what he was ill with, and Bennet, suffering from shell shock, replied, “It’s my nerves… I can’t stand the shelling anymore.”

According to a medical officer who witnessed the attack, General Patton replied, “Your nerves, hell. You’re just a God-damned coward, you yellow son of a bitch!” and then slapped him.

The second incident was witnessed by a nurse, who told her boyfriend, a U.S. Army Captain in the public affairs detachment for the U.S. Seventh Army, and would make news worldwide when it became public three months later.

Although demands would be made by members of Congress for General Patton to be relieved of duty, Patton would instead be reprimanded and would be made to apologize to both soldiers.