The Press: G.I. Mauldin v. G. Patton

Lieut. General George S. Patton insists on spit & polish. Soldier-Cartoonist Bill Mauldin pictures G.I.s as grimy and unshaven. Patton recently threatened to ban Stars & Stripes from his Army area unless Mauldin's well-plugged uglies tidied themselves up. Mauldin came back with a cartoon dig at the general. Navy Captain Harry Butcher, General Eisenhower's top aide, told the two to get together.

Mauldin jeeped for 36 hours to reach Patton's HQ, turned up scrubbed, shaved and saluting. Complained Patton: Mauldin's cartoons were playing hob with morale; not every soldier could wash and shave every...

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