Gen. George S. Patton, The "Sarge" and the Retard.
 

Let me begin this way, NO ONE takes more offense to that last word than I do. I lived in group homes for people with mental retardation for nine years. So before anyone take offense, at least read the story.

This last Saturday I helped out in the kitchen down at St. John's Church on the corner of Second Street and Portage Trail. It was "soup kitchen" day.

The man who set this up 7 years ago and who still runs it is Pat Prinzo, the "Sarge".

Pat served under General George S. Patton. One of the Masters of Warfare. If you younger people want to see a masterful performance, rent PATTON from the video store.

Sarge tells me that George C. Scott gave a good performance, other than being 'SOFTER' than the real General.

Did the Sarge actually KNOW Ol Blood and Guts?

One of my favorite pictures, besides the one Patton peeing in the Rhine (not the famous photo, one taken at a different angle by the Sarge) is a picture of Patton in full dress uniform.

He is at the head of a table, surrounded by dignatries and brass. There in the corner, sits the only enlisted man in the photo, Pat Prinzo.

Yea, he not only knew the man, the man even liked him. Patton was fond of the cooks, he knew an army travels and fights better when fed.

Patton liked the Sarge.

One day it the middle of the Summer, with tempatures outside over 100 degrees, and much hotter in the kitchen, Sarge took off his helmet and leggings.

Just as luck (fate?) would have it, in comes the General.

"You've got 30 seconds Sargeant before you become a private" Then Patton left.

Pat never moved so fast to get those leggings and that hot metal helmet back on.

When the General came back through, he whispered in the Sarge's ear..."Stay in uniform Sarge or you won't only be a private, you'll be out of my army."

Now, Patton was known for being tough on his troops. Did Pat think less of the General"

He grumbled and moaned about it.

Then a few months later the Sarge took a bullet to the head. Actually to the helmet.

If the helmet hadn't been on, Pat would have either been dead, or would have become a human vegetable.

To this day, Pat Prinzo is grateful for his life and the Hard Corps general who wouldn't even bend the rules for someone he liked.

Patton was indeed a Master.

If the Sarge had not been wearing that helmet, some 56 odd years ago on some blood covered battelfield on the other side of the world, then our little corner of the planet would have suffered a great loss.

Pat is a member of the local VFW. He is President of the local Italian-American club. He is actively involved in his church and in our Community.

Pat retired from Goodyear, where he had run the Executive Dining room. There he was again surrounded by the Brass and the Suits.

Doing a great job.

I've had the pleasure and priveledge to work with Pat, the Sarge, on many occassions. He likes me to lift up the pots and pans. I try to tell him I'm no spring chicken myself, and he just rolls his eyes.

The Sarge has lived in the same house for over 40 years, married to the same women for over 50. Raised a family. Worked hard.

Went through hard times, especially when one of his children got hooked on drugs. That was an especially hard time.

But through it all, he worked hard, and did it with a pleasing and professional demeanor.

You won't find a single person in Cuyahoga Falls that would say one word against the man.

He is a MASTER of living life to it's fullest, working hard and sharing. A man I admire and respect more than all the Masters I talk about here.

You have heard of General Patton. Until today, unless you live near by, you have never heard of the Sarge.

But look around your neighborhood, your little piece of the planet and you will see the true masters everywhere.

Like Jerry.

Jerry the RETARD.

As I was entering the supermarket last night, I overheard two young girls make that remark.

They were referring to the bag boy. They were smirking and giggling about Jerry the Retard.

I stopped them.

"Girls," I said, "someday you MAY outgrow your stupidity, I hope so."

"But Jerry didn't ask to be that way, did he? Jerry has done nothing to offend you, or he has never said anything hurtful to you, has he?"

I didn't give them time to answer.

"Jerry the RETARD as you call him has feelings. He gets hurt just the same as you and I do. He is a lot more like us than he is different from us. I hope someday you'll understand that, and let me be the first to tell you this, when you call people like Jerry a retard, it only demonstrates your own ignorance."

"Think about it, you aren't IGNORANT girls are you?"

Then I went in the store. Had a couple of items to buy, milk and bread I think.

Went to the checkouts, and the girl in the speed lane, the one where you go with 12 items or less waved for me to come over.

I said, "No thanks, I'll go through this line."

It was the longest line in the store, even though other registers were open.

It was Jerry's line.

Jerry has that typical look of a PERSON we label mentally retarded, the round chubby face, sloped shoulders.

Jerry wears big black rim glasses. He has a neat bow-tie on. He looks sharp.

And he packs your groceries EXACTLY the right way, so when you get home, all the canned goods are together, all the frozen foods.

Jerry does a great job packing. Then he offers to take your groceries out. No matter if you are man or women, young or old, have one bag or thirty.

He always offers.

Jerry has been packing for 11 years now. A few years ago the manager offered him a salary increase and a 'better' job trimming the fruits and vegetables in the produce department.

Jerry said with a wry grin, "No thanks, I don't like to be around vegetables, I been there done that at the workshop." Then he laughed.

The manager got the joke.

Jerry has been called a vegetable. A retard. You name it, Jerry has heard it all.

And if ever an idiot says it to his face, he has a standard answer,

"That may be your opinion, but it's not God's"

And goes about his business.

Jerry looked up and saw me standing in line. He gave me one of those great big smiles.

Then he packed my two items and asked me if I needed help taking them to my car. I said "Of course."

Jerry is a Master. He does what few of us could ever do. A repetive boring job, and he excels at doing it.

He has never missed a day of work. It is that IMPORTANT to him. He always has a smile, a hug if you will allow it.

Usually a corny joke he just heard.

Almost EVERYONE loves Jerry. Except the occassional ignorant person that doesn't know any better.

I am a student of the masters. But truthfully, my favorites are right here in my hometown. Voices you'll never hear. Names you will never know.

These are my champions, my heroes. My mentors and the Masters I learn from.

Jerry has been working for 11 years. But the manager didn't want to hire him. He was afraid.
He was concerned. He had never had a 'retard' work for him before.

He had to be persuaded. He had to be sold.
He had to be educated.

I am glad I was there that day 11 years ago, to continue to make the sell. The words of my Sales Masters echoing in my ears,

"The sell begins when the customer says no."

The manager said NO a dozen times before Jerry got the job.

Everytime I see the manager he THANKS me for sending him the best employee he has ever had.

I always say, "Don't thank me, thank Jerry, he's doing all the work."

I talk about human potential here. And about fulfilling your dreams. And of contribution.

I speak of Masters. But I tell you this sincerely,

It is all about people, like the Sarge,

like Jerry,

like you.

Today I just wanted to share the names of a couple of other masters I know.

If anyone reading is impressed by name dropping. If you want to know the kind of people in my circle. If you want me to tell you the names of "my crowd", the names of the masters, then here you go, I'm going to do some name dropping,

Pat Prinzo, the Sarge, Jerry the bagboy, and
Bob Heath (I'll tell you his story later).

You should be impressed, I know I am.

Gordon (Student of the TRUE masters) Alexander

Re: I was wrong.
 

Gordon,

Please keep listening to that voice. (As if you could do anything else.)

Boy, do I love your stories.

Thanks.

Richard

Gordon, your stories are great, but...
 

but, the best part is, they are true. You are a master story teller, and a master person, to say the least!

Richard

NOW you tell me, after I named him ANDY!
 

HA!

Just when I thought I had him bound and gagged.

For Pete's sake, make up

my

mind already....

G

MY stories are TRUE???
 

Richard,

You know what.

Sometimes I wish I had a better imagination,
but I have to settle for writing about what
I know.

If ONLY I could have thought of Harry Potter!

G.

PS. Did you know we have Gormies and Troglos living beneath Cuyahoga Falls...well, that's a story for a different time. Thanks Richard.

Pop Quiz for Dennis the Menace...
 

Bad Andy...

A TV commercial?

Or Book?

Both, but the book came first.

C.Peterson and J.Paragon

BAD DOG, ANDY.

A latch key dalmatian, home alone, drinking, smoking cigars, and having a poodle friend over.

General Publishing Group

If you said TV, turn it off and give my five pushups...

Re: I was right.
 

Gordon,

You give me the quiz. Then you answer it yourself. Then you give me pushups for being wrong.

Where'd I leave that dang slingshot?

Oh, yeah ... there it is ...

"Bad Andy" isn't the right name for that voice.

How about "Weenie Golfer?"

Richard

Thank you, Gordon
 

Hi there Gordon!

Its my first time visiting this board, and the first time posting. Reading the headline for your post, I actually slammed my mouse down. It was the second time in 24 hours I read someone using that term "retard" and quite frankly, I was peeved.

Then I read your opening paragraph, and relaxed a little.

Then I read what you told those poor, uneducated girls, and I recognized a kindred spirit.

Finally, I read about "The Master", Jerry, and I shed tears.

My younger brother John is a "retard"...he has Down's Syndrome. He was born when I was still a baby myself, only 14 months old. I remember some of the awful things people used to say to me about him. I remember not being served in restaurants because he was in our group. I remember watching him cry in frustration over not being able to verbally communicate what was on his heart. I remember when I came home from college and he would not speak to me for the entire summer, because his stalwart companion for his entire growing up years disappeared one day without warning.

While each human being is a precious and unique creation of God, our very special people have messages which need to be listened to closely. After a career working with special needs people, I look forward to seeing my friends in Heaven, knowing they will be whole. It is then they can look in my eyes and thank me because I loved them when they were not whole.

Thank you, Gordon, for a moving story.

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE




Dare to Discover Your Passion!

Julie, we are kindred spirits, and here is why....
 

First,

Thanks for dropping in. You may not have ever heard of me before, but I've been around awhile.

I've kept a close eye on Brad Swift and applaud his developments in the human potential movement, hope he and you don't mind my calling it that.

I worked for Hope Homes, Inc. for 8 years as a houseparent, in fact, my wife and I were the first direct staff people hired.

Before that I worked at Mary Thomas Group Homes.

As mentioned elsewhere, I have 10 years DIRECT care experience LIVING with PEOPLE like your brother. Finest group of people I know.

But there is another part, one that I don't talk all that much about, but on my left hand I have several scars.

Scars put there by a client of mine when I worked in the mental health system. He didn't just threaten my life, he actually tried to take it.

So, like you Julie (I've read YOUR site cover to cover) I too had a wake-up call.

And went in a different direction. In fact we are both trying to help people find and achieve their full potential.

I admire you for taking a hands on "coaching" approach, one that I choose not to do.

I think more people need good coaches. Did you read my post about the Interdisciplinary approach, and the TEAM concept, and the PERSONAL PROGRAM PLAN?

I know you know what an IHP and all that stuff is, and you've probably have sat in your share of meetings where they talked ABOUT your brother, rather than TO Him.

My hero in the field is Lee Graber, if you have ever heard of him, he's a character, for sure, but NO one defends the rights of people like your brother like Lee does. That is how I served too.

YOU too have some great stories to share, and I hope you will feel comfortable enough to post them here.

Thank you for stoping by, and I guess using that offensive word had a pay off for us...it got people like you to read it.

Sorry about the mouse though, would you like for me to replace it?

I am very proud and honored to have had the priveledge to work with and for people like your brother, I truly believe they are a gift for us all.

I'll do what I can to educate the ignorant, and THANKS again J.J.S. (love that name, it's poetic)

for stopping in.

Gordon Alexander

One other little note about mindmapping...
 

Julie,

I've asked Dien Rice to give you the keys to REMOTE HYPNOSIS.

In this work you will see pictures of Eugene Schwartz and Harry Loryane. You will also read stories of Tony Buzan and Edward De Bono.

I started mindmapping in 74, it is a great tool, I look forward to reading your book.

My SQUARE ONE WORKSHOPS program use PictoGrigms to teach.

Much of this work was built upon the work of the Master's I've mentioned above.

Good luck with Mindmapping, and you might want to talk to Dien Rice about offering it for sale here. But that is between you two, I've got nothing to do with the business side of this site.

Thanks again Julie Jordan Scott...

Warm Regards,

Gordon Jay Alexander (It ain't as pretty sounding, but what the hey...HA!)