Afternoon Reads with Jerry

Jerry's appetite for reading is legendary.  I have taken to reading the paper to him on my visits.  Lately though we've been reading books in the afternoon.  The first book was by Anthony Pesare retired State Trooper and Chief of Middletown Police.  "THEY ALWAYS WIN."

A fictionalized account of MOB events in  Providence in the late 1970's and 1980's.  I was able to put some insight into some of the events having been involved in some aspects.  It was an interesting read and Jerry provides anecdotes of some places that the MOB used as a dumping ground while taking out the garbage as it were.

The latest read is by Arlene Violet and was written with Crime Fighter John Partington.  John was a Cumberland Policeman. Then became a United States Marshal. Several years went by and JP became the US Marshal in Rhode Island.  He then became the Chief of the Cumberland Police and was brought to Providence by Joe Paolino after the Peter Gilbert scandal in the Providence Police Department.

John was the Commisioner of Public Safety in Providence and we had a great relationship.

This book titled "THE MOB AND ME." was published after his death.  John is credited with forming the Witness Protection Program.  His partner in those ventures was legendary Deputy US Marshal Coyle Meserve.  Steve Meserve's father.    There is only about one degree of separation in Rhode Island.  Wait I am not done.

So yesterday I was  reading for some time when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a gentleman standing in the doorway.  I looked up and he looked vaguely familiar. " Hey your reading about my favorite person!"  I was stunned and I shouted yes I am reading about JP!.  Hello Mr. Partington!  It was Bill Partngton.  Retired Rhode Island State Trooper. John's brother.   Bill's wife is in the room next to Jerry.

"I heard you talking about Barboza and Raymond Patriarca. I had to come over and see what it was all about."  I introduced myself and he remembered me. My hair was longer and I looked alot scruffier back in the 1990's while on assignments.   He immediately remembered my grandfather.  I introduced him to Jerry and they exchanged pleasantries. 

Well just goes to show you never know who will show up around Jerry!

Pat Femino has been checking in weekly on Jerry.  Pat is heading with his son to the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico.  Pat was with the 5thMARDIV at Iwo Jima and was present for 37 days on Iwo.  He is looking forward to it and will be there for the Iwo Jima Anniversary.  He will be back on Monday following and intends to see Jerry.  With a full after action report.

While discussing this with Jerry and  he chimed in.  " Oh yeah I can't forget that date!"  Here it comes the Sherlock Grin....  " That is my sister Fran's birthday."

The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps.
General Alexander A. Vandergrift, USMC
to the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, 5 May 1946