Taking Palermo

By Rob Poindexter

During WW II, General George S. Patton rolled into Palermo, Italy. The people crowded the streets and hung out of nearby apartment windows, waving American flags, cheering and throwing flowers at the American soldiers who marched behind Patton’s motorcade. A local band played, “The Yanks are Coming” over and over again.

These people, who had been oppressed for so long by German rule, were finally liberated, and the man responsible for this day of jubilation stood in the front seat of a roofless U.S. Army truck with his left hand grasping the top of the windshield frame, to steady himself, as he waved and acknowledged the grateful throng with his right hand.

A big, unlit cigar jutted from the right side of his mouth, while the left side of his face victoriously smiled in the direction of his wave to the souls who were all too aware of what his arrival meant to them and their families. Mothers rushed to his side in hopes that he would reach down and place a fingertip on their baby’s forehead. A blessing, of sorts, from a conquering hero.

A messenger, working his way through the crowd, finally caught up with the General’s truck and jumped onto the running board. Looping his right arm over the large rearview mirror, he deliberately and with all the composure of a Shakespearean actor, unfolded the note and read loud enough to be heard, the contents.

“To General George S. Patton, Commander of the Third Army: ‘Do not take Palermo.’ Signed, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America. Stop.”

The General, without taking his eyes off the crowd, shouted down to the messenger, “Send a message back asking him if he wants me to give it back,” a sly grin curling his lips as he continued to wave.

This is one of my favorite Patton stories, and I doubt that I did it justice. But, I hope you can agree that this tale shines a light on the problem of some less then “professionally” written resumes.

What a shame it would have been to give back that which he and his army had fought so hard to win. How devastated the elated crowd would be had the joyous event suddenly been cut short because the powers that be determined our army should return this city to German rule.

When pertinent information is left out of a resume, or not acknowledged to the correct degree, aren’t you essentially “giving back” that which you have earned through your own hard work and self sacrifice? So, the next time you’re in the market for a resume, or just updating your current resume, be sure you have the right “army” in your corner to help conquer that next hill or liberate yourself from a current oppressive situation.