The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-17

Blind CT Proves
Favorite Guest at
Friendship House


Hope diamond fame. who has
heart as big as her palatial Friend
ship House is playing fairy god
mother 10 a Gl Joe.
Sgt. Peter GRADER OF Akron, o.,
spent three weeks at Friendship
during the holiday season.
The Romanian immigrant boy
lived like a prince, and he WAS
every body.s fayorite. He chatted
with the dropin visitors, and he
was on hand for the big, brilliant
parties.
Sergeant GRADER found himself
surrounded by diplomats and jus
tees. senators and generals. He
was a lone 81 among all this rank,
but be drew the most attention.
Mrs. Mclean overlooked nothing
in her effort 10 make things pleas
ant for Pete. Even a glamour
girl was invited as his partner az
the parties. Her name is Dianne
Anger, slim, brunette with a
sparkling smile and plenty OF pep.
Sergeant GRADER. however, could
not really appreciate all this beauty
and glamor around him, because he
could not see IL.
Sergeant GRADER was blinded IN
combat. During mopping-up action
In the Mariannas, he picked up
what he thought was dead" hand
grenade. II exploded in his face.
leaving him blind and with but one
arm.
So. the war was over for Serg-
cant GRADER Soon, he was shipped
back to the United States, but the
sergeant meanwhile had lost all
contact with his family in war-torn
Europe. He felt he had nothing 10
come home to, nothing TO live for.
Sergeant GRADER was in this state
OF dependency when he was dis
scovered by Mrs. Mclean at Walter
Reed Hospital here. She took on
immediate interest in him, talked
with him in the ward and later in
vited him TO Friendship to the par
ties she gave for servicemen.
Sergeant GRADER began 10
brighten. Things began to look" a
little different. Dianne Anger took
him in hand, and he learned TO
dance all over again.
why, Pete is q marvellous dane
err" Dianne says enthusiastically.
He does the polka better than any
body know"
Dianne went with Sergeant Ora
Der TO night clubs. He enjoyed
everything about II. He told d.
anne he used to work in a night
club before the war, and he hoped
he would some day be back at IT,
Mrs. Mclean gave Peter the
will to live" Dianne says seri-
ously, discounting her own role In
Pete's rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, after an operation on
his arm at Walter Reed, Pete was
transferred to a training school for
the blind at Avon, Conn. There he
made more amazing progress. He
learned how to be independent,
how to get around by himself. He 4
learned to make things, and all this
despite the fact that he is blind
and has only one hand.
81 Just don't see how he did II"
Dianne explains. "He made the
most adorable little woody dog for
Mrs. Mclean; looks like a poodle.
She keeps It on her bed with her
other little toy dogs. and she
calls It Pete"
Dianne said that Sergeant GRADER
had made her a beautiful pair OF
wooden lamps, and was completing
a fine leather purse.
To a great extent, Sergeant Ora
Der has whipped his troubles, and
he's learned TO help himself His
wonderful spirit is an inspiration
to all who know him. He shuns
assistance, and insists on making
the taxi and train trips all by him
self.
An unexpected bright spot in
Sergeant Graders holiday here was
the arrival OF his brother, George.
The two hadn't seen each other for
three years.
George had been In the service,
fighting in the European theater,
and he did not know OF Pete's
injuries. George is now in Ohio,
working for a machine tool plant,
and between times. trying TO get
in touch with their pa ants, last
heard OF in Romania before the
war.
After three weeks at Friendship.
Sgt. Peter GRADER returned to Avon.
Next month, however. an operation
is being planned at Baltimore. Mrs.
Mclean and other friends have
seen to that.
Doctors say that Pete has $3.50
chance for a restoration OF partial
eyesight.