Peace Corps News

Have French Atomic Tests in the Pacific put Peace Corps Volunteers at Risk?

Samoa RPCV Michael L. Driscoll writes: "In the Summers of 1973-1974, the French did 12 Atomic Tests in French Polynesian atolls, in the atmosphere, at elevations of around 800 to 1200 feet in the air. I served in Western Samoa, from February 19, 1973 until November 14, 1974, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I went through the 3 months of Peace Corps Training in country, Western Samoa, and upon graduation, was assigned the the Department of Education, and the Teachers Training College, in Apia, Western Samoa, as a Math Instructor. I was in Group 11. As I am writing this today, I am not able to say with certainty, that we were aware of the French doing their Atomic Testing in the French Polynesian Islands, to our West and South. I do know that I had some unexplained skin issues that came to my attention in the Fall, 1974, and when I went to the Peace Corps Nurse, she could not tell me what it was on my stomach, arms, and legs. The appearance was concentric, and just red circles, and while I was in the hot and humid climate of Western Samoa, the condition was that if one were to put a finger on my stomach, which had a redness and exposed blood vessels, about 2" in diameter, the finger would show blood on the end of it."

"For 30 years I thought that I had psoriasis; but, in May, 2004, I went to a dermatologist in Spokane, Washington, and he said I had EAC, Erthyma Annulare Centrifugum, and also said that the doctor in 1974 probably didn't know about EAC, as it has some characteristics like psoriasis. I also developed a thyroid condition in 1999, and have been taking a morning thryoid pill since, and will for the rest of my life, take this 75 mg Synthroid pill."

"I personally believe it was the French Atomic Tests that were putting me and all of the other Pacific Islanders at risk, as these tests were in the atmosphere. When I was in Western Samoa, the population was about 150,000 Samoans, of which about 3500 caucasions and other nationalities were present on the Islands. I am unaware of anyone serving in the Peace Corps at the time, nor am I aware of any Samoans, who were experiencing skin issues while I was, when I was there in 1973-1974. There are many thousands of Islanders, in a radius of 1000 or more miles from the French Polynesian atolls, that may be having health issues."

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Spotlight on Peace Corps Micronesia

Joe Murphy writes: Early members of Peace Corps brought along ideas of freedom and independence to Pacific Islands
"The United States seemed to give up acquiring more land during and after World War II. They didn't get any in Europe and let the Philippines become independent. In fact, most of Asia gained independence. With the idea of Manifest Destiny behind us, you have to wonder what went through John F. Kennedy's mind when he suggested the formation of the Peace Corps. Did he think that sending out thousands of young, bright Americans would allow the islands to become a legitimate part of the United States?"

"The strange thing about the Peace Corps involvement with the islands is that they never seemed to push the American flag on the people. In fact, there is evidence that says just the opposite. It was the Peace Corps members who worked hard to convey to the islanders the idea of being independent. Or, in Saipan's case, the idea of a Commonwealth with the United States. I don't know what the history books will say about all this, but it was my conclusion that Peace Corps volunteers, imbued with the idea of freedom and independence, brought both to Micronesia. Hooray for them. I'm pretty sure that this is what happened in Palau, as well as other places. I would like to know how JFK felt about all this." Read more.

Jody K. Olsen travels to Micronesia to meet Peace Corps Volunteers and partners
Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody K. Olsen traveled through the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from March 26 – 30 to meet with Volunteers, staff, and government officials. Olsen said, “I came to thank our Volunteers, staff and local partners for their dedication to serving others. I am proud of our 40-year partnership in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. Since we began in 1966, over 3,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have been dedicated to serving in many fields to improve the lives of Micronesians.“ Peace Corps entered the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in 1966 when it was still part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

There are presently 47 Peace Corps Volunteers working with partner agencies in Micronesia. The first group of Volunteers taught English at all education levels. In the 1970s, Peace Corps moved into agriculture, health, and community development. In the 1980s, Volunteers worked mainly in sanitation, forestry, and fisheries. From 2000 to 2005, Volunteers worked on natural resources conservation, community building, and youth development. From 2006 to the present, Volunteers focus primarily on teaching English. Jody Olsen, Deputy Director of the Peace Corps appointed by President George W. Bush, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia. Read more.

Caption: (Rt. to Lft.) Deputy Director Jody K. Olsen in a photo during her meeting with Micronesian President Joseph Urusemal and Country Director David Reside.

Micronesia honors first Peace Corps Volunteers Country Director, John Pincetich
Micronesia’s first Peace Corps Volunteers country director, John Pincetich, was honored at the Governor’s Office for his long and dedicated services to the organization when its headquarters was located on Saipan from 1966 until 1978. Pincetich came to Saipan in the fall of 1966 when more than several hundred Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Micronesia for the first time. Micronesia at the time was under the U.S. Trust Territory administration before the islands all went their separate ways politically, beginning with the Northern Marianas in 1976.

Kurt Barnes, who came to Saipan with the third group in 1966, accepted the plaque presented by Governor Benigno R. Fitial and Lieutenant Governor Tim P. Villagomez. The plaque together with a joint legislative resolution will be sent to Pincetich in the U.S., who will be celebrating his 90th birthday September 14th. “Being in a unique position of directing hundreds of outspoken sixties-era volunteers in a place under the American flag required John to use all his skills of diplomacy,” Fitial said of Pincetich. “He was a great friend of our people as well as of the many Peace Corps Volunteers that he influenced.” Read more.

Caption: Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez hand over a plaque of recognition to Peace Corp volunteers during the press conference at the governor's office in Capitol Hill. In photo are, from left, Steve Woodruff, Ann Jordan, Kurt Barnes, Chuck Jordan and Mike Malone. Photo: Jacqueline Hernandez

Cecilia Hartmann has made her life in the South Pacific
The year was 1970. The Vietnam conflict was being fought by guerilla fighters in the jungles of Southeast Asia. That same year, Cecilia Hartmann of Paterson graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange with a desire to do something positive. So she joined the Peace Corps. "I wanted to go to Vietnam, but it was off limits," says Hartmann, 61. "I wanted to work with children." Instead, in 1971, she was sent to Chuuk, a remote island that is the most populous of the four states making up the Federated States of Micronesia. Hartmann now calls Chuuk home, and for the past 25 years she has been teaching school there.

Life was primitive on the lush island bathed by intense tropical sun. Hartmann's mistake was failing to wear sunglasses as protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays. About two years ago, her vision started to blur due to cataracts. The condition deteriorated to the point where she needed an operation not available in Micronesia. She did research on the Internet and returned home to Paterson to stay with her sister and mother. In May, a surgeon at PBI Regional Medical Center in Passaic performed operations on both eyes. She returned to Chuuk in July with perfect vision.

After her arrival, Hartmann soon learned her assignment was among the most difficult for Peace Corps workers because the Pacific island is so secluded. At that time, only three flights a week landed there and only an occasional ship. It had no electricity, roads or running water. The only American on the island, she was housed with a family with 10 children. Although English is the second language, Chuukese is the difficult mother language.

Despite linguistic difficulties and the huge adjustment of living in a two-room, wood-and-aluminum-roofed shack, Hartmann decided to stay beyond her initial two-year commitment. Hartmann says she liked teaching in a much simpler environment. "I was going to stay anyway because I liked it, but then I met my husband, who was a descendant of some of the early German traders," Hartmann says. Hartmann calls the natural beauty of the island alluring. "My heart is on the island," she says. Read more.

Read more about Peace Corps Micronesia.