It is said that President Kennedy modelled his earliest ideas for the US Peace Corps on the IVS volunteers he had seen teaching (and occasionally getting shot or blown up and killed) in Vietnam, when on junkets as a young Senator



IVS, however, was gradually pulling back in Vietnam because so many of its volunteers were being killed in particularly gruesome ways. IVS was used to being treated as "neutral," somewhat as the World War I ambulance attendants had been treated, so this brutal treatment was puzzling. Years later we found out that American intelligence operatives had infiltrated the organization and compromised its neutrality.

It is said that President Kennedy modelled his earliest ideas for the US Peace Corps on the IVS volunteers he had seen teaching (and occasionally getting shot or blown up and killed) in Vietnam, when on junkets as a young Senator

Thursday, June 16, 2005
II. Getting There

[Excerpt]

It is said that President Kennedy modelled his earliest ideas for the US Peace Corps on the IVS [International Voluntary Service - ed] volunteers he had seen teaching (and occasionally getting shot or blown up and killed) in Vietnam, when on junkets as a young Senator.

By the mid-1960s, IVS had programs in Vietnam and Laos, among other places. At first I thought I would push for assignment to one of their teaching positions in Vietnam -- the "tough guy" obsession again.

IVS, however, was gradually pulling back in Vietnam because so many of its volunteers were being killed in particularly gruesome ways. IVS was used to being treated as "neutral," somewhat as the World War I ambulance attendants had been treated, so this brutal treatment was puzzling. Years later we found out that American intelligence operatives had infiltrated the organization and compromised its neutrality.

In Laos, the only jeeps ever to be rocketed were being driven at the time by intelligence operatives, usually with one or more unsuspecting "normal" volunteers aboard. Both kinds of volunteers were barbecued.

My options seemed to be either cannon fodder in Vietnam or rocket fodder in Laos. I chose Laos. If I was going to die, I at least wanted it to be doing something that helped somebody.

When this story was posted in August 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Top Story: Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Latest: Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. RPCVs: Take our Poll.

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Upcoming Events: Peace Corps Fund in NYC Peace Corps Fund announces Sept 29 Fund Raiser in NYC High Atlas Foundation Hosts a Reception in NYC on Sept 15 Jody Olsen to address Maryland RPCVs at Sept 17 picnic "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept "Iowa in Ghana" at "The Octogan" in Ames through October 7 RPCV Film Festival in DC in October RPCV's exhibit at Museum of Man in San Diego thru May 2006

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Top Stories: August 20, 2005 Jack Crandall writes "Memories relished by WWII Generation" Cris Groenendaal plays Phantom of Opera on Broadway 19 Aug Peace Corps Director Travels to Madagascar 19 Aug RPCV presents "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" 19 Aug Robert Brown to head Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA 19 Aug Peter McPherson to head national university association 19 Aug Len Flier says US has lose-lose scenario in Iraq 18 Aug Ruth DeMaio sends aid to Niger 18 Aug Bob Taft pleads no contest to ethics law violation 18 Aug Antoinette Allen is Field Hockey coach at Hun School 16 Aug Tony Hall Avoids Mugabe on Zimbabwe trip 14 Aug Peace Corps Receives 2005 Medgar Evers Award 10 Aug Jeff Wray is filming "The Soul Searchers" 10 Aug 40th anniversary of Shriver's Foster Grandparent Program 9 Aug Tom Petri writes "It's not just about highways" 9 Aug Terry Dougherty brings students from Afghanistan to US 8 Aug Chris Newhall is leading volcano scientist 5 Aug Douglas Biklen appointed dean at Syracuse University 5 Aug Greg Kovalchuk and Mike Kelly Find Rare Fossil 4 Aug Edward O'Toole salvages furniture for schools in Honduras 3 Aug Gary Mount is Apple Grower Of The Year 1 Aug

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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