American Taboo: A Murder in the Peace Corps

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

American Taboo Read the story of Volunteer Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga in 1976 and how her killer has been free for the past 28 years with the help of the Peace Corps. Read an excerpt from Philip Weiss' book documenting the murder and coverup. Then read an essay by RPCV Bob Shaconis who says that Peace Corps' treatment as a "sacred cow" has exempted it from public scrutiny and that the agency has labored to preserve its shining reputation, sometimes at the expense of the very principles it is supposed to embody.

American Taboo : A Murder in the Peace Corps > Customer Reviews



American Taboo : A Murder in the Peace Corps > Customer Reviews

American Taboo : A Murder in the Peace Corps > Customer Review #1: Disappointing, especially to someone whos been there.

I had high hopes for this book, as I am former Peace Corps Tonga volunteer just three years removed from my time in the kingdom. The story of Deb Gardners murder and the Peace Corps role in essentially freeing her killer is a gem of a story, which makes it that much more of a letdown that Weiss couldnt do more with it. As I read through the sloppy text, eventually coming to the most anti-climactic confrontation one could imagine, I kept wishing that Jon Krakauer had gotten a hold of this story instead of this author. I also wished Weiss had dealt fully with the weirdness of his own attraction to the deceased Miss Gardner, or left it out completely. Would he have pursued this project at all had she been homely rather than the "most beautiful girl in Peace Corps"?

Former PC volunteers, especially from the Pacific, will probably enjoy the book for its ability to remind us of the islands and a few aspects of life as a volunteer. And the story itself is a good lesson in how the vaunted Peace Corps doesnt send only the best and brightest to represent America and give aid to the developing world. Some real nutcases are out there. I give Weiss some credit for a difficult task: writing about the Peace Corps without actually being a former volunteer.

American Taboo : A Murder in the Peace Corps > Customer Review #2: A Story That Needed To Be Told

I enjoyed this book, though it was quite painful to read about how the Peace Corps as an institution failed the Gardner family. I served in the Peace Corps in the late 1970s in the South Pacific (though not in Tonga), and, like many former volunteers, I consider my time in the Peace Corps to be one of the seminal experiences in my life. I still have great respect for the Peace Corps and its mission, but in 1976 and 1977 the agency sadly put preservation of its image above achieving justice for Deborah Gardner. Gardners killer-who can have any doubt that it was fellow volunteer Dennis Priven-was, to my mind, a very disturbed individual who brilliantly manipulated the Tongan legal system. The author makes almost incontrovertibly clear, however, that Priven would likely not have succeeded without the complicity (and, sometimes, active effort) of Peace Corps officials. If you have no other reaction upon reading this book, you will be left with the feeling that a serious miscarriage of justice took place, and that our government facilitated Privens release back into American society.

The book brought back many memories of Peace Corps training and day-to-day volunteer life. (I also did "staging" at the Hotel Californian, and it was uncanny how the author captured the essence of the place and the overseas pre-departure activities.) The author does a good job of conveying those details, and he is quick to acknowledge the wealth of PCV/Tonga diaries, letters, and journals that were available to him. He also conducted numerous interviews with returned volunteers and others for what appears to be a very well-researched book.

I didnt mind that the author injected himself into the story at times. It was interesting to follow how he conducted his research and how he overcame obstacles while investigating events that took place almost three decades ago. I also didnt mind the several asides, usually involving Wayne Gardner, Deborah Gardners father (e.g., Wayne Gardners moose hunting trip in Alaska). The extra material almost always shed light on key relationships in the book, especially the pivotal relationship between Deborah Gardner and her father.

So why not 5 stars? I agree with other reviewers who criticized the authors writing style. At times he is quite eloquent, but at other times he mangles syntax and uses run-on sentences. One newspaper reviewer also described him as "comma happy," and Id have to agree. More colons, semi-colons, and, especially, periods would have helped. The author mentions that there may be other books published about these events, and I couldnt help thinking that there was a rush to publication of this book without the benefit of a good edit by the publisher. Grammar and punctuation problems aside, however, the book tells a powerful if supremely sad story and is well worth the read. The killer got away with murder, and there seems little that can be done legally after all these years about obtaining justice for Deborah Gardner. Though of little comfort to her family, a governmental investigation into how the Peace Corps handled the matter would ensure that the same thing never happens again. As a former Peace Corps volunteer who is proud of his service, I think this blot on the Peace Corps record needs to be finally and fully brought out into the sunshine and that apologies are long overdue the Gardner family.

American Taboo : A Murder in the Peace Corps > Customer Review #3: Dreadful hack job of writing.

Poor writing and a pointless, meandering narration thats overly focused on the author himself, make this a book to AVOID.

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

By mustaph bambo jatta (78.80-203-188.nextgentel.com - 80.203.188.78) on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 7:50 am: Edit Post

i will like to get intouch with apeace coorp volunteer by the last name RANDOLF,who has been my teacher in the gambia from 1978 to 1979 at a school call the gambia muslim high school in BANJUL.He was working with the AMERICAN peace corps. My father was then working at the peace corps office as a watch man.It will be very good if you will help me to get intouch. i AM NOW stating in Norway, maraid and have two nice children.I will be happy to hear from him again. He has played a very important roll in my life.If it was not him i would have never been or reach where i am now . I will like you to thank him on my behave.


greetings from mr Mustapha Bambo Jatta