December 28, 2004: Headlines: COS - Thailand: COS - Sri Lanka: Tsunami : Muncie Star Press: RPCV Brian Richmond had just arrived in Thailand days before a mid-ocean earthquake sent lethal tidal waves crashing onto beaches in Thailand. Thanks to Brian's experience serving in the Peace Corps, his parents have some experience in dealing with their son's being in volatile areas of the world. "You can't panic," his mother said, adding that she was knew Brian would be aware of how concerned they were, and would be trying to get in touch to reassure them.
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December 28, 2004: Headlines: COS - Thailand: COS - Sri Lanka: Tsunami : Muncie Star Press: RPCV Brian Richmond had just arrived in Thailand days before a mid-ocean earthquake sent lethal tidal waves crashing onto beaches in Thailand. Thanks to Brian's experience serving in the Peace Corps, his parents have some experience in dealing with their son's being in volatile areas of the world. "You can't panic," his mother said, adding that she was knew Brian would be aware of how concerned they were, and would be trying to get in touch to reassure them.
| Peace Corps issues appeal to Thailand RPCVs Peace Corps is currently assessing the situation in Thailand, anticipates a need for volunteers and is making an appeal to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps. Also read this message and this message from RPCVs in Thailand. All PCVs serving in Thailand are safe. Latest: Sri Lanka RPCVs, click here for info. |
RPCV Brian Richmond had just arrived in Thailand days before a mid-ocean earthquake sent lethal tidal waves crashing onto beaches in Thailand. Thanks to Brian's experience serving in the Peace Corps, his parents have some experience in dealing with their son's being in volatile areas of the world. "You can't panic," his mother said, adding that she was knew Brian would be aware of how concerned they were, and would be trying to get in touch to reassure them.
RPCV Brian Richmond had just arrived in Thailand days before a mid-ocean earthquake sent lethal tidal waves crashing onto beaches in Thailand. Thanks to Brian's experience serving in the Peace Corps, his parents have some experience in dealing with their son's being in volatile areas of the world. "You can't panic," his mother said, adding that she was knew Brian would be aware of how concerned they were, and would be trying to get in touch to reassure them.
Former local man was in Thailand when tsunami hit
By ROBIN GIBSON
rgibson@muncie.gannett.com
Caption: General view of Ton Sai Bay in Thailand's Phi Phi island, December 28, 2004 after a tsunami hit the area. Nations bordering the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Sri Lanka clawed through the wreckage of a quake-triggered tsunami for bodies to bury on Tuesday as fears grew the toll would exceed the 50,000 now reported killed. REUTERS/Luis Enrique Ascui
MUNCIE - Berniece Richmond has no idea how her son, Brian, managed to send an e-mail from Thailand this week, but she's glad he did.
Brian Richmond, a 1974 graduate of Burris Laboratory School, had just arrived in Thailand to visit a friend days before a mid-ocean earthquake sent lethal tidal waves crashing onto beaches in Thailand and other Asian countries off the Indian Ocean.
His parents, Berniece and David Richmond of Muncie, first heard about the tsunami disaster from a friend who called after seeing it mentioned online. The Richmonds then waited more than 24 hours before getting word Monday via Brian's office in Washington, D.C., that he had e-mailed a message saying he was safe.
Though his parents do have e-mail, they don't use it very often, so Brian probably contacted his office - a private company for which he works with Head Start programs on Indian reservations - because he knew they would get word right away and pass it along, Berniece Richmond said.
"I usually wait until I know for sure before I start to worry ... but of course I was concerned," she said on Tuesday.
Thanks to Brian's experience serving in the Peace Corps, his parents have some experience in dealing with their son's being in volatile areas of the world. "You can't panic," his mother said, adding that she was knew Brian would be aware of how concerned they were, and would be trying to get in touch to reassure them.
Given the level of turmoil and disaster in Thailand and other countries hit by the tsunami, however, she added, "I have no idea how he got through."
Brian had originally planned to travel to Cambodia and to return to the United States after Jan. 16, but his mother said Tuesday she did not know yet what his plans would be now.
Contact assistant metro editor Robin Gibson at 213-5855.
When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:
| The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005. |
| Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia." |
| Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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Story Source: Muncie Star Press
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Thailand; COS - Sri Lanka; Tsunami
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