Nepal RPCV Darrell Deppert of Bangladesh had planned to take a Christmas vacation with his wife and two college-aged sons to the Golden Buddha island resort just off the Thailand coast



Nepal RPCV Darrell Deppert of Bangladesh had planned to take a Christmas vacation with his wife and two college-aged sons to the Golden Buddha island resort just off the Thailand coast

Former Pekinite, family saved by a change in plans

Saturday, January 1, 2005

By ANDY KRAVETZ

of the Journal Star
PEORIA - A delayed flight home for the holidays and a son's desire to see his friends might sound like typical seasonal fare for most, but for a former Pekin resident, those two things probably saved his and his family's lives this past week.

Darrell Deppert, 55, of Bangladesh had planned to take a Christmas vacation with his wife and two college-aged sons to the Golden Buddha island resort just off the Thailand coast.

Instead, the family remained home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, just as a massive tsunami swept through southeast Asia, killing nearly 150,000 at last report and destroying the island resort and a family vacation home there.

"He called me on Sunday and said he was OK, but his house was gone," said his mother, Viola Deppert of Pekin. "As parents, it was an absolute

blessing or just incredible that they were not there."

Holiday plans originally called for Darrell Deppert's two sons, Alexander, 23, and Oliver, 19, to fly to their island resort from Boise, Idaho, where they attend college, but fog delayed their flight. Then Oliver wanted to see some friends he went to high school with in Dhaka.

Time constraints being what they were, the family decided to cancel their trip and stay home.

One of Darrell Deppert's close friends, Robin Needham, a man who convinced Darrell to build a small bungalow on the resort island, was missing for a few days after the 30-foot wall of water swept over the island. His body was found by one of his sons on Wednesday.

Of the 150 or people believed to be on the island at the time, 70 perished. Needham's wife and four children survived, probably because they, like many others, scurried up a steep hill to escape the rising water.

In e-mails to his parents, Darrell Deppert and his wife Victoria tried to relate their sense of disbelief.

"We are still in shock and can't believe it," he wrote. "Robin, our best friend, is still missing, and search and rescue teams are going out today.

"This place was so peaceful and calm one minute and absolute chaos the next," he said.

"We thought we had found paradise, such a wonderful golden place where we were so happy. What now, for any of us?" she wrote.

Darrell Deppert graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1967 and majored in fish and wildlife management in college. From there, he spent four years in Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer. Since then, he's worked mostly in Bangladesh, where he has helped residents there develop techniques to raise fish.

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.

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December 25, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Soldiers of Peace 23 Dec Nepal RPCV discovers new species of catfish 23 Dec Tom Murphy will not seek 4th term as Pittsburgh mayor 22 Dec Richard Celeste is spicing things up 22 Dec Gov. Jim Doyle streamlines state government 22 Dec Namibia Volunteers sworn in 21 Dec RPCV serves as Ukraine election observer 21 Dec Christmas Gifts for Peace Corps Volunteers 21 Dec Estonia RPCV John Isles wins NEA poetry award 21 Dec Director Vasquez decries racism and discrimination 20 Dec RPCV criticizes "harrassment by Russian government" 20 Dec War's horrors turn RPCV's son into pacifist 19 Dec more top stories...

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Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

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.

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.

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