Kelly Morris writes: July 4, 1976 in Togo



"On the 200th anniversary of American Independence, I was living in Lomé where I was Associate Peace Corps Director for Agriculture and Rural Development. There was no celebration at the American Embassy that day. If I recall correctly, the US Embassy had decided to celebrate the US National Day on President's Day in February rather than on July 4. So, it was just another day at the office for me."

Kelly Morris writes: July 4, 1976 in Togo

July 4, 1976 in Lomé

[Excerpt]

On the 200th anniversary of American Independence, I was living in Lomé where I was Associate Peace Corps Director for Agriculture and Rural Development. There was no celebration at the American Embassy that day. If I recall correctly, the US Embassy had decided to celebrate the US National Day on President's Day in February rather than on July 4. So, it was just another day at the office for me.

When I returned to my home in Nyékonakpoé at the end of the day, my across-the-street neighbor hailed me as I was getting out of my car.

"Today is your National Day!" he said. "And it's the two hundredth anniversary of your country's independence. How can you not celebrate?"

My neighbor, you see, was the head of the KGB mission at the Soviet Embassy in Lomé. I knew that he was KGB, like everyone else in Lomé, because he was the only Soviet diplomat who lived outside his embassy's compound. We had never done more than wave hello to each other in the preceding months, but my bizarre behavior on my own National Day gave him the opportunity to break the ice.

He insisted that I join him and his wife for dinner, and we passed what was an enjoyable evening and my most memorable July 4 to date. We began toasting American Independence with Russian vodka accompanied by red caviar. The vodka continued through dinner. Having assiduously avoided acquiring knowledge of any US Government business that was "Confidential," let alone "Secret" (for which I did not have clearance), I wasn't concerned that I would betray any "State Secrets" under the influence of the vodka. But rather than prying about US government business, he was very interested to know what Togolese thought of the Chinese and the Germans.

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



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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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June 16, 2005: Special Events Philip Weiss, PCV murder writer, speaks in Baltimore June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 NPCA to hold Virtual Leaders Forum on July 29 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 6, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Kinky Friedman will "sign anything except bad legislation" 6 Jun Niels Marquardt Makes Chimpanzee Protection a Priority 6 Jun Laurence Leamer needs approval for "Today" appearance 6 Jun Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is son of RPCVs 6 Jun Anthony Sandberg runs Berkeley sailing school 5 Jun Amy Smith field-tests sugarcane charcoal 5 Jun Mary Johnson organizes workshop on genocide 3 Jun Jonathan Lash in 100 most Influential Business Leaders 3 Jun Hastert jump-starts Chris Shays' Campaign 3 Jun John Coyne says 41 RPCVs applied for scholarships 3 Jun James Rupert writes on bombing in Kandahar mosque 1 Jun John McCain says to expand opportunities for service 1 Jun Jay Rockefeller's relationships with Japanese go way back 1 Jun Anat Shenker met her husband during service in Honduras 31 May Ryan Clancy punished without hearing for visiting Iraq 30 May Melissa Mosvick remembered as a fallen American hero 29 May Kurt Carlson played basketball against Togo's national team 29 May Helen Thomas's favorite president remains JFK 24 May

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