THE JANUS
THE FIRST AFS HOST FAMILY by Lawrence D. Geller Former AFS Archivist Robert Nourse graduated from Princeton University in the spring of 1917 . Nourse with other Princeton and Yale students constituting units from their respective universities, joined the American Field Service, and went to France to serve in its struggle with Germany. Nourse became a member of Section Sanitaire American 67. While being quartered in Chelles-sur-Marne, in August, 1917, he met a number of French residents of the town. French children were always coming to the American cantonment. It was there that Robert Nourse met Jacques Varlet, who with a group of other 5 year olds, came to see the Americans. Nourse soon learned about Jacques's family the Devoudelles. Nourse asked Jacques to take him home with him to meet them, and the little boy was happy to introduce his new friend from America. The Devoudelles had been forced to leave their Ardennes home in 1914 just ahead of the German advance. The father of the family remained to protect his property and to look after his own aged father who could not travel. He, of course, became virtually a prisoner in German occupied France, unable to rejoin his family in Paris. The m?ther, two married sisters, Celine and LOUIse, and a younger sister, Yvonne, with Louise's young son Jacques, constituted the family in exile. In winter of 1916, disaster struck this family. Both Celine and Louise's husbands, French army officers, had been killed in action, and Louise herself died of pneumonia. The family of course, was living on very limited means'when Robert Nourse, by this time Chef de Section Sanitaire 67, befriended them.
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Robert L. Nourse, Jr. (SSU 67), Carte d'fdentite photo, ca. June 1917
Nourse's French was good when he came to France, and rapidly improved during hi~ first number of months in the AFS. He had httle difficulty in communicating with the Devoudelles and in developing a great affection for the younger daughter, Yvonne. He became virtually a member of the family and began to think of himself as one of them, and they, in turn, reciprocated his friendship. In Bob Nourse's own words: It became evident to me as Yvonne talked since the death of Varlet and Beaudoux, (the husbands of the older sisters), life had been terribly hardfor this little group of refugees. In fact, desperate Mme. Beaudoux has a job which pays a small wage. But aside from that, they have nothing. They are gentle folk, like my ownfamity back in Idaho. I have tried to help the Devoudelles as best as I could - which so far has been very little, even so, I have to be tactful, they are very proud. Yvonne is quite a remarkable girl. I doubt it if she is over 17. She is modest and gentle and sweet. She is generous and kind.
Yet, despite her youth, I can already see that she is a tower of strength for her mother and sisters. She gives them consolation and hope. She has the courage of a Jeanne d 'Are, and she is beautiful, both spiritually and physically. I admire her more than any girl I have ever known, and I am becoming very fond of her ... Not only had Yvonne become Bob Nourse's "Marraine de Guerre", which literally means "Godmother", but in this case, as he wrote, "Yvonne has adopted me and I have adopted the whole family. "
On August 12, 1917, Nourse wrote, After leaving the University Union, (the American Union of Paris where all American servicemen who were college men could gather), I walked up Rue de la Paix until I came to a small jewelry store where I bought a little silver bracelet, a circlet simulating twisted cord. It was for Yvonne, to express my appreciation for her offer to be my marraine. I hesitated before buying it because I did not want to offend the family with a gesture which might make me appear to claim a degree of intimacy I hadn't yet earned. But I went ahead with it." He then
went on to buy gifts for each member of the family including a toy taxi for little Jacques. Here again I was momentarily held back by the desire to avoid presumption. We had known each other some ten days, we were from different worlds. However, we were both in the thick of a Great War which had turned everything upside down. Conventions under such conditions were meaningless. They could see decent intentions in me, I hoped, just as I could see that they were a family of breeding and refinement. The French have a word for it, "Race ", pronounced "Rass ", so again I went ahead with it.
Nourse's gifts, including a ham for dinner, were a great success. The toy taxi had enraptured Jacques. Silk stockings for the women were something they simply had not been able to afford for years, and the bracelet for Yvonne was opened with trembling hands and tears. "Que c 'est exquise! Robert", she said. Up to then, he had been "Monsieur Robert". By August 14,1917, SSU 67 had received its orders to move up to the front.
The parting between the Devoudelles and Bob Nourse was especially painful in the light of their previous losses during the war. He wrote at that time, Mme. Devoudelle and Yvonne made me feel that they were distressed by my impending departure and worried about what might happen to me at the Front. All of this touched me because, I could understand how I, a foreigner, had come to mean something to these women. They had lost the brothersin-law, their only protectors, at the front last winter, the same front where I was now going. I was the only man to come into the family life since then. I was a stranger, but circumstances of war brought us together in mutual understanding. I was aforeigner, but they and I are from the same background with common ideas and ideals which are independent of national boundaries.
During SSU 67's tour of duty with the 154111 French Division, on the Chemin des Dames front, Nourse wrote home to his family in the U.S. about the Devoudelles and their financial circumstances. Mrs. Nourse, acting upon her son's letter, gave a garden party at their home in Idaho that brought in $1,500, which was sent to him in a bank draft, care of the American Field Service's Rue Raynouard Headquarters. It should be noted here that by this time, the AFS had been taken over by the United States Army and that Bob Nourse was First Lieutenant Nourse of the United States Army Ambulance Service attached to the French Army. Those funds, when given to the Devoudelles, astonished them completely, but they also provided for their sustenance for the duration of the war, which was rapidly winding down. The romantic situation between Bob Nourse and Yvonne during the war was an idyll, an interlude. It had always been his plan to return to the U.S. to study medicine and then go into practice with his father in Idaho. Yet he did not want to be parted from Yvonne. During one of his last leaves in France after the Armistice had been signed, Mme. Devoudelle received news that her husband in Girondelle had become very ill. Years of near starvation, separation, and constant worry about his family had taken his strength. Yvonne's mother rushed north on the long journey to be reunited with her
husband, and arrived shortly before he died at their home in Northern France. Yvonne, distraught that she had not been able to see her father, and fearful for her mother, left Paris for the Ardennes, desperate that she would never see Bob again. Shortly after Yvonne's departure, Bob Nourse received news from his commanding officer that his own mother was seriously ill in the u.S. and that he was being discharged to return home with his brother Norm who had been serving in the same Ambulance Unit. Unable to explain, except by hasty letter to Yvonne, Bob Nourse left France for the United States. The Diary ends there. Did Bob ever return? We have no way of knowing. But what is sure is that this American and one French family meant a great deal to each other which neither time nor space can erase.
AFS DRIVERS PARTICIPATE IN THE AFS WORLD CONGRESS Two AFS drivers-Richard Nelson (CM 60) and Chick Squire (ME 37, ill 57)-were guests at the AFS World Congress in Montreal in early October. Two other World War II drivers both International Trustees were also introduced: Ed Masback (ME 37) and Norm Eddy (ME 4, CM 88). The World Congress is an annual meeting that gathers National Directors and Chairs ofthe AFS Organization's 56 Partners as well as staff from AFS International and the Board of Trustees. At the Congress' final banquet, Squire and Nelson delivered what they claimed was the shortest history of AFS ever. Here is part of the text: RWN: "We drivers did indeed have crosscultural relationships with the British army personnel attached to us, such as workshop mechanics of the Royal Army Service Corps and the cooks of the Royal Army Catering Corps. We certainly had warm contacts, and they were delighted to be attached to our
units. After World War II, these army personnel even held several reunions of their own in England. We also had cross-cultural relationships with the many military wounded, including Canadians, we carried. These wounded were often bleeding badly and dying, as were the German and Italian prisoners whose lives we also contributed to saving-they were treated the same by us as all the other wounded we carried." CBS: "Our relationships with civilian families during the Italian campaign included this touching interlude, from a driver's diary published by AFS Archives: 'Paul made his farewell visit to Raffaelina and the refugee families upstairs. This time Paul brought chocolate and winter woolens, and in return received not only an egg and a bottle of wine but also-after a moment of frustration while he fumbled for the word "bacciamo"-a memorable kiss'." RWN: "What AFS has meant to me is a warm relationship. In my business travels over the years, I met merchants in such countries as Mexico and Ecuador who had a son or daughter in the AFS student program in the United States. These people made a point of saying their sons and daughters had other mothers and fathers now. How warm that is! I tried to explain I knew of the AFS student program and that I had been an AFS driver in World War II. We can really understand when we walk and talk together in this world. Lives have been changed by all of us in AFS. The lives of all the drivers were changed as well, for us to see the continuation of the AFS spirit." CBS: "Stephen Galatti, who led AFS through World War II and, until his death, the post-war student program, felt by 1950 that the program should center on public high-school exchanges, as it has. Galatti said in 1960 that' it is my belief that we have found here a good medium for direct action toward world understanding-and so I have the satisfaction of still looking forward.' As do we here this evening."
Squire's reference in his talk to an AFS driver's diary is to Paul Rodgers (ME 32, FR 8), whose Saga of Section Six is
available from AFS.
Drivers at World Congress, Closing Ceremony Dinner L to R: Richard Nelson (CM 60); Norm Eddy (ME 4, eM 88); Chick Squire (ME 37, IB 57); Mayor of Montreal, Pierre Bourque; and Ed Masback (ME 37)
AFS DRIVERS IN THE NEWS The New York Times of November 12, 1997 carried an article on William M.B. Berger (CM 89) and his donation of the collection of British paintings to the Denver Art Museum.
An interview with Richard Nelson (CM 60) "AFS Vet Helps Mark Organization's 50th Year" appeared in Wisconsin's Racine Journal-Times on August 16, 1997. The New York Times of December 14, 1997 also included an article on the art of Irving Penn (CM 92, m 59-T), the famous fashion photo grapher.
On November 15, 1997 The Community News in Florissant, Missouri, reported that Joseph J. Desloge, Jr. (ME 4, FFC, CM 94, IB 59-T) was decorated last September in England with the Distinguished Service Cross for his AFS service during the battle of Monte Cassino. Lt. General John Bennett, M.D., a member of the Federation of Allied Combatants in Europe and Legion of Frontiersmen bestowed the award on Desloge. If you or the other drivers you know made a local news headlines, please let the Archives know.
AFS DRIVER AT THE AFS NEW ZEALAND 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION In 1944 the British 8th and the American 5th Armies were side by side at the base of Monte Cassino in Italy before the final onslaught on it and the taking of Rome. While the Front was relatively calm, there were always gunfire and shellings and bombings. One of our invaluable 4-wheel drive ambulances had slithered into a huge shellhole full of water. I was assigned to take a small repair truck to go and get it out.
Laurel Grant (eM 80) with the restored Dodge Ambulance
Norman Eddy (ME 4, eM 88), AFS Life Trustee was a guest speaker at the AFS New Zealand festivities and rode in a rebuilt AFS WWI Ambulance during the event. We reproduce below excerpts of the speech Norman delivered on November 28, 1997 in Wellington, New Zealand. In 1945, when peace came, Steve Galatti had learned his lesson. This time he was going to help keep the ideals of the AFS alive and growing in peace time as he had in war. He began working to set up the exchange of students from other countries with the United States. In 1947, fifty two students came from ten countries to the United States. Of course, New Zealand was among those sending students. You are gathered here on this great 50th Anniversary to celebrate your participation in what has now become the world wide AFS Intercultural Programs including 56 nations. As usual, AFS New Zealand is an unassuming leader, a model of a non- governmental organization of compassionate volunteer activists. I cannot close without telling you one more war story.
It was a calm, beautiful moonlit night when I got to the abandoned ambulance, across a small river from the German Army about 500 yards away. There was no way I could get it out without help. I went back to the main road and drove into an American Army engineering unit. Would they help me, I asked. Well, the sergeant in charge thought so. He went to another tent to consult his superior and came back full of words. It was obvious they had decided that it was too dangerous, too close to the German army, though they didn't say so. It was clear they would not help me. Disheartened and discouraged, I drove a little further down the road and saw a Kiwi engineering unit. I went in and asked if they would help. "Right, Yank, let's go" they said without an instant of hesitation. Off we went, with their heavy chains and equipment. Grateful though I was, we all knew the German army had ears and would undoubtedly hear the clanking of those chains. As always, the Kiwis came through. In minutes, they had attached the chains to the ambulance in almost complete silence, as though the links were made of rubber. They pulled it out to safety. They exemplified the spirit of camaraderie and of unity in the face of danger that inspired that remarkable 8th Army. Your work in the development of the Community Service Programs is one more example of your dedicated, visionary undertakings.
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS Today, humanity seems bent on destro~ing itself. Genocidal wars, new forms of dISease worldwide devastating poverty, increa;ing dangers to the environment together present threats that often seem insuperable. But there is a secret weapon which is quietly proliferating all over the world. That is ~he steadily increasing numb~rs o~comp~ssI.onate, volunteer activists. Smce ItSbegmmng in 1914, the AFS has . been a. powerful example of compassIOnate actIOn. Today, AFS' steadily gr?w~ng Communit~ Service Programs are pomtmg the way as It begins its second fifty years. AFS New Zealand is already taking part in this hope-filled prograr.n. You haye initiated your own Project HelpI!1gHand m conn~ction with your 50th AnnIversary CelebratIOn. Young returnees in cooperation with your Board of Trustees have been collecting badly needed supplies, especially educational, for six AFS countries. I know that the Kiwis will continue to be leaders and allies in building bridges between the other compassionate activist volunteers and other N.G.O.s all over the earth and thus to help in the apparently hopeless task of saving humanity from destroying itself. You are an inspiration to more people in more countries than you will ever know as you accept new challenges. Those welcome words I heard in Italy so long ago from the Kiwi .engineers keep ringing in my ears, and m the ears of others around the world, "Right, Yank, let's go."
POEM? Poem written by an unknown AFS Driver, probably in Italy, 1943-44 When in the caves of the future The frost of memory drips A tale will be told in words of gold That fall from old man's lips And the youth of the day will faint and sway And gape and gasp galore At a gallant mess called the AFS That served in a world at war ....................... ???
..... the reek of Patria gin ... ?? Fearless and fat (???) Calling all men "brother", . With a wounded Tommy on one tired arm And a tin of spam in the other ????
T~~路g~路~d t~~ia路~~"T~~路b~d to bless. They're simply the AFS ....
Who knows all the words? Who knows the author? Tell Norm Eddy Norman C. Eddy 216 East 105th Street New York, NY 10029
"There is a secret weapon which is quietly proliferating all over the world. That is the steadily increasing numbers of compassionate, volunteer activists. Since its beginning in 1914, the AFS has been a powerful example of compassionate action."
During the last year Archives received and processed 31 accessions which ranged from WWI and WWII drivers personal collections to the visual materials and artifacts of the student programs. The following donors presented WWI and WWII materials to AFS Archives: Frederick Richardson, son of Joseph Richardson (SSU 10); Chicago Truck, photo, 1916; article "Americans Who Serve France" (1917) and a letter by Gordon McKenzie (SSU 10) giving the details ofthe Section Chef Henry Suckley's death in Zemlak, Albania on March 19, 1917. Scott Reed, great-grandson of Paul B. Welker (SSU 16); Paul Welker's diary dating from January 1, 1917toJanuary 14,1918. The diary documents Welker's service with AFS Section 16 beginning from February 19, 1917. He was stationed at the AFS Paris headquarters before being sent to the French front on April 24, 1917. In November 1917 following the AFS' militarization, Welker left the Field Service and joined the United States Marine Corps.
decorated with the Croix de Guerre with Palm and is buried at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, at Marnes-la-Coquette near Paris. His name is memorialized on the walls of the Pantheon, Paris, alongside names of his comrades. Angela Dear, publisher of the AFS 50th Souvenir Book; 4 color photos of the cover page of AFS WWI Bulletins, 1918-1930. Paulette Moore, Director/Producer, Discovery Channel; videotape of Discovery Channel's WINGS documentary "Flying Coffins" (1997). The tape is a tribute to the bravery of first American pilots and the men of the Lafayette Escadrille. Colin Gemmell (CM 92, ill 60-T); WWII Dodge ambulance doors with AFS company insignia and signatures of AFS WWII drivers present at the Williamsburg Reunion 1995. The doors were presented to AFS at the closing ceremony of the AFS 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Manhattan Center in New York, August 2, 1997.
Andrew Gray, great nephew of A. P. Andrew; recent photo of Red Roof, Piatt Andrew's home in Gloucester, MA. Scott Kraska; photos of his AFS WWI memorabilia collection including Stephen Galatti's helmets. Alan Albright (USA to FRA 1958) through Bill Orrick; diskette containing the University of Virginia materials on James Rogers McConnell (SSU 2),1887-1917. James McConnell, a famous aviator of the Lafayette Escadrille, was attached to AFS Se~tion 2 in France from February 11, 1915 untIl December 12, 1915 and received the Croix de Guerre for bravery under fire. In the fall of 1915 McConnell enlisted in the French Aviation. As one of the original seven American pilots who formed the Lafayette Escadrille squadron, McConnell was sent to the front in April 1916. He was killed in aerial combat above the Somme battlefields, near Petit-Detroit (Aisne) on March 19, 1917. McConnell was posthumously
Ambulance Door Presentation L to R: Wayne Edwards, Chair, AFS International Board o/Trustees; Colin Gemmell (eM 92, IB 60-T) and son Rob Gemmell; and Richard Spencer, President, AFS Intercultural Programs
John W. Leonard (CM 88); videotape of the 1996 Veterans Day observation in Boise, Idaho, which includes the local news interview with Leonard and AFS students hosted in Idaho.
Arthur Howe, Jr. (ME 2); WWII cartoon "Oversea's Market", ca. 1942-43; The Crusader, vol. 5, Issue 13, March 1997. Arnold Motz (ME 22); "Halloween Party!! 1942", an account of Unit ME 22 trip to the Middle East, September 4, 1942 - December 5, 1942. The Unit with Motz in charge also included Oscar C. Miller and Lindsay G. Smith. The uneventful passage was broken when the ship "Empire Guidon" was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the waters off Durban, South Africa, on October 31, 1942. All three of Unit 22 made it safely to lifeboats. Having spent the Halloween night adrift at sea they were rescued next day by the merchant vessel "Clan Alpine" bound for Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Motz and his unit companions made it back to Durban and finally arrived at Cairo AFS headquarters on December 6, 1942. Motz stayed on with AFS overseas for next 2 years and 11 months and was repatriated home in August, 1945. John P. Troxell (CM 89, m 60-T); correspondence from Robert G. Frazer's (CM 49), 1943-44, newspaper clipping and PR release on Frazer's wounding at Anzio Beachhead, Italy, 1944. Frazer was decorated with the Purple Heart Award for his service in the battle. This collection also includes Barney Schley's (CM 40) letter (1943), and Stephen Galatti's letter referring to Troxell's involvement with AFS International Scholarships (1947). Frederick Rath, Jr. (ME 4); Index of Rath's AFS Archive and "Summary Statement" reflecting on his AFS experiences in North Africa, 1942-43. Thomas Shepard (m 20); 8 captioned Burma photos taken during the capture of Mandalay in the spring of 1945. Clifford Bissler (m 31); 19 Indian Division audiotape featuring 1945 BBC commentary on the push into Mandalay, Burma, March, 1945 and the messages of General William Slim, Commander of the 14th British army in Burma and Lord Mountbatten after the fall of Mandalay.
Suzanne Bloom, Trustee, George R. Bunker Living Trust; 6 framed artworks of George Bunker (CM 41) and Catalogue raisonne of the Work of George Bunker (1997). The donors of the AFS Intercultural Programs materials include: Arthur Howe, Jr. (ME 2); audio tape of the Old Timers Reunion Dinner on August 2, 1997 including the speeches by Ward Chamberlin, Arthur Howe, Elga Bier, Martha Bigliani and Maria Hogetveit Berg.
Old Timers Reunion Organizers L to R: Dan Hastings, Manager, AFS Travel; Arthur Howe (ME 2), former AFS President; Elga Bier, former AFS staff; and Ward Chamberlin (ME 37, CM 104, IB 59-T), Life Trustee
Ken Abel, Systems Analyst, AFS International; AFS holiday art cards designed by the AFS students in the 1970's. Recent participant and volunteer photographs from AFS Japan, Chile, Brazil and Honduras which were used in the 50th Anniversary Exhibit. French original of Alan Albright's The Field Service: From Assistance to the War Wounded to Educating World Citizens (1991) including materials on AFSNSF, 1960-1982, EFIL, Blerancourt Museum, and the listing of the AFS French Fellows who were French. Rudolph Hoffmann (GER to USA 1950-51); a photograph of the AFS German students during the Bus Trip in July 1951.
Escadrille - James R. McConnell (SSU 2), Willis B. Haviland (SSU 2), Douglas MacMonagle (SSU 3-8), Walter Lovell (SSU Marion Saetermo Norvik (NOR to USA 2), Henry Sweet Jones (SSU 1), Kenneth 1947-48); laser prints of the First Bus Trip Marr (SSU 2), Frank L. Baylies (SSU 1-3), 1948 featuring the first AFS students with and Lawrence Rumsey (SSU 1) had contribDot Field, Stephen Galatti and President uted greatly to the air offensive in France. Of Eisenhower at Columbia University. approximately 175 American volunteers who served in the Escadrille in 1916 and 1917, at Merv Taiaroa (NZL to USA 1955-56); least 51 were veterans of the AFS. All photo with the restored WWI New Zealand ambulance, May 1997; map of Bus Trip 1956 Lafayette Escadrille planes carried the American Indian head insignia on fuselages. and a group photo of AFS NZL 1955-56 This insignia was also painted on the side returnees (1997). panels of AFS Section 1 ambulances. Ms. Moore was particularly impressed with our Georg Broch, ND AFS Norway; The AFS WWI film and used clips from it in the Story: Journeys of a Lifetime 1914*1947*1997 (JPM Publications, Discovery Channel's WINGS documentary "Flying Coffins." The "Flying Coffins" Lausanne, 1997). honors the first American flyers and explains Natalia M.L. Mineque-Morales (PHI to USA how the first flying machines were con1965-66); an article on the thirtieth reunion structed. This production was first shown on of AFS Bus 23 (1966) published in 1996 and the Discovery Channel in September, 1997. a photograph of Ms. Morales and her family The film gives credit to AFS and will help reunion with her host parents, the Dean promote knowledge and understanding of Hamiltons in June 1997. AFS' origins. Suzanne Sebert, AFS Director of Public Affairs and Returnee from Germany Summer 1959-60; copies of News Bulletins from mI v "Arosa Sky" August 1957; songs from the 50th Anniversary Crossing 1997 and from 1950' s ("In Praise of Steve Galatti"); a scrapbook of photographs of the first Chinese students 1997. Carson Gleberman, AFS-USA Trustee; Program and invitations to the AFS 50th Anniversary celebration, videotape of the AFS World Conference in San Giminiano, Italy, 1968, and "A Year of Transformation" - AFS 50th Anniversary video.
Paulette Moore, Director - Producer associated with the Discovery Channel, approached the Archives for the AFS WWI footage featuring the legendary pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille - Victor Chapman, Norman Prince and Kiffin Rockwell. This rare and original footage is included in "Our Friend France" (1916), an AFS WWI promotional and recruiting film of the Field Service in France in the Great War. AFS veterans who enlisted in the Lafayette
ARCHIVAL EXHIBITS AND RESEARCH IN THE ARCHIVES Last February AFS Japan displayed selections of laser prints from the Archives representing the historical phases of the organization and AFS Japanese students, 1950's1960's at the Tokyoist Conference. An archives exhibit featuring historical photographs of the AFS bus trips and blowups and collages of the student ship crossings was displayed on board the QE2 during the 50th Anniversary Crossing last July. AFS Returnees enjoyed the exhibit and quite a few were able to recognize themselves in the photographs of their student days in 1950's1960's. Archives presented both the AFS 50th Anniversary Photo Exhibit and the Partner Exhibit at the AFS World Congress held in Montreal, Canada on October 6-10, 1997. The Partner Photo Exhibit contained a brief overview of AFS' history from its beginnings up to the recent 50th Anniversary
celebrations. A separate panel featuring the photos of the first Chinese high school students to participate in the Year Program was added to the exhibit. The P.artner Exhibit and the photographic selectIOns from the Bergen Belsen Memorial Album were shown to the participants of the AFS Staff Training in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in the beginning of November. AFS WWII Driver, Norman Shethar (eM 53) was a guest speaker at this conference. Archives sent the AFS 50th Anniversary historical exhibit to France for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of AFSNSF in November. The exhibit materials were on display during the General Assembly of the AFSNSF. We have also forwarded videotapes of the AFS historic videos to France for a production of a new video. The Partner Exhibit was also displayed by the AFS New Zealand at the 50t Anniversary Celebration at the end of November.
United Nations Reception: Archives Exhibit Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa (AFS returnee 1968-69), Minister, Mission of Japan to the United Nations, identifYing himself in the photo with President Nixon
Archival Photo Exhibit at the United Nations
The 50 Anniversary Exhibit containing 108 photos of AFS past and present formed a backdrop to the "AFS and the United Nations" Luncheon and Reception, December 8, 1997. th
The event celebrated 50 years of AFS student exchanges and honored the diplomatic leadership of the 56 countries in which AFS has programs. This occasion provided an opportunity for AFSers affiliated with the United Nations to meet and share their experiences. Archives was involved in the research and production of the 50th Anniversary Souvenir Book, The AFS Story: Journeys of a Lifetime 1914 * 1947 * 1997 (1997) which was distributed to all participants of the AFS 50th Anniversary Crossing on the QE2 and made available to the Drivers. This comprehensive and richly illustrated publication contains a variety of historical and statistical information on AFS Intercultural Programs and is available from the Archives for $32.50 (including U.S. postage). The AF~ 50th Anniversary year was a very productive year for the Archives. We participated in compilation of the 50th Anniversary Public Relations Kit which was distributed to International and National media organizations around the world before the 50th Event. The photos of AFS students with U.S. Presidents and Martin Luther ~ing, J!".were made available to inquiring JournalIsts. In connection with Partners' anniversaries we answered requests from AFS Iceland, AFS Spain, AFS Costa Rica and AFS Denmark for historical materials photos and videos. ' Archival WWI and WWII film footage and the prints and videos of the current program were made available to Elizabeth Vasconcellos de Carvalho, an AFS Brazilian returnee (1964-65) and news editor associated with Rede Globo TV in Brazil. Ms. Carvalho participated in the 50th Anniversary Crossing and recorded it on film. In addition to the Crossing the film includes the ship's arrival in New York the 50th Celebration Events, Brazilian AFS students' encounters with their host families in New Jersey and flashes of the AFS' history. Archives provided assistance to Peter M :innock StEw art(ID 1, IB 45) in his re~earch f<;>r an autobiographical book drawIn~ on hIS.wWI~ experiences while serving wIth AFS In IndIa Burma in 1943-45.
Mr. Stewart conducted a thorough examination of the archival collection of photographic and manuscript records dealing with the AFS service with the British 14th army in India Burma. He was also able to film the official British army posters, maps and insignia for use in the book. Archival records on E. E. (Pat) Tanner (ME 37, FR 3-T) were made available to Eric Myers for a soon to be published biography of this famous writer whose nom-de-plume was Patrick Dennis. Tanner served with AFS in the Middle East and France and is best known for "Auntie Marne", which was translated into many languages. Jaime P. Salinas (FR 4) visited the Archives from Spain, where he resides. Mr. Salinas was an AFS driver in France in 1944-45 and was particularly interested in the records of the AFS' service with the First French Army. Mr. Salinas reviewed his personnel file, photographs of the French Section III, the official correspondence and the Section diaries for a memoir he is crrently writing.
Yale had 194 men in the AFS in WWI and 116 in WWII. If you have any short and colorful, Yale - related copy about the AFS in either World War, such can be sent to Professor Smith's third string research assistant: Oliver Barres, P.O. Box 987, Larchmont, NY 10538 and copy to AFS Archives.
An Archives' photograph of the famous movie star, Robert Montgomery (FR 40) is featured in the Update Section of the AFS Web Page. The photograph shows Montgomery driving an AFS Chevrolet ambulance in Paris during the French campaign, June, 1940. You can access the AFS History Page on the World WideWeb: http://www.afs.org/ history.
Archival photographs ofthe Military Model T ambulance, the car diagram and dimensions were made available to Mr. Preston Heller, Jr., who completed restoration of a WWI AFS Ford ambulance. Mr. Preston's father, Preston B. Heller drove an AFS ambulance in France in WWI.
Professor Gaddis Smith, former Yale History Department head, has been commissioned to write a history of Yale at War in the 20th Century. He was not fully aware of AFS' contribution in WWI and WWII until one of our Drivers - Oliver Barres (eM 47) alerted him. AFS Archives have provided Professor Smith with the complete listings of Yale men who served in the AFS in WWI and WWII including their class years and assisted him in gathering materials about AFS' work. He wrote to Oliver Barres: "I am getting a good picture of the achievements of your remarkable group, and I look forward to including as much as I can in the book".
L to R: Robert Montgomery, film star and volunteer AFS Ambulance driver with Stuart Benson in France, June 1940, before joining the Us. Navy Reserve in 1941. Robert Montgomery commanded PT's at Guadalcanal and the Marshall Islands; and as operations officer aboard a destroyer he fought in support to the D-Day landings. For wartime actions, Lt. Commander Montgomery earned a Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor.
Season's Greetings from
the Staff of AFS International Wishing You A Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year! '¢
Below is the list of AFS Volunteer Drivers whose mail has been returned to us. If you know the whereabouts of any of these drivers, please let us know.
Edgar Bowles Gordon Brady John W. Cutler, Jr. Ernest Downing Richard B. Dorn R. Stockton B. Hopkins Walter Huston Irving King Jack Leimbach Frederick E. Quale Kenneth Schubert Charles G. Shapiro Jon Thoresen
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We received notice of the deaths of the following drivers:
Frederick Avery, CM 41 Allen W. Clark, Jr., ill 1 Fairfield Hoban, ill 57 Charles R. Laflamme, CM 48 Paul B. Martin, CM 90 David C. Miller, ME 32 Edward Nathanson, CM 86 Newbold Noyes, Jr. ME 32 John C. O'Donnell, Jr., IB 17 Artley B. Parson III, IB 17 Timothy E. Peterson, ill 31 Charles Rellinger, ME 32, FR 8 Robert D. Thorburn, ill 58 Frederick W. Wackernagel, Jr., ME 37 John W. Warrington, ME 32, IB 59-T Harcourt Wood, CM 99, IB 59-T