AFS Janus - December 2008

DECEMBER 2008 RICHARD HUNT AWARDED HARVARD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEDAL 3 WARD CHAMBERLIN: FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE 4 INTERVIEW WITH FRENCH MINISTER OF ECONOMY CHRISTINE LAGARDE 5 ALSO IN THIS EDITION IN MEMORIAM: FREDERICK BALDERSTON (1923-2007) 6 WWII LAST POST 2007-2008 6

AFS ambulance drivers at the British 8th Army Dressing Station, Western Desert, North Africa, 1942

AFS: AN IDEA

A LEADER

Dear AFS Friend, The AFS Janus is dedicated to sharing AFS’s unique and vibrant history and the organization’s significant contribution to peace and intercultural understanding. To fulfill our mission of bringing AFS’s history to wider audiences, we redesigned the AFS Janus and will be bringing it to you three times a year. In upcoming issues we will be featuring a “Drivers’ Mail Bag” column to share letters from our ambulance drivers.

We also want you to be better informed about the organization and our plans for the AFS Archives.

We plan to make available the enduring legacy of AFS in WWII to interested audiences, including posting our archival holdings online. To make available the treasures of the Archives we plan to mount educational exhibits on AFS history (some virtual) and plan for a preservation study of the Archives holdings.

Our feature story “AFS: An Idea, a Leader and Volunteers,” is about the idea of volunteerism and how the AFS developed that idea. Volunteerism is part of the AFS basic core values—part adventure, part thirst for knowledge, part wanting to share your feelings and thoughts with others, and part being on a mission for understanding and peace among all people.

Thank you for your continued support. We hope that you enjoy this issue.

Eleanora Golobic eleanora.golobic@afs.org

AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. 71 West 23rd Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10010-4102 USA tel: +1.212.807.8686 • fax: +1.212.807.1001 www.afs.org

AND VOLUNTEERS

By Carlos Porro

“When we came back from WWII and started the scholarship program, we, the AFS, had no money–only an idea and a leader. Little did we know the importance of what we were doing–what a worldwide movement we were starting. An idea, a leader and volunteers– that was all we had, but what a powerful, irresistible force!”

- Ward Chamberlin AFS 1993 World Congress Murten, Switzerland.

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A. P. Andrew (right), Oliver Perry (seated) with French officers at the Headquarters of Section 4, Ippecourt,Verdun. August 1916

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hen Ward Chamberlin said that all AFS had was an idea, a leader and some volunteers, he could have been talking about what the AFS had at the beginning of WWI in France: an idea to aid the wounded on the bloody battlefields of France; a leader, A. Piatt Andrew, who after the initial sorties to those battlefields, helped shape the future of the AFS Ambulance Corps; and the brave American volunteers who drove the ambulances into the very heart of each engagement with the enemy.

Then WWII shattered the precarious peace that had been won with so many sacrifices, and the AFS idea again came into play, with a leader, Stephen Galatti and a new generation of volunteer ambulance drivers.

The idea of AFS volunteerism, an idea that has sustained AFS Intercultural Programs worldwide for more than six decades, was born on the battlefields of WWI and WWII. When that idea was formed into a vision for reaching a new level of mutual understanding through intercultural exchange programs for high school youth in 1946, it began a worldwide movement that continues to change lives and inspire communities today. But this transformation would not have been possible without the spark of genius that was the idea of a peacetime AFS, dedicated to nurturing peace and understanding by enabling first-hand experiences gained by living as a part of a culture other than one’s own.

AFS WWII medal, insignia and WWI BuIletin

George Medill and Ward Chamberlin during last convoy, Italy, 1945

Those first courageous exchange students, who packed their bags and left their homes to spend a year in the U.S., were the beneficiaries of the AFS idea. This idea, for which AFS ambulance drivers risked and gave their lives, was to go to war not to engage in battle but to engage in saving lives and to do so on a volunteer basis. In sixty years’ time, almost 373,000 AFS students have gone from South Africa to the Netherlands, from Germany and Japan to the United States, from the United Kingdom to Argentina and to so many other places where the scars of war and conflict have left their mark on world history.

The AFS students have gone abroad with open minds and hearts to learn about themselves and others and to form bonds that often last for a lifetime. And wherever AFS students have traveled to, they have been supported by volunteers who continue to be nurtured and motivated by the simple yet powerful idea that was born with the AFS drivers. Together they form the basis of the AFS community to which we all belong.

AFS recently sent an appeal to our drivers for contributions on behalf of our programs and our Network. If you have already contributed, we thank you.

If you have not contributed yet, please consider doing so in suppor t of the idea that the AFS drivers created, and that has been so successfully implemented during these past sixty years, by returning your donation in the attached envelope.

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AFS LIFE TRUSTEE RICHARD HUNT AWARDED HARVARD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEDAL

By Christine Vogel Mrs. Priscilla Stevenson Hunt and Dr. Richard Hunt, AFS-USA Gala, New York, October 19, 2006

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FS World War II ambulance driver and life trustee Richard M. Hunt, was awarded the Harvard University Alumni Association medal for extraordinary service to the University on June 5, 2008. A graduate of Harvard with a Ph.D. in history in 1960, Dr. Hunt was a faculty member there for 42 years.

Dr. Hunt chose to retire from his post as University Marshal on August 30, 2002. The University Marshal, a position dating back to the end of the 19th century and held by Dr. Hunt since 1982, represents the president and fellows of Harvard College in all matters of protocol, including the welcoming of international visitors and heads of state to the University.

Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers said of the retiring Dr. Hunt, “As Marshal for two decades, Rick has served the University with distinction, dedication, and a profound sense of the history that animates Harvard. As a keeper of our most cherished traditions and as a gracious and engaging host for countless distinguished visitors to Harvard from around the world, Rick has been one of Harvard’s leading goodwill ambassadors and a diplomat extraordinaire.

He has also carried forward as a member of the Social Studies faculty and a respected member of our community of international scholars.Through it all, Rick has served Harvard with a combination of grace and sophistication that will be hard to replace.”

When reached for comment, Dr. Hunt expressed his high regard for tradition past and present and his high hopes for AFS, which is needed now, more than ever, in his view. He encouraged all of us to work to expand our programs as much as possible so that as many young people as possible will have the opportunity to experience life in another country and culture.

Dr. Hunt remains very active, finishing a book on Harvard University, and serving on numerous boards and committees at Harvard and elsewhere.

AFS’s long standing connection with Harvard University goes back to World War I. The AFS in France in World War I had its own “Harvard Ambulance Unit”–Section Thirty. Three hundred twenty-five Harvard students joined the American Field Service as volunteer ambulance drivers between 1914 and 1917. A. Piatt Andrew, the founder of the American Field Service was also a Harvard graduate. Stephen Galatti, the founder of the AFS Intercultural Programs was a member of the famous Harvard Class of 1910, which included T. S. Eliot and John Reed. During World War II, sixty-eight Harvard men left the school to drive ambulances for the American Field Service.

Congratulations, Dr. Hunt, on your long and distinguished career of outstanding service.

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WARD CHAMBERLIN: FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

Ward with Marlene Johnson, Executive Director and CEO and Everett Egginton, President, NAFSA, Washington, D.C., May 27, 2008

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ard B. Chamberlin, Jr., an AFS Driver and Life Trustee has been honored with a 2008 Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award given by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 3, 2008.

The award honors individuals and organizations that have made contributions to the common good through public leadership and service.

Ward has also been awarded the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Cassandra Pyle Award for Leadership and Collaboration in International Educational Exchange on May 27, 2008. This award honors the contributions of a senior international educator to international exchange.

Ward is a public broadcasting leader who played a key role in the establishment of both the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) in the 1960s until he retired in 2003. Ward has been Vice President and Managing Director of the Broadcast Center at Thirteen/ WNET, New York City. He is a former Chairperson and CEO of American Playhouse and of American Documentary, Inc. He is also a former President and CEO of WETA television/radio station and production center.

Honoring a Lifetime of Leadership and Service

Born on August 4, 1921, Ward grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was at Princeton when he joined the AFS in the fall of 1942. Ward served in North Africa and was transferred to Italy in October 1943.

Beginning in January of 1944, he spent four months at the Monte Cassino battle. He was promoted to Lieutenant and Major, in charge of “C” Platoon 485 Company. He became Officer Commanding of AFS 485 Company in June of 1945 and was awarded the British award “Mentioned in Despatches.”

In June of 1945, Ward was sent to India, in charge of two AFS ambulance units in preparation for the invasion of Singapore. Upon his return to the United States, he studied law at Princeton and Columbia Law School. Ward was one of the original founders of the AFS in September of 1946. Ward’s AFS volunteer service extends for more than 60 years, as a former Chairperson and a Life Trustee of the AFS Intercultural Programs.

Ward lives in Westport, Massachusetts with his wife Lydia Gifford Chamberlin, a noted painter.

They have two daughters Lyn and Margot and four grandchildren.

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world by Forbes magazine in 2004. Pointing out the immense impact of the AFS experience on her personality and career, Lagarde said, “It was huge.” Lagarde was hosted in Bethesda, Maryland in 1973-74 and still visits her American “mom and dad,” William and Mary Atkins once a year. When asked what advice she would give to young people considering participation in the programs, she replied: “Go for it! Give it your best!”

French Economy Minister and AFS Returnee Christine Lagarde during the interview, Paris, March 26, 2008

INTERVIEW WITH FRENCH MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND AFS RETURNEE CHRISTINE LAGARDE: THE AFS LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE

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he Archives initiated the Legacy Project in January of 1999 to further our mission of preserving the AFS founders’ legacy and to enhance the knowledge of AFS history.The AFS Legacy collection includes interviews of 85 AFS World War II drivers who have been recorded on audio and video tape. We also videotaped 56 AFS Founders and Returnees.

This March, Eleanora Golobic, AFS Archivist and Caroline Barjon, Communications Manager of AFS France, met with prominent AFS returnees in Paris as part of the AFS Legacy Project. The interviews highlighted the transformational power of an AFS experience. We are very grateful to all our interviewees for their participation.

Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment of France attested to the importance of her AFS experience “My AFS year was a decisive year in my career,” she said.“It enlarged my horizon; it taught me that the world is bigger, culture can be enriched and that everybody is worth listening to. I also learned more about myself.”

Lagarde, the first woman to become Minister of Economy in France was ranked the 30th most influential woman in the

Raymond Aubrac, the national French hero and one of the celebrated Resistance leaders during WWII, received an AFS French Fellowship in 1937 to study engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The French Fellowship program supporting AFS graduate student exchanges between France and the United States was established in 1919 and continued until 1950. At 94, Aubrac is active visiting schools to speak of his wartime experiences. Aubrac recalled his 1937-38 term at MIT and explained how he decided to express his “opposition to the state of things” after the fall of France in 1940 and how he escaped from the Gestapo in Lyon in 1943 with the help of his wife Lucie.

Aubrac was a close associate of General Charles de Gaulle both during the war and afterwards.

Monique Hecker and Jean-Mathieu Boris, AFS French Fellows in 1946-47, shared memories about their AFS year and involvement in the French Resistance during the war.

Martin Winckler, an author and a medical doctor, gained prominence with his 1998 novel “La Maladie de Sachs” (The Case of Dr. Sachs). Winckler has been an AFS France volunteer after the return from his exchange program in 1973 and served as a board member in 1975-76. His children went on the program and his family hosted students from Finland and New Zealand. Winckler shared his passion for AFS and spoke about enduring bonds with the Stainer host family of Bloomington, Minnesota. His host mother Betty Ann Hanson encouraged him to write and to be responsive to others. “She taught me,” he said, “that I didn’t have any other obligation than being what I wanted to be.”

Winckler added, “I learned to share when I was in the USA. As a doctor, I believe caring is not a position of power but a position of sharing.” Asked what advice he would give to a potential AFS participant, he answered: “Go to the country you don’t want to go to... don’t choose the easy way!”

The Legacy Project has been funded through private donations. Funds are needed to continue the project. Your donation will enable us to collect personal memories of AFS drivers, returnees and staff who made an important contribution. We appreciate your support.

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WWII LAST POST 2007-2008

AFS FOUNDERS IN MEMORIAM Frederick Balderston (1923-2007)

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Howard S. Brod, ME 32, FR 6 Kirk Browning, ME 32, FR 6 Donald A. Colvin, CM 50 Laurence K. Ettari, CM 100, IB 59-T

rofessor Fred Balderston, one of the Founders of AFS Intercultural Programs and Life Trustee died at age 84 at his home in Berkeley, California on October 18, 2007.

Fred was born on August 15, 1923 in Philadelphia and received his early education at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania and at Deep Springs Junior College in California. Fred volunteered with the American Field Service in September 1942 and went overseas with the Unit Middle East 37 in January 1943. After having served in Syria and North Africa, Fred was attached to 485 Company in Italy in October 1943. In May 1944, Fred was recommended for the British Empire Medal for his courage at the battle of Cassino and rescue of wounded Lt. Bob Bryan, who later died of his wounds. Fred was appointed Commander of “C” Platoon, 485 Company in November 1944. After the end of the war in Europe, Fred was transferred to India-Burma. He was repatriated to the United States in December of 1945. Fred was awarded the British award “Mentioned in Despatches” in 1945.

Fred’s distinguished career in business management and education included serving as Associate Dean of Berkeley’s Haas School of Business at the University of California. He had been associated with the School since 1953 and authored many publications on marketing channels, financial regulation, higher education, and corporate strategy.

Fred became involved with AFS again when he was elected an AFS Life Trustee in 1966 and this involvement continued throughout his life. As a Life Trustee he continued to play an influential role in AFS throughout the years. Fred was honored at the 2004 AFS-USA Gala in New York for the support and leadership he has provided to AFS over the years.

Fred is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children, Daniel Balderston, Sara Balderston, Thomas Balderston, and Jonathan Balderston; five grandchildren; and a brother, Robert Balderston.

Lee F. Ferguson, CM 49 Richard G. Garrett, IB 57 Merrill G. Hastings, Jr., CM 86, IB 59-T Charles E. Johnson, Jr., CM 45, FR 6 Bayard LeRoy King, ME 25 Follman W. Kreis, CM 41 Jack C. Leimbach, IB 38 Walter B. Lovelace, ME 37 George H. Munger, Jr., ME 30 Hugh Parker, IB 1 George W. Perkins, Jr., IB 43 William S. Prince, CM 88, IB 60-T Joseph H. Pynchon, Jr., CM 97, IB 59-T Michael J. Scully, CM 92, IB 60-T Norman Shethar, CM 53 John C. Stoddard, CM 56 Edward J. Sullivan, ME 41 William S. Townsend, II, CM 74 Jeptha H.Wade, III, IB 57 Arthur T. Whitehouse, CM 86 John F. Willson, ME 4, IB -T AFS JANUS • DECEMBER 2008

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DRIVERS NEWS Ned Kelley (FR 4) was a special guest at the AFS France 60th anniversary event in Paris on November 10, 2007. Ned served with the First French Army in 1944-45 with Arthur Williams (FR 4) whose account “Journey Back” was read by his wife Hanne at this event. An enthusiastic audience of over 600 people included Craig R. Stapleton, U.S. Ambassador to France; Francisco (Tachi) Cazal, AFS President; and Margaret Crotty, AFS-USA President.

French Partner Director Philippe Peccatier, Australia Partner Director Theresa Collignon, Francisco (Tachi) Cazal, Margaret Crotty, Ambassador Craig Stapleton, Ned Kelley, Hanne Williams, French Chairperson Gérard Sautereau and AFS Archivist Eleanora Golobic with a Model T Ford ambulance.

Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (ME 2), Hollywood screen and TV writer (creator of “Batman” TV series) reviews new movies with Marcia Nasatir on YouTube (The Reel Geezers). Semple served as an AFS ambulance driver with the Free French Forces at the battle of Bir Hacheim in Lybia in June of 1942. He was decorated with the French Medaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre for bravery evacuating the wounded at Bir Hacheim.

Semple was recently interviewed on “Good Morning America.”

You can find his reviews at the address below. http://www.reelgeezers.com Lorenzo Semple, Jr. at 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Photo courtesy of: Petr Novák, Wikipedia