The Us Foreign Service

From New Frontier to War on Drugs

This is an account of an unusual journey through life, from a modest beginning as a lad in Ohio in the 1930s to experiences with high government officials as a member of the US Foreign Serviceeven with a ruling kingextending to 28 countries around the world, in 28 years. As a youngster, he had worked as a farm hand, print shop assistant, home improvement helper, railroad gandy-dancer, union laborer (age 15), union operating engineer on construction machines (16-20), machine press operator, and as a young adult, a tire builder, carpenter, union brakeman, deliveryman, postman and typistto name some of his work experience on through high school and college. He served as an Airborne Ranger in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was discharged (with a disability) as a Captain.1 Working his way through Kent State University, he majored in law, business and languages (one year of Spanish and three years of Russian). Following discharge from the Army in December 1956, he enrolled at Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service and Graduate School) earning another degree. While serving in the US Foreign Service, the Department of State assigned him to Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies, where he majored in economics. From 1959 to 1986 he served as an officer in the Foreign Service, with assignments in South and Central America (four countries), the Middle East (two countries), Southeast Asia (four countries) and India. In 1962 he was detailed to the Peace Corps for two years, initially as Executive Secretary, then as Deputy Director for Programs in five Latin American countries.