Interview with Jack Wilson, August 18, 2020

Partial Transcript: Hello. Today is August 18, 2020. My name is Jay Sztuk. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji from 1974 through '76. And today, I'm going to be interviewing Jack Wilson who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia from 1962 through 1964 and he served as the, uh, assistant Peace Corps country director in Sierra Leone from '66 through '68, and was country director in Fiji from 1970,--1970 to 1972.

Segment Synopsis: Wilson grew up in a small town in Michigan. He went to a small liberal arts college in Ohio. Wilson was inspired by President Kennedy's idealism. Starting in March 1961, Wilson and his fiancée applied to the Peace Corps together, graduated from college, worked summer jobs, got married, and left on a 2 week honeymoon. That fall, Wilson had been admitted to graduate school at Michigan State University and his wife had signed a teaching contract. When they returned from their honeymoon, the Wilsons got a telegram telling them to report the next week for training in Puerto Rico for a Peace Corps program in the Philippines. The Wilsons asked to be considered for a later program. The next spring, Peace Corps offered them a posting in Liberia.

Keywords: Applications; Applying; Decisions; East Lansing (Mich.); Graduate schools; Influences; Invitations; Jobs; John F. Kennedy; Marriage; Michigan; Michigan State University; Ohio; Peace Corps directors; Pre-service training; Transition periods; Undergraduate education

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970; Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Sierra Leone; Philippines; Puerto Rico; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Originally, we're supposed to go to Puerto Rico first for Outward Bound, uh, training.

Segment Synopsis: Pre-service training for Wilson's group was switched from Puerto Rico to the University of Pittsburgh. There was no more room for additional trainees to do Outward Bound training in Puerto Rico.

Keywords: Changes; Cleveland (Ohio); Outward Bound; Pittsburgh (Pa.); Travel; Traveling; University of Pittsburgh

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Puerto Rico; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, the first time you heard about Peace Corps was when Kennedy announced it in '61?

Segment Synopsis: As an idealistic, recent college graduate, Wilson found the idea of the Peace Corps attractive. Wilson also found the idea of his wife's returning to the U.S. with 2 years of teaching experience appealing. Wilson's professors were not understanding.

Keywords: Altruism; Awareness; Career paths; Choices; Influences; John F. Kennedy; Master's degrees; Professors; University of Michigan; Unsupportive

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And what did your--[computer dings]--your friends and family think about you joining up?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson's parents questioned his decision. Wilson's in-laws were supportive.

Keywords: Career paths; Questions; Support; Traveling

Subjects: Canada; Families; Finance; Immigrants; International travel; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Did you have a preference for where you went in the Peace Corps or were you willing to go anywhere they sent you?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson says Liberia worked out well for him. His cohort started with 100 trainees of which 92 went overseas following pre-service training. The Wilsons were in an education program but few of the trainees had teacher training before entering pre-service training. In Liberia, Wilson taught English and his wife taught social studies. They worked with junior and senior high school students. Pre-service training was intensive and included lessons on American history to counter possible pro-communist sentiments overseas. There was little language training as Liberia's national language is English. Physical fitness was also part of the training regimen. Training also involved psychological testing and de-selection of trainees, which Wilson believes was not very effective. Wilson's cohort was also unique in its having 11 or 12 married couples.

Keywords: Cohorts; Cultural training; Examinations; Exams; High schools; Language training; Local languages; Medical kits; Motivation; National languages; Teaching English as a foreign language; Technical training; University of Pittsburgh

Subjects: Liberia; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Philippines; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, tell me about, you know, your, uh, entry into Liberia. What were your first impressions?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson's cohort flew 23 hours from Kennedy Airport to Monrovia, Liberia, where they were met by the Peace Corps country director and other local dignitaries. Wilson's cohort had another week of orientation in-country. Wilson's cohort was the first to be sent to Liberia.

Keywords: Monrovia (Liberia); Orientation; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Uh, we were spread out throughout the country.

Segment Synopsis: The Volunteers were assigned to work sites in pairs. The Wilsons were assigned to a National Baptist Mission boarding school in Suehn which served students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Working at the school itself was a cross cultural experience for the Wilsons. The missionaries were all African American women.

Keywords: African Americans; Age ranges; Black Americans; Cultural differences; Monrovia (Liberia); Rural areas; Suehn (Liberia); Women

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Schools; Sierra Leone; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: The, the school also had a, uh, a clinic that it ran, um, twice a week, maybe.

Segment Synopsis: Wilson describes the administration of the school and his housing. The other teachers included American missionaries as well as Liberian women, some of whom had studied in the U.S.

Keywords: Americans; Co-teachers; Cuttington College; Temple University; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; School management and organization; South Africa; Study abroad; Teachers; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Women

Partial Transcript: And what was this community like where, where you were posted? Was it a rural community or was it a big town?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson describes the area by his work site which was about 30 miles from Monrovia.

Keywords: Monrovia (Liberia); Rural areas

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, you were the first group in, uh, the area. Did, um, did it seemed like Peace Corps had, um, a pretty well defined, um, mission and, um, and goals there or were you kind of making it up as you went along?

Segment Synopsis: The Volunteers in Wilson's cohort eased the teacher shortage and substituted for local teachers to enable the local teachers to receive further training. Some communities had trouble providing adequate housing for the Volunteers as stipulated by the Peace Corps.

Keywords: Difficult; Education programs; Housing; Local people; Locals

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Schools; Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Was, uh, living in Liberia a difficult adjustment for you?

Segment Synopsis: Serving in the Peace Corps put additional challenges on the Wilsons' marriage. Their presence also put additional challenges on their community as the Wilsons disagreed with some of the school's policies. Mutual respect developed between the Wilsons and the missionaries. The Wilsons became lifelong friends with some of the Liberian teachers.

Keywords: Adjustment; Challenges; Cuttington College; Dancing; Lexington (Ky.); Radio stations; Traveling; Young people

Subjects: Education, Higher; Emigration and immigration; Friendship; Immigrants; International travel; Marriage; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Student activities; Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Did, did you also get to travel a little bit around the area?

Segment Synopsis: The Wilsons traveled within the local community. On their first vacation they tried, unsuccessfully, to get to Timbuktu overland along with another Volunteer.

Keywords: Bamako (Mali); Dakar (Senegal); Freetown (Sierra Leone); Goals; Niger River; Timbuktu (Mali); Transportation; Traveling

Subjects: Guinea; International travel; Mali; Niger; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Sierra Leone; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Our second school holiday, we, uh--when we were there, we went to Nigeria, flew to Nigeria then took, uh, the train, uh, north and, uh, over into eastern Nigeria, uh, went by taxi and truck into west Cameroon.

Segment Synopsis: The Wilsons flew to Nigeria and went overland to Cameroon. The Wilsons discovered the vibrant condition of east African art and literature. The Wilsons returned to Liberia with boxes of books which were incorporated into their teaching.

Keywords: Books; Transportation; Traveling

Subjects: Cameroon; International travel; Liberia; Nigeria; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, uh, this, uh, this two years you spent, uh, there in Liberia really sold you on Peace Corps.

Segment Synopsis: The Wilsons returned to their activities at Michigan State University. Wilson finished his master's degree. Wilson found work in Cleveland setting up a master's degree program in teaching for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Keywords: African Americans; Black Americans; Cleveland (Ohio); Education programs; Jobs; Master's degrees; Michigan State University; Readjustment; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Returning; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Tutors and tutoring; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: But then, you know, I reached the point where I had to decide what I was going to do next.

Segment Synopsis: Rather than pursuing a job in school administration, Wilson became a member of the Peace Corps staff in Sierra Leone.

Keywords: Career paths; Cleveland (Ohio); Decisions; East Lansing (Mich.); Future plans; Peace Corps staff; Recruiting; Recruitment; Research; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Traveling

Subjects: Emotions; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Sierra Leone; Sierra Leone; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And, uh, so now your role is really changed. Instead of being the Volunteer yourself, you're in a position where you, you, um--you're managing a whole bunch of Volunteers.

Segment Synopsis: Wilson became an associate country director in Sierra Leone for Peace Corps. Many of the Volunteers were involved in education programs. There was also a community and agricultural program with broad goals, which became problematic. Wilson discusses some of the history of Liberia and Sierra Leone and comments on their differences and similarities. After a long, heated debate between local Peace Corps staff and Peace Corps headquarters staff, Sierra Leone Volunteers began having some pre-service training in-country instead of only in the U.S. The Peace Corps headquarters staff had opposed this idea. Wilson took the idea of in-country training with him when he was working in Fiji. While Wilson was in Sierra Leone, the number of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers on the staff was still relatively small. Wilson also points out that his experience as a married Volunteer living at a school compound was different from the situation of most of the Volunteers in Sierra Leone.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Changes; Differences; Education programs; Family; History; Language barriers; Living situation; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Pre-service training; Problems; Site visits; Struggles; Support

Subjects: Emotions; Fiji; International travel; Liberia; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji.; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Sierra Leone; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteer workers in horticulture; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Well, there was a couple year gap between your, uh, service in Sierra Leone and when you went to Fiji, huh?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson returned from Sierra Leone and became the Peace Corps desk officer for Nigeria and The Gambia. Wilson traveled in Nigeria for a month trying to decide if Volunteers should stay in light of the Biafra conflict in the east of the country. Wilson also spent a month in The Gambia overseeing the pre-service training of a new Peace Corps cohort while the country director was receiving medical treatment in the U.S.

Keywords: Biafra; Cohorts; Coming home; Jobs; North Carolina; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Pre-service training; Regional conflict; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Returning; Traveling; Wars; World politics

Subjects: Gambia; Health; International travel; Nigeria; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Gambia; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Well, I--what I really want to do is go be a director some place. And what I wanted to do, I thought, was to go to the Caribbean.

Segment Synopsis: Wilson was offered, and accepted, the country directorship of Fiji. Wilson declares that this job turned out to be the best in his experience. At that time, the Fijian government was requesting more Volunteers but there had been a lot of early terminations. Wilson was able to decrease the number of early terminations. In fact, more Volunteers began to request an extension of service. Wilson was able to initiate pre-service training in-country instead of entirely in Hawaii where Samoa and Tonga cohorts also trained. The trainees also had the experience of a home stay, which improved the trainees' language fluency. Most of the Volunteers were in education or agricultural cooperative programs. Peace Corps was also making a push to recruit smaller groups of more specially trained Volunteers which filled a local void.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Caribbean; Changes; Cohorts; Cultural differences; Extensions; Family; Fluency; Hawaii; Host families; Improvements; Jobs; Language skills; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Peace Corps directors; Pre-service training; Problems; Skills; Suva (Fiji); University of the South Pacific

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji.; Samoa; Tonga; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteer workers in horticulture; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Hey, I'm curious. Uh, what kind of, um--what were some of the biggest problems that, that, uh, Peace Corps Volunteers present to the country director?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson says that numerous problems developed because of errors of judgement on the part of Volunteers. There were some problems with the agricultural cooperatives program. Wilson was criticized by some for phasing out the elementary teacher program. But it was the position of the Peace Corps that the local government had the resources to train its own personnel for these positions.

Keywords: Criticism; Education programs; Marijuana; Peace Corps directors; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: You said that Fiji was your, your favorite assignment in the Peace Corps. What was it that you liked so much about Fiji?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson found it fun to work with Volunteers and all levels of the Fijian bureaucracy. It was interesting to Wilson to see the Fijian transition from British colony to independent nation and to see what role Peace Corps could play. Wilson was also involved with the development of Peace Corps programs in the Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, and Vanuatu. Wilson found the work stimulating and had a good staff. Life in Fiji was also congenial for the others in Wilson's family.

Keywords: Bureaucracy; Changes; Family; Independence; Peace Corps staff; Post-colonial; Suva (Fiji); Transition periods; Traveling

Subjects: Fiji; International travel; New Hebrides; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji.; Peace Corps (U.S.)--History; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Support; Teaching; Vanuatu; Voluntarism; Volunteers; World politics

Partial Transcript: Did you, uh, continue working for the Peace Corps after, after leaving Fiji?

Segment Synopsis: After 6 straight years on the Peace Corps staff, regulations forced Wilson to move on. Wilson eventually got a job with the state environmental protection agency in Columbus, Ohio. After 3 or 4 years, Wilson moved to Lexington, Kentucky where his wife had a 1-year university teaching contract. Wilson found himself another job in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Keywords: Attitudes; Career paths; Columbus (Ohio); Coming home; Family; Frankfort (Ky.); Jobs; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Mid-career; Ohio; Peace Corps staff; Policy; Readjustment; Returning; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Teaching

Partial Transcript: You, you've remained part of the Peace Corps community. I, I think you've been heavily involved with the National Peace Corps Association--[unintelligible]--

Segment Synopsis: Initially, the Wilsons were not too active with the Peace Corps community. But later, Wilson's wife became a board member of the National Peace Corps Association. Wilson became more active in the Kentucky Volunteer group. The Wilsons did a hundred oral histories of Kentucky Peace Corps Volunteers which led to a book, "Voices of Peace Corps Volunteers from Kentucky."

Keywords: Books; Community; Family; National Peace Corps Association; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Retirement; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Do you a--what advice do you give, uh, young people that tell you that they're interested in joining the Peace Corps or they're thinking about joining Peace Corps now?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson recommends that others join the Peace Corps after reflecting on why they want to join and what they can contribute and not just how they might benefit. The Peace Corps experience will involve meeting new people and professional and cultural challenges.

Keywords: Challenges; Comfort zones; Expectations; Young people

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers