Interview with Tom DeCourcy, September 6, 2021

Interview Summary

Tom DeCourcy served as a Community Development volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Philippines from 1965-1969, and worked in training volunteers from 1969-1970. Tom heard about Peace Corps in college at the University of New Hampshire where he studied agronomy. His liberal parents encouraged his interest and he applied and was accepted before he could finish his bachelor's degree. His group trained in Hilo, Hawaii for three months. Changes in Philippine political leadership caused some discontinuity in PC programming, but Tom ended up starting demonstration gardens of high-yield rice, building a typhoon-proof elementary school, and teaching in the local community college. After his service he was invited to work as a trainer, which he did for about a year before returning to live in Hawaii with his Filipino wife who he married as a trainer.

Interview Keyword

U.S. Peace Corps University of New Hampshire Agronomy Agriculture Green Revolution Rice cultivation Hilo, Hawaii Cantanduanas, Philippines Manila, Philippines Psychological testing Community development Vietnam War Military draft Honolulu, Hawaii Waipio Valley, Hawaii Elementary schools Community college instruction Demonstration gardens Thanksgiving holiday Local festivals Peace Corps training Apollo landing Telecommunication Micronesia Seed industry Molokai, Hawaii

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