The Foreign Service Journal, March 2016

16 MARCH 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL reminded of what happened to him, and the impact it had on my own career and views of how the Service cares for its members. The story helps illustrate some of my concerns about how we “profes- sionals” look out for our people. In 1958, I was a new FS-8 on assign- ment in the Economic Bureau when I met Wentworth and learned his story. On Cyprus the year before, in the garden with his daughter, he had opened the gate when the bell rang, and a Greek terrorist put four bullets and five holes in him. He was rushed to a Defense Depart- ment hospital in Greece and operated on; he developed peritonitis, was operated on again and slowly recovered. He was put on Sick Leave until that ran out, then on Annual Leave until that ran out and then—wait for it—on Leave Without Pay! The department finally brought him home, and sent a car to bring him into the E Bureau every day, where he sat hunched over a desk for a few hours so they could pay him. Now that is truly compassionate care and concern for your people. Wentworth told me he had met a Navy pilot in the hospital who had suffered a compound leg fracture skiing in Ger- many, and when he got out would get 30 days of Convalescent Leave—not charge- able as Leave. (Note that Bowe Berghdal, the soldier who may be charged with desertion in Afghanistan, was promoted to sergeant during his absence. I assume he got all that back pay.) I ran all around, naively trying to cor- rect what I was convinced was an over- sight or an error, only to learn the terrible truth. That was—and maybe still is—how we dealt with those kinds of issues, including cases of FS members contract- ing a serious disease while serving in an area where it is endemic. Ed Peck Ambassador, retired Chevy Chase, Maryland Longest-Serving U.S. Ambassador to Israel I greatly enjoyed reading Yoav Tenembaum’s article about Sam Lewis’ tenure as the U.S. ambassador to Israel in the January-February Journal ( “Samuel Lewis in Israel, 1977-1985”). For the record, however, I would note that Sam Lewis was not the longest- serving U.S. diplomatic representative to Israel. That distinction belongs to the career FSO, Ambassador Walworth Barbour, who served some 12 years under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon (1961-1973). On my first tour I was fortunate to serve as Amb. Barbour’s aide for 18 months—a truly memorable experience. Edward Gibson Lanpher Ambassador, retired Washington, D.C. Correction Our apologies to Yoav Tenembaum and thanks to Amb. Lanpher for correct- ing the record. We regret the inadvertent omission of the qualifier: Lewis was the second -longest-serving U.S. envoy to Tel Aviv. n A few of the Facebook postings in response to “A Foreign Service Officer’s Alzheimer’s Journey,” by John Collinge (January-February FSJ ) From the AFSA Facebook page— Mari Dietrich Tolliver: Grateful to Mr. Collinge for sharing his and his wife’s story—his grace and love for his wife are in every line, as is his generosity in sharing lessons learned with the rest of us. Gloria Nelli Lloyd: Such a very heartbreaking, compassionate and, finally, practical article. I’m keeping this one in our own files, should the time ever come when one of us needs the guidance offered here. Roger Moran: A sad but informative account. I have watched my mother, father-in-law and mother-in-law as Alzheimer’s gradually overtook them. From the FSJ Facebook page— Kim Kelly: This is a heartbreaking story but so very informative. Thank you for sharing your story. Eileen Malloy: Zandra was a valued colleague of mine in our work for the inspector general. She is very lucky to have had the support of her loving husband, and we are indebted to him for sharing his insights. Cathy Hurst: I had no idea the wonderful, vibrant Zandra was ill. Thanks for posting this. Facebook Feedback