The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2015

84 JULY-AUGUST 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Scholarship Fund Benefits fromMember Generosity This spring, the AFSA Schol- arship Fund received two sizable memorial bequests and a generous donation to support need-based awards for college-bound Foreign Service students. Susan Lowe Modi and Sorab Modi Memorial Financial Aid Scholarship. In 1988, Mr. Sorab Modi established an AFSA scholar- ship in memory of his late wife, United States Informa- tion Agency Foreign Service Officer Susan Lowe Modi. Ms. Modi joined the Foreign Service in 1968 and served in Seoul, Mumbai, Rome and Genoa. While posted in Washington, D.C., she was a member of the AFSA Scholar- ship Committee. Mr. Modi— born and raised in India—was a prolific writer and lecturer on classical music. He passed away inWashington, D.C., on Feb. 13. Ruth Nay and Victor H. Skiles Memorial Financial Aid Scholarship. In 2012, Mrs. Ruth Nay Skiles estab- lished an AFSA scholarship in her own name and that of her late husband Victor H. Skiles. Mr. Skiles began his Foreign Service career with a State Department assignment to Greece in 1948. The couple met during his next posting in Washington, D.C., and married in 1958. Mr. Skiles eventually joined USAID, and retired in 1978 following tours in Israel, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Italy. The Skiles were active in their church and enjoyed golfing and gardening. Mrs. Skiles passed away inWilliamsburg, Virginia, on July 24, 2014. Rozanne (Roz) L. Ridgway Financial Aid Scholarship. In 2009, Ambassador Roz Ridg- way established a five-year AFSA scholarship in support of Foreign Service youth. Her 32-year career included serving as ambassador to the German Democratic Republic and Finland, ambassador-at- large for oceans and fisheries affairs, and counselor of the department. Since retir- ing in 1989, Amb. Ridgway has served on the boards of many corporate and foreign affairs-related organizations. This year, Emerson Electric provided supplemental fund- ing to the Ridgway Scholar- ship—now in its third year—as a thank you for her service on its board of trustees. n —Lori Dec, Scholarship Director AFSAVietnamTribute Reunites, Raises Foreign Service Profile The American Foreign Ser- vice Association recently paid homage to the more than 600 members of the Foreign Service whose service in Viet- nam during the 1960s and 1970s illustrates the institu- tion’s rich history of dedica- tion and sacrifice. The Foreign Service Jour- nal kicked off the monthlong tribute with its largest focus section ever, titled “40 Years after the Fall of Saigon: The Foreign Service in Vietnam,” featuring narratives by Foreign Service Vietnam veterans. AFSA’s May 8 screening of the American Experience’s “Last Days in Vietnam” docu- mentary drew more than 150 people to the State Depart- ment’s Marshall Auditorium. AFSA’s tribute not only succeeded in raising the profile of an entire generation of Foreign Service officers whose careers were indelibly shaped by events in Vietnam during the 1960s and 1970s, but it also provided the occasion for a very special reunion. On seeing the documen- tary, resettled refugee Tue Phamdo recognized Joseph (Joe) McBride as the FSO who had helped him and his family escape Vietnam in 1975. Ambassador (ret.) Parker Borg was able to connect Phamdo to McBride. Both Borg and McBride were contributing authors in the April FSJ (see “Mobilizing for South Vietnam’s Last Days” and “Saigon Sayonara”) . The group celebrated Resettled Vietnamese refugee Tue Phamdo and retired FSO Joe McBride reunite over dinner more than 40 years after McBride helped Tue and his family flee Vietnam. From left: Tue Phamdo, Joe McBride and Tue’s family— wife Nu Ho, daughter-in-law Peggy and son Nam. COURTESYOFTUEPHAMDO their reunion with a dinner in Silver Spring. n —Thomas Garofalo, Communications Intern