It is always very, very sad news when we learn that a Peace Corps volunteer has died in service. On October 11 John D. Roberts (pictured far left), a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu, died as the result of an accident while working at his site.
Click here for the Peace Corps press release announcing the death.
A blog entry by a Vanuatu trainee describing the memorial service held in Port Vila can be read here.
There have also been numerous news stories about John and his family. Click here, and here for two.
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sent this message to the Peace Corps community immediately after learning of the news:
"I am sad to inform you that we have lost a member of our Peace Corps family. Peace Corps Volunteer John D. Roberts died while working at his site on Thursday, October 11, in Vanuatu. A student was cutting branches from a tree at the school where John and other students were cleaning the garden, and when one of the branches fell, it struck John and another member of the community. Tragically, both were killed.
John was 24 years old and hailed from Omaha, Nebraska. He was a construction and skilled trades Volunteer with the Vetumit Rural Training Center in the village of South River on the island of Erromango. He had just celebrated his two-year anniversary and was preparing to close his service.
By all accounts, John was an extraordinary Volunteer. The Rural Training Center became the centerpiece for South River’s community development program with John’s carefully measured support. In his aspiration statement, he wrote: “Coming from a stable farming family I was always taught to help my neighbors, but I also feel an internal pull to help lend a hand. Somewhere back in my short life…I made a choice to serve and have been doing so ever since. Instead of a single moment defining my reasons to serve, a whole lifetime of learning is driving me to volunteer for the Peace Corps.”
Steps are being taken now to notify all of John’s fellow Volunteers, and I have sent a representative from the Office of Special Services to help the Vanuatu post through this difficult time.
I spoke with John’s parents very early this morning. As you can imagine, they are devastated. We are working to bring John home to them as quickly as possible and offering whatever support we can.
All of our hearts go out to his family, and I do ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this tragic time."
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