Back to the Pacific

The United States Territory of Guam was having problems educating children from diverse backgrounds. English was the language of business and government, and most islanders spoke English, but Chomorro was still spoken in many homes. The large military contingent on the island threatened to start a separate system unless changes were made. A study was undertaken by the National Education Association and a multi-media approach was recommended to bring the rest of the world to this island so far from everywhere. I was asked to take part in this program along with Dr. Robert Murray from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and we were charged with the responsibility of giving life to a Learning Resources Center, and putting a Public Broadcast Television Station on the air.

Moving to an island in the western Pacific some 9000-miles away is not something one does lightly so some soul-searching had to take place. The Smith family talked it over and decided it was a unique opportunity too good to be passed up, so we swung into action. Once our household stuff was packed and turned over to a moving company, we wouldn’t see it until it arrived on Guam. We left State College in late June, 1968, stopping in St. Louis for a few days to let my family know what we were up to, then on to San Francisco, a few days seeing the sights, and finally aboard a Pan Am flight for Hawaii.

This was a first for DA and the boys so we had to tour Oahu as much as possible before our final Pan Am flight to Guam in the dead of night. We did land on Wake Island, staying long enough to get off and stretch our legs, but it was too dark to see anything. However, the sun was up when we landed on Guam, and when the cabin doors were opened, the humidity swept in letting us know we were in the tropics, about 13 degrees north of the Equator to be exact.

The Government of Guam had arranged for our passage and had housing ready for us, complete with roaches and geckos which scurried for safety when we opened the door. DA, the essence of cleanliness and orderliness, almost had a fit so she marched us to the nearest store where we purchased pails and cleaners and rags with which to swab everything that wouldn’t move, namely, the whole house. It wasn’t dirty, mind you, but we just weren’t used to so many friendly, yet uninvited guests. In time, the roaches had to go, but the geckos became family pets.

There was no air-conditioning and the humidity was about 85%, so our first nights were a little rough. We had spent some trying nights in St. Louis during the summer, but nothing like this. Fans were next to useless and we perspired freely during the night, so much so that DA decided the sheets had to be washed each morning. When she explained our situation to the man who ran the laundromat, he said he might be able to help us. The laundromat was a sideline and he was employed by the government full time as an engineer. He had a little pull and, after a phone call, told her of a nice house next to his, with air conditioning, which was up for lease while the occupants, who worked for the Navy, moved to Spain on assignment. It could be ours if we moved right away. We did just that and spent the next few years living next to this dear Filipino man and his delightful family with whom we became good friends.

Bob Murray and his family came over after we did, but as soon as we got together, we started things happening. The TV deal was my baby, and while trying to locate the equipment and get it delivered, I produced tapes that could serve as instructional tools in teaching English in elementary schools. Because there was no way to transmit yet, I’d pack the portable machine into the car and visit schools where I’d play the tapes. It was a bit crude but better than nothing. In the meantime, Bob was working with film and other visual aids to enhance the curriculum. He was the consummate taker of pictures, and we jokingly characterized him backing out of a room or building, shooting everything in sight, not exactly sure of where he was going but documenting where he’d been and who’d been there. More importantly, he maintained a balance between Guam’s needs and wants and the watchful eye of the US Office of Education, in order to keep the projects going and the funds coming. We were a good team.

I was on good terms with the honcho of the Naval Air Station, and when I located used equipment and he had empty Constellations flying back to Guam, we struck a deal. So it was that after some really hard work, we went on the air in October, 1970, as KGTF, the 200th Public Broadcast Television Station. It was black-and-white, and everything was old, but we were able to become part of a chain moving films from the states for rebroadcast. It was a step forward and in conjunction with everything else that was taking place, the need for military schools was no longer evident.

The initial contracts had been for two years and the Murray family wanted to get back to Pennsylvania, so they left on schedule. The Smith family, however, had grown accustomed to island life and when they asked if I would stay and run the TV station, I was happy to agree to do just that. Guam was coming alive with many Japanese forgoing the longer trip to Hawaii and settling for the clean air and sparkling beaches of Guam. Young couples came down to get married; businessmen flew in for weekends of golf, all staying in newly-built hotels. Guam had elected its first governor in 1970; and in 1972, Guam elected its first delegate to the U.S. Congress. Things were looking up and the future seemed promising. I was named Director of Telecommunications, and because of that, TV exposure, and the strong military presence, I was able to take advantage of unique opportunities: flying into the eye of a typhoon; an outing on a nuclear submarine; a Christmas-food drop over remote islands; and participation in a host of island activities.

Meanwhile, DA had been asked if she would become a representative of Thai Airways International, which opened up a whole new life for her and for us. She had to travel to Manila and Bangkok for meetings, and we were able to take advantage of her status and fly everywhere for pleasure, including over the years: England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Morocco, Canary Islands, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya. Tanzania, Seychelles, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kingdom of Swat, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of this traveling was done in the ‘70s where it was safe most everywhere. We also got to Hawaii and to Pennsylvania frequently.