Congratulations to another class legend, ambassador Henry Clarke, on the publication of his memoir about establishing the first American embassy to Uzbekistan in Tashkent between 1992 and 1995 as the country, the third most populous former Soviet republic, achieved independence from the collapsed Soviet Union. A New Embassy Along an Ancient Route in Uzbekistan covers what independence meant to Uzbekistan and why the United States supported it by expanding, from near zero, its political, economic, commercial, military, educational, humanitarian, and even artistic relationships with the United States—formidable logistical, political, diplomatic, cultural, and linguistic challenges Henry describes in his book.

Born into an Army family, Henry learned German and gained an international perspective during his father’s posting to Germany. Already mentally primed for a foreign service career, Henry studied international relations and economics at Dartmouth, where he also enrolled in Army ROTC and accepted a six-month fellowship based at the Industrial Development Bank in Istanbul, Turkey. After military service, Henry attended Harvard, graduating with a master’s in public policy in 1967. Seasoned with subsequent diplomatic postings in Munich, Lagos, Bucharest, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C., Henry brushed up on his Russian, the lingua franca of Russian-educated Uzbekistan officials and President Karimov, with whom Henry had challenging yet productive relationships.

After retiring Henry continued to serve in various high capacities in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Baghdad. Now fully retired and living with his second wife, Elena, in Fairfax County, Virginia, he has served as an election officer in more than 20 elections in the county. Henry cofounded and chaired an international charity called Kyrgyz Children’s Future, which assists orphans and other disadvantaged children in Kyrgyzstan. Henry’s early appreciation for the great outdoors spilled over into retirement, hiking with his youngest son in national parks. Wah-hoo-wah, Mr. Ambassador.

I regret to report the deaths of Charles “Charlie” Failmezger of New York City on February 3, 2022; James “Jim” F. O’Brien of Zagreb, Croatia, October 6; Frank R. Mori of Westport, Connecticut, November 22; Gary A. Spiess of Marblehead, Massachusetts, November 25; and Richard R. Feldstein of New York City December 18.

—David L. Smith, RR4 Box 225B4, Galveston, TX 77554; (775) 870-2354; david@davidlsmith.com