Colonel Amos R. Townsend earned a bachelor degree and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1952. After his ROTC commissioning as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, he studied biochemical warfare for the Air Force and was sent to Columbia University for two years of study. At Columbia, he took pre-medical courses and earned a master’s degree from their School of Public Health in 1954. Colonel Townsend started Medical School at Dartmouth and completed at the University of Pennsylvania.
After interning at Andrews AFB, MD, he became a flight surgeon and was assigned to the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Wethersfield, UK. Colonel Townsend returned to the United States to work at the USAF Surgeon General’s office from 1966-1969. He then volunteered for a two-year tour at Pleiku and Phu Cat Air Bases in South Vietnam, where he ran two USAF Medical Facilities. During that period, 1969-1971, he spent half of his time caring for indigenous Vietnam and Montagnard people, both military and civilian. Vietnam was followed by tours at McGuire AFB, the Pentagon Clinic, and Andrews AFB.
After retiring from the Air Force as a colonel in 1979, Dr. Townsend joined the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and was appointed medical coordinator for Thailand. For the Townsends and some of their children, this assignment meant working for the IRC in the Bangkok Refugee Transit Centers and at the Nong Khai Lao Refugee Camp in northeast Thailand. He worked as a clinician, administrator, and medical coordinator in over 20 camps and eventually as a field researcher in chemical biological warfare (CBW) at the request of the U.S. Government. While working the CBW issue, he also became involved with MIA/KIA issues, and interacted with NH Senator Bob Smith.
In January of 1982, the IRC officially loaned Dr. Townsend to the State Department so he could give all of his time to the biochemical warfare investigation. His work contributed substantially to 1982 State Department reports issued by Secretaries of State Alexander Haig and George Schultz. One report claimed Yellow Rain and its variations had killed more than 10,000 people since 1975. In 1983, he testified on Yellow Rain before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
After returning home in 1984, he involved himself with parenting, public speaking, and duties on the University of New Hampshire Alumni Board, the Oyster River School Board, and the Dartmouth Medical School Alumni Council, as well as a variety of community activities.
In 1983, UNH recognized Dr. Townsend for his distinguished work. He was awarded the Pettee Medal for outstanding contribution to the State of New Hampshire, the Nation, and the World.
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