Paul Corvington passed on a couple of days before Memorial Day on May 24, 2001. He was 86 years old. He died in the Washington area after a long illness. Who was Paul Corvington you ask??? This brings us back to the 1950s during the Magloire administration when Haiti still had an Army with some structure and discipline, not withstanding the politics of the day.
Paul Corvington succumbed taken care of devotedly by his wife Raymonde Viau Corvington. He was over 6 feet 2, handsome, disciplined, principled member of the Haitian Army of those days. Respected by all those who knew him. A role model for all. A man much admired for his sterling character, devoted to duty, country, honor. Committed to the law, an officer and a gentleman.
In any of the world's forums Paul Corvington would have been a proud representative of what a military man aspires to be...... And how sorely a man of his caliber is needed in present Haiti............To quote the Military Academy Yearbook of 1954, "Le Flambeau" : " Major Paul Corvington, our Director, a handsome man without ostentation, breathing strength, respect, dignity, presents himself with all the qualities that sculpt an officer...... His talents as an administrator, his sense of hierarchy and discipline, are the secrets of the success of this Military Academy..."
As a representative of the Embassy of Haiti in Panama I had the privilege of receiving Major Paul Corvington accompanied by Captain Marcel Colon and Lieutenant Franck Bayard in 1954. The purpose of their visit was to promote the Military Academy of Haiti in Sport exchanges and cultural activities with Panama. It was a pride for the Embassy to have Major Corvington representing Haiti with his dignified manner and knowlege of cultural relations. Calm and always cordial with everyone.
In those days Haiti had a small Air Force and one of its DC-3 was present at Tocumen airport to fly the Panamanian national soccer team as guests to our shores for a tournament between the two countries. The Haitian national team lost the trophy in three hotly contested games in Port-au-Prince, and its counterpart Panamanian team hosted by Haiti was graciously brought back home by another Haitian aircraft. We may have lost the battle in a game, but this week in 1954, our national grace and prestige for such a small country were at a zenith in the world...
Paul Corvington was one of the favorite Army officers of Charles Fombrun, President of the Senate and a power broker, who could have pushed for his eventual nomination as Chief of Staff of the Haitian Army. However, as the shrewd politician that dad was, he realized that this was a losing proposition with the determined grip that General Magloire had on power..... It must be said though that Paul Magloire and his predecessor the progressist Dumarsais Estime who gave Haiti its first World's Fair in 1949 were after all, partisan politics excluded, moderate and benevolent politicians. Those two, with time, would become recognized within the hall of civility with what would follow precipitating Haiti to the brink of disaster, as compassionate and humane leaders...The rest is history which has turned the country into the present debacle.....
Paul Corvington. Born 19 April 1915. Died 24 May 2001, at home, in Bethesda, Maryland.
1931 - Military School of Haiti. 1940 - U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 1942 - U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Bening, Georgia.
1945 - University of Haiti, Law Degree.
1950 - 1956 - Director of the Military Academy of Haiti in Frere, Petionville, Haiti
1954 : In 1954 to celebrate the 150th year of Independence of the Republic of Haiti he re-created the Battle of Vertieres with the cadets of the Military Academy of Haiti.
1956 - Retires from the military service after 25 years and 8 months.
1958 - School of Diplomacy, Madrid, Spain.
1963 - Political refugee in the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Haiti.
1964-1972 - Leopoldville, Congo, which became Kinshassa, Zaire. Judicial advisor to the government. Organization of the Military Staff under his direction and control.
A farewell salute to you Paul Corvington.....You did us all proud.....
PUBLISHED IN THE HAITIAN TIMES, edition May 30 to June 4 , 2001
