Thank You Note to Jim Jones from Michael Simon
EE-2-r-2
[Editor’s note: Spelling and grammatical errors corrected throughout.]
8-1-78
Dear Dad
I like to thank you for the par excellent medical & dental staff. I (Michael Simon) and a molar tooth pulled today, it was so infected & painful that the whole asserted by face was throbbing all day and Emprin #3 and aspirin didn’t help the pain. Joyce Parks gave me the anesthetic, I was shocked that I could even feel the injection which gave me complete anesthesia. The 1st time (unlike in the States where I had to get 4 or 5 shots to get it done right). Shanda James, Tommy Rochelle & Dale [Parks] & Joyce Parks helped pull it. It was the only time I had a tooth pulled without any pain whatsoever. Thanks to the concern and care you show our medical people. Thank you. To me you have achieved more results than all the leaders in history. Thank for you, Dad
Thank you dad, M. Simon
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Note to Jim Jones from Helen Swinney, July 1978
EE-2-r-3a – 3b
Monday 31-7-78
Jim I am sorry I was so “out of it” the other night when you came in. Cleave [Swinney] had a couple of Valiums and I took one, since I am not used to taking things like that, it really affected me. I didn’t know who you were for a bit and then you were gone. If I remember right you seem to be defending Larry [Schacht], and rightly so – you must have heard what I said about him and some of the other medical crew – Twice I have forced Larry to explain about this arm – Twice he said he didn’t know what to do about it – said he would contact another doctor. I asked if he had done so. He said he had forgotten but promised again he would – several weeks later I reminded him again – again he had forgotten but for sure this time he would do it – at that time, Kay Nelson was flying in to Georgetown and I suggested to him that he send my x-ray in for Dr. Ali to see, said he was glad I thought of that, that was a good idea. I have not heard from him since. So the six weeks were up for this cast to be on. I would to Larry, told him the six weeks were up, so he ordered an x-ray. I was with the x-rays when they were taken to Larry – He looked. Larry Layton said there were no difference no more healing than the previous one. Want to know what was to be done – he just shrugged his shoulders. This made me mad and very hurt – He could have said come in we will talk about it (which I forced him twice before to do) I was hurt over his lack of concern – since I reminded Larry (Sat 29th) that it was time for x-ray (or whatever). I have wished a thousand times I had not of reminded him. I would venture to say I would have gone on for weeks or months before he or any of the staff would have remembered about when the cast should come off, or something done about it.
Now from all indications the arm should have surgery done again – I do not want this because I am sure the insurance does not pay for the same thing twice – I feel too much guilt over this plus the weeks and months I am not able to work and earn my own way. Knowing it cost $1500 a month to feed me, plus the space I take up – I have stopped taking all these vitamins I have been taking, and have sent the remaining ones back to the dispensary since they were not doing any good in the unending [issue?] of this arm. I know how much they must cost.
I will not bother you with any more writing but I have a plan I will do with your approval when you have time for me to tell you. I will not put it in writing because I am sure other people will read it before it gets to you – until then I will only eat every other day which will cut down on some of the food, and it won’t hurt me any.
Helen Swinney
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Undated Note on Jim Jones’ Pain from Marcia Simon
EE-2-r-4
Dad what I think you are sad about is that people you love and have tried so hard to educate just don’t seem to care about what your teachings, because they don’t grasp it and absorb the way you know they can.
I also think that you hurt because people don’t have the concern they should over our property and they don’t worry about making and saving money the way they should. All they want it to do is eat it at dinner time. I know it hurt you when you hear people talking about how they missed the US states foods. But Dad to be quite frank with you the only thing I miss is my grandpa who is so determined to get here. He said he will let anyone stand in his way, that my grandpa George [last name illegible, could be Henderson]. He loves your teachings and he gotten stronger since we been gone I’m sure. I thought that it would be really nice if we could have like a carnival or fairgrounds for money raising. That way everybody can participate, even the children and animals.
Marcie Simon
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Undated Note on Jim Jones’ Pain from Martha Souder
EE-2-r-5a – 5b
5-26-78
Dear Dad,
I think you are thinking about the whole world on your shoulders & you are very tired of pouring your heart out to the whole world & us. I think you have your mind on doing everything to get the people to come together as one. I know it broke your heart when some of us don’t listen to you & go on doing our thing. I think you are burdened with our own members turn on us & do all kinds of evil things to us.
I think it hurt you when some of us still work to help get our people safe. I believe you are hurt more when Tim Stone [Stoen] keeps stirring up more trouble for you to take on. I believe you are tired of all the White Nights that come. I think you have on your mind that you are tired of not getting enough sleep because you have to be on the radio all night sometime. I thank you for all the truths you have taught me, Dad. I thank you for giving your whole life & your family’s life you have given to make us free, & you have given everything you have for this cause & some of us don’t care about that. Dad, & it hurt me also to know this about some of us.
Martha Souder
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Undated Thank You Note to Jim Jones from Rose
EE-2-r-6
My Loving Father
Thanks for a most enjoyable dinner Sunday. Do wish there was more I could do to help you. Thanks again.
Faithfully, Rose
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Undated Memo to Jim Jones from Ujara (Don Sly)
EE-2-r-8
Dad;
While coming downriver on the Cudjoe this time, I took a good look over the boat. There is a lot of work to be done that hasn’t been kept up since I’ve been off of the boat. Clifford [Gieg] has been doing a lot of the wood repair jobs that need doing and is doing a good job. There is a lot of work on the chipping of rust and repairs of linkage to the throttle and forward and reverse gears. The work can best be done on the days that the boat is in Port Kaituma when it is not on the river run. Some can be done while on the run, the major part while at Port Kaituma. The boat needs to be repainted along with all the other repairs. It is in poor condition at present, though it can be brought up the shape in a months time of working on the off days from the river run. After it is brought up to good running order, it must be kept up by following through with constant checking. When I get back I would like to take this job on. It would be going out in the mornings and returning in the evenings. I feel that I can get the job done and keep it up once it is completed.
Ujara [Don] Sly
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Letter to Shanda James Oliver from sister, October 1978
EE-2-r-9a
10-2-78
Dear Shanda [James Oliver]
How are you doing, find I hope. You know I wanted come visit but you couldn’t have any visitors. Well I don’t know what to say. Guess you’ll be staying in SCU [Special Care Unit] for a little while, really I think you should because you remember when I said I was concerned about your well-being, but now you’re recovering that’s good. My grandma will be coming home on Monday 10-3-78. I’ll be glad to see her yeah ‘cause I miss her a lot. Haven’t as of yet heard from my momime but I got positive thoughts about her. Camari [Kamaeri Rosa, Shabnda’s adopted child] just fine & she’s not winning [whining] as much. I love that little girl. I didn’t know what to say in this letter it’s just coming out of my head. In your past letter you asked me how you got in SCU. I can’t explain. You have lots of company, but they both left you. I’m talking about Kelly & Alfred. They told me you said hi & Laurie’s concerned when I talk to her & explained the situation. Ain’t that how you spell it ha-ha-ha-ha. You know what I had an up & down temp for 4 days of tonsillitis, but it’s no big deal or no biggie as my momine says.
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EE-2-r-9b
You know what I miss you while you on SCU. Let me tell you do not leave from this [illegible word] a minute too soon okay. All right. Hey lady I got’s to go, like you say.
Later Beb,
from your lil sis, Teri
P.S. I see your latest don’t sleep too much also
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Thank You Note to Jim Jones from Bob Stroud, October 1978
EE-2-r-10
[Editor’s note: Bobby Stroud was injured while working in the jungle in the fall of 1978, and flown to Georgetown to recuperate from his injuries. He was still there on November 18, 1978. This letter was written during his hospital stay there.]
Dear Dad,
I am using this opportunity to catch up on my reading right now. I am reading George Jackson’s Blood In My Eye, a very inspiring account of his courage, plus other things on CIA and corruption in American gov. Plus I would like someone to send me copies of the news because the papers here don’t give the info or details that you provide (if possible). But mostly I want to say thank you Dad, thank you so much for saving me from death or worse, being paralyzed. I remember laying in the mud, my leg bent up like pretzels, and I kept calling your name – then, I heard your voice coming on a news tape [3 illegible words]. I heard your voice, it saved me. Please excuse my writing, I am on my back presently, but in time, I’ll be home soon. I really also can’t describe the feeling I get when I think of a Dad who has provided so much for me. In a couple of days it will be 1 year in Guyana for me can about 11 years since you’ve been my Dad. The doctors were at my bedside and Marie asked them if I should be sent away for surgery. I cried come up where else in the world could anyone get so much. What did I ever do to deserve a Dad and a family as this. I’ll never know because I certainly don’t deserve the extreme love you put out for me.
See you soon,
Your son, Bobby [Stroud]
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Undated Memo to Jim Jones from Larry Schacht
EE-2-r-12a – 12b
Explanation of my hostility – I think it is wrong that Karen [Layton] asks me to sit next to her in a film come up with her hands on me in public in front of Jean Brown, Dick Tropp, Lee Ingram (who are alone). He did the day before Larry Layton’s landed in the SCU [Special Care Unit]. I do not like her manipulating me with public expressions of “affection”, I am not a Maser [Joe Mazor] or a Georgetown technocrat; I am a communist and I do have human desires. I do not need her & do not want her now. I was liberated when she told me she was making out with Maser. I was free! But since then you have said she is my “girlfriend” & you mention this when I see or speak with you. She misinterprets me. She told Phyllis I had a relationship with her. I do not. I do not want to hurt her but I am only human & I do not like being played with. I despise the games she played with me, leading me to suicidal fantasies and desire to be away. She can keep her [illegible word]! I volunteered to take on S.B. if it would help. I work with women who turn me on. Leslie W. [Wagner Wilson] for example. But don’t take advantage of my position or the knowledge I have about them. That self-control was leaking out as hostility. I was angry that she insults me & the above people Dick, Lee, Jean B. yet would never actually be with me. I will gladly go on alone & be loyal.
I even dislike her more for the Demands she put on you through the years.
This is the core of my hostility. But actually this sex bullshit is just a diversion from my job which is likely the real core of my resentment from authority. My job is hard & get my diversion seeking is always thwarted, denied while I see others as less confining responsibilities have their “fulfillment”. But I would not trade it, I would not trade it, I would not trade it. I would not trade the feeling of being a comrade to the people for the narcissism of a one-to-one trip. I take this stand & I mean it.
I don’t like to abuse the channel you open to us to discuss personal things. But this has affected my work somewhat & is important.
This is bullshit but I needed to write it.
L. [Larry] Schacht
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Undated Memo to Jim Jones from Ujara (Don Sly)
EE-2-r-13
Dad:
The reason for the Cudjoe being late is that I overshot the Waini Pt and wound up at the mouth of the Barimi River. We went we ought to see an accounting that we overshot our mark. It was 3:00 PM when we turned around and headed back to the Waini Pt. We got to the Waini Pt at dark and anchored out till morning. The error was on my part and I take full responsibility.
Ujara Sly
P.S. Everyone aboard work together as a group and faced the situation calmly and did what had to be done. Thank you for your protection. Ujara