Beyond The Storm
William Close MD
Meadowlark Springs Production
Compelling Read … Highly Recommended … 5 stars

On August 8, 1994 when Dr William Close was welcomed back to Zaire by President Mobutu it had been eighteen years since the two had last seen one another. During the intervening time violence had broken out in 1991 and again in 1993. Two women had enormous influence upon Mobutu; his mother Mama Yemo, and his wife Marie-Antoinette. Mobutu enjoyed the trappings of power, influence and money that were his during his reign as leader of Zaire, he enjoyed them so much that not even his wife or his mother could persuade him to relinquich even a little of either of them. Dr Close was privy to much what was Mobutu during the almost two decades he spent in the Congo/Zaire ministering to the medical needs of the people. His work took him to the homes of the wealthy and to the huts of the impoverished during the years Dr Close lived and worked in a country undergoing enormous change.

In the chapter entitled My Early Exposure Dr Close tells of his childhood determination to become a doctor, his marriage to Bettine ‘Tine’ Moore and his military service and meeting his 8 month old daughter Tina for the first time. Later chapters recount Medical school, a son and two more daughters and a trip to Wyoming that left their mark on Dr. Close. However nothing had the effect as that left by two Mormon missionaries. Dr. Close did not hold with their theology so much as was compelled to meet people who believed unconditionally in something bigger than themselves. Dr. Close and his wife felt compelled to join the Moral Re-Armament or MRA, for nearly a decade Dr Close traveled around the world on MRA business before setting out for the Congo in 1960 for what was to be a 6 week stopover as a medical missionary. Dr Close, fluent in French was to help other MRA personnel with translation, he was soon sidetracked into hospital work as the events following independence resulted in bloodshed and wretchedness. That 6 week sojourn became 16 years during which Dr Close saw first hand the proceedings following King Baudouin declaring the Congo an independent and sovereign nation. Patrice Lumumba, chaos, exodus of the white population, fear, an operating room filled to overflowing and meeting Colonel Mobutu all were part of Dr. Close’ experience.

Hard on the heels of declared independence in the Congo; Close became the only physician in a nearly 2000 bed hospital. Dr Close became doctor to the armed forces and later Mobutu’s personal physician. Close does not water down or pull his punches in this hard hitting book detailing the poverty and health epidemics that followed in the wake of an absolute dictator who was uncaring or unthinking when regarding his people. Close tells how at the end of Mobutu’s life he received a call to return to Africa to help rebuild both hospital and medical system. When he returned in 1994 Close had been practicing medicine in Wyoming interspersed with trips made to Africa from the time of his return to the United States in the late 1970s.

Written in flowing, easy to read prose Dr. Close has produced a book that is filled with details regarding the rise to power of dictator Mobutu, events great and small in the life of the people and in the life of the ruler as well as Close’ own work trying to bring hope and order to people who often were ill, injured or starving.

Close a resident of Big Piney Wyoming is well skilled to underscore the corruption and misery that was Zaire. Beyond The Storm is not a fun little story book, it is well worth the read for those who want to know more of the history of the Belgian Congo/Zaire, Mobutu and how corruption leads eventually to misery not only for the ruled but the ruler.

Well presented, enjoyed the read. Beyond The Storm is a good addition to the personal reading list, the high school classroom library and public and school libraries here and in Africa.