| Good Bye Joe Here's what I wrote in a letter this day: "We've had two guys leave, one to get married and the other was
asked to leave. It really upset me, he was the nicest guy here and about my best friend. Joe was about 35 and got in a prank with three
other guys on the Hilo gang.... The people involved were supposed to give themselves up and see the big cheese Alice. Joe wouldn't let anyone else go
and he took full responsibility, even though it wasn't his idea. When he came back he told us everything was taken care of and we were all glad
that no one was in trouble. Woke up this morning and his stuff was gone and so was he. He was one heck of a guy to do it and spare those other three.
Everyone wishes we could have done something, but we didn't know until it was too late".
Here's what I wrote in my journal (months later): I came down from language class and found all of Joe's stuff gone.
It didn't take long to figure out that he was gone for good. Mike Martin was in tears for letting Joe take all the blame.
We all assumed that he had been kicked out for his part in the Hilo fiasco. I was upset and skipped the next language class
and just brooded on my bed. The whole group was subdued for the day.
Here's what really happened straight from Joe who wrote me in 1970: Joe was deselected because he was homosexual. He said that the whole staff
was for him, but that Washington had ordered his removal. It was thought best to keep it quiet and let everyone think it was the water incident.
Don't know how many found out the truth, and I am sure that Joe doesn't mind me making this public now.
Most of the others went to Hilo for soccer and volleyball matches against the primary teachers and for a county fair. I stayed back to help clean up
after last night's party. |
