Letter from Ayako Sakai to Joseph R. and Elizabeth B. Goodman, December 22, 1942

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6 -11-B

Topaz, Utah

Dec. 22, 1942

Dear Joe and Betty,

Greetings from Popaz---that jewel in the desert.

Hope that you are getting along as well as ever.

Please give our sincerest regards to the others

at the House.

Under semrate cover, I am sending you that arti-

Cle which you wanted. Please excuse the typing

on it. Will try to get some extra issues of the

Topaz +imes and mail them to you too, as soon as

I make my way to their office.

The Christmas season is to be celebrated in 4 big

way this year---and at a Camp too. I'm really glad

to see that they are thinking of all the people in

the Center, in making their plans for the holiday

season; however, as there are events in the program

which will care for everyone, old and young. Will

enclose--no by separate cover, along with the article

above-mentioned, will send it to you.

However, there is something that hgs happened in

this Camp which mars the jolly and joyous Christ-

mas program and the feeling which should normally

be present at this time. This is awfully Bragic

and weighs on everyone and not only those especially

involved. It happens that this Camp has allowed many

groups to leave the Camp on hikes and picnics in the

nearby mountains and park. Well, this last "unday,

a group from the Community Welfare visited the Topaz

iountains, 1 believe, about 40 or so miles from here.

they had a pass good until 11 p.m. that nite. When

the group returned to Camp, they discovered a boy

missing--qa fellow who had been invited to join the

group on this picnic, who is about 50 years of age.

A searching party was immediately sent out and had

been searching endlessly that evening. hereafter,

many groups have gone out to look for him---and it's

terribly cold lately, much colder than when you two

were here--so you can well imagine what this fellow

must have undergone as well as the searchers. To

date, and it's 6 p.m. already, they have not found

him. fhe last searching party which went out about

5 pem. today are still there, I believe. "he fellow

has been ill to the day of this picnic or outing,

from heart trouble, I think. He had been losing

weight since coming to this Center ---as much as

50 pounds. He could not retain his food and had

been bed-ridden for juite some time. However,

though his mother had persuaded him not to go on

this outing, he had insisted on leaving with his

friends. the story to date, with some foundation

is, he had intentionally taken his life--having

left a note and meney for his pal who stayed with

him and his mother and father, and a few letters

to his family and friends. However, this has not

come out officially. It may be rumor--which I

doubt. 4+here seems to be some truth in the story.

He was a dependable and steady fellow, having known

him in San Francisco I believe I can say this with

conviction. Others think the same of him. It was

really too bad. I sure wish as do many of the others,

that they woulda find his body or find out whether

he might not have been picked up and taken care of.

Letts hope for the latter. This incident weighs

upon everything and everyone. "he poor folks and

his pal too. Gee, but I fe@#l sorry for bhem, Why

do you think he did such a thing, if he did? I can

sce the possibility but-----

Goodness, I hoye you understood what 1 said--was it

too involved?

Are you acquainted with many peoyle in St. Louis,

MBssouri. I intend to ask my brother what the

Standard of living there is and of course, would

like to know sume friends there, if ever I should

go there. `the reason 1 ask is due to the fact that

someone asked me abou a position with a Church group

there--secpetarial--which if it's uKd would be perfect.

However, pound believe before I accept I should know of

the living conditiuns. My brother heretofore had lived

in.a dormitory and wiil be moving, according to his

latest lettur due to the fact that Army may move in

on the School, se probably we may be able to live

together. I haven't discussed tnis with the family

2S L don't want to raise their hopes yet. In due time---

i'm tyying this out at the Hoshiyamas--and he says

that is, Fred, that you two may come out this way.

is it true? How wonderful! and, to teach----gee,

if 1 sce Mr. Goertzel (spelling?) I must ask him.

How can Student Relocation get along without you two.

But, we'll have added be-ter personnel tu the staff

here, wuich would be helpful.

Gee, at the end of the paper---good luck and regards

to everyone. `onder if Mrs. Duveneck remembers me--

ifyso, please say Hello for me. Prom all of us---

Merry Xmas:

eer oe

gr.