Kalisa’s on Cannery Row

Ford Ord, 1954

Donald was a homosexual. His family was paying for him to have psychoanalysis, no matter how many years it might take.

Martin was not attracted to women at all. He wanted to write poetry and translate from the classical Greek. His mother reassured him that he was just a late bloomer.

Billy thought he must be a homosexual because his only friends were, and he couldn’t stand the company of most other men. Was it his fault that he dreamt of Esther Williams late at night?

Gerald was the only one, the first one, who ever said he was “gay.” Billy had never heard that word before before. Gerald lit one of his continuous string of Pall Malls, took a huge exhale, and said, “Thank GOD I’m gay, that’s ALL I have to say.”

Apparently this was what Oscar Wilde said too.

All four were in basic training in Fort Ord, Monterey California. 1954. Yes, there was more to it than sand dunes and sardine canneries. But not a lot. Try to imagine 35,000 GI’s with very little to do.

All four boys could type, hence,…