Ames Tribune from Ames, Iowa • Page 28

Deserter at home; a tense reunion Ami My ri bun Oct. 10, 1974 31 similarly. "He was pretty much of a loner, but I never knew him to have a lack of guts, so I just figured he couldn't put up with the whole Army trip and it would have bugged the hell out of him whether there was a war or not." Eustis and Kennedy, who were not drafted because of medical or student deferments, both said in interviews that war resisters should be compelled to serve alternative service because "it wouldn't be fair to the guys who went to Vietnam" or it would impair national security in case of a future military emergency. This contrasts sharply with the fellings of some of Gary's friends who did serve in Vietnam. Before he went AWOL, the only illegal thing Gary Delia Bitta had done in 22 years was to fish out of season, he said while preparing to travel to Indiana this week for processing before final discharge from the Army.

He was on the honor role in high school, he said, and had a 3.5 scholastic avaerge in college before the pressures of the draft distracted him from his studies in biology, his major. Political awareness came after induction and basic training when he angered his sergeants by refusing to sing training songs that went like, "I wanna go to Vietnam and kill a Vietcong!" But when he applied for conscientious objector status, it was denied him and he was sent to the Cathloic chaplain who "told me God would watch over me and not to worry because we had the best military machine in the world," he said. "He showed me a film of how it was like to fight for you country." His older brother Larry had fought through the same country for one year in the Mekong Delta, and "even today he still jumps when he hears a car backfire," Gary said. When Gary deserted he had the support of his family and that support has not wavered through six years of absence. "If a veteran of Vietnam went against these boys and says they shouldn't have unconditional amnesty," said his father, a ranger at Mt.

Madonna Park on the coastal range that overlooks Gilroy, "I'd respect his ARRIVAL For nearly six years in exile in Canada as an American deserter, Gary Delia Bitta thought of little else but home. Now he has returned. Here, Gary embraces an old family friend upon his arrival in Gilroy, Calif. (N.Y. Times photo) bitterness for him, the native son repacked a bag and flew to Indiana, looking ahead to the task of constructing a new life at the age of 28.

judgement. But so far I haven't met any." After a few uneventful days, as it appeared that his home town had no By JOHN NOHDIIRIMICR (C) 1974 New York Times News Service GILROY, Calif. Home. For nearly six years of exile in Canada as an American military deserter, Gary Delia Bitta had thought of little else. So it was disconcerting that his first hours of homecoming back in the two bedroom frame house on Rosanna Street were filled with a tension he had carried with him from Vancouver.

His decision to leave Canada and accept the conditions of President Ford's amnesty program, and his crossing of the border into his native land, were the subjects of a previous report from this correspondent. Now he was back home in Gilroy, a farm center south of San Fransico, and he was later surprised at how irritable he was when he first walked in the front door and saw the photograph. Picture Causes Tension "What's that?" he asked, his voice rising. He had taken a few steps into the living room, stopped dead in his tracks, and his brown eyes nearly drove a hole in the wall opposite the front door. Midway up the wall, in a cluster of family pictures, was a color photograph of him in the olive green dress uniform of the United States Army.

"I don't believe it, you gotta be kidding," he exclaimed and advanced in quick, cat like steps and snatched the framed photograph from the wall. Just as quickly, his mother retrieved the picture from his hands and returned it to its hook, and placed her body between the smiling photograph and her frowning son. "It's still Gary, I don't care what he's wearing," she said, seeking support from a relative, Mary For tina, who stood with arms folded near the entrance to the kitchen, looking amused. "It's a nice picture, the uniform doesn't matter," Mrs. Delia Britta said over her son's shoulder to her husband, Cody, a quiet man, who lingered at the front door.

Mrs. Delia Bitta studied the feeling. Later, everyone laughed about the incident, and the photograph remained on the wall where Mrs. Delia Bitta wanted it. After all that had happened, the long years of ufTcertainty and doubt, the languishing mood of the long gray Vancouver winters, he had thought that his convictions would be fully understood, most of all by those who loved him and knew him best, but the first few days back in Gilroy produced little moments of frustration as communications broke down and efforts to fill the long pauses were awkward as individuals groped for the right words to convey precisely the elusive emotions that had visited the house on Rosanna Street.

Gilroy has changed in a lot of ways since 1969, with the population increasing by 50 per cent to about 16,000, most of it associated with the growth in San Jose, about 135 miles north of here. However, a lot of local people still remembered Gary, who was ohe of the star guards on Gilroy High School's 1964 championship basketball tesam. Some even remember the scores that the team ran up against old rivals. Gilroy 63, Gonzales 20, Gilroy 53, Carmel 30. "The squad Gary played with lost only three games in two full seasons," recalled Bob Hagen, the Gilroy basketball coach.

"Went to the state tournament of champions both years and we lost in the finals. Best team I ever coached. A swell bunch of kids, and Gary, welll, Gary was one of the sweetest kids you'd ever want to meet." Many of the boys in the class of '64 served in Vietnam. Two were killed, Gary, as far as can be determined, was the only war resister who went to Canada. No Easy Explanation Why he alone took the path to Canada is a difficult and complex subject that only the friends who lost contact with him after high school attempt to explain easily.

"Gary was a very sensitive kid and his attitudes toward authority were different from the rest of us," remarked Scott Eustis, the other backcourt star of the 1964 Gilroy team, who now practices veterinary medicine in Fort Collins, Colo. "I'm certain that the war in Vietnam didn't have a darn thing to do with his desertion. He probably couldn't stand the Army and the way they have of trying to break down the individualism." Mike Kennedy, another team member who went on to earn a law degree and now helps run his father's lumber business in Gilroy, saw it POLITICAL ADVERTISING POLITICAL ADVERTISING POLITICAL ADVERTISING USDA increases commodity, storage facility loan interest storage facility and drying equipment loans is also in effect. The interest rate on loans for which applications are received on and after Oct. 1 will be subject to changes, twice a year, during the time the loan is outstanding.

Loans for which applications were received prior to Oct. 1 will continue to bear interest at the rate stated in this loan agreement until maturity. In addition, loans on storage facilities and drying equipment for applications received after Oct. 1 will initially bear interest at the rate in effect on the date the loan is disbursed, rather than the rate in effect at the time of application. The U.S.

Department of Agriculture has announced an increase in the interest rate on price support commodity loans and on storage facility and drying equipment loans made by the Commodity Credit Corp: The increases, from 7.25 to 9.375 per cent per year on commodity loans and from 8.75 to 9.375 per cent per year on storage facility and drying equipment loans will more nearly reflect the cost of borrowing money to CCC. The new interest rates are now in effect. A change in policy regarding interest on price support commodity loans and on LET'S KEEP A GOOD MAN ON THE JOB. JOHN MURRAY Paid for by Murray for Senate Committee Bobbie Warman, Chairperson STATE SENATOR ONE WEEK SALE OF BANKRUPT STOCK OF MODERN OFFICE OUTFITTERS (Retail and Wholesale) 203 MAIN STREET AMES, IOWA 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

OCTOBER 9TH thru 16 25 to 50 OFF (OR MORE) FILES! DESKS! CHAIRS! CAMERAS! OFFICE SUPPLIES! Most of this stock is priced 10 to 20 below present prices! CASH ALL SALES EVERYTHING CARRY FINAL GOES! SALE CONDUCTED BY HECHT'S, IOWA FALLS, IOWA.