In the park out side our house and parish school and church was a monument to the workers who worked in the steel factory which was called Huachipato.
The majority of the people worked in the factory as well as at the nearby Navy base.
After the take over by the military, the Army. One of my Japanese friends came down to visit me. I first met Ken at Maryknoll when he and other Japanese people came from Japan for a visit and to study English.
He came down for a visit during this difficult time in Chile under the military rule of Pinochet.
I remember we had gone out for some sightseeing in the area and came back late to the parish house . The time was around 7 p.m. and it was the time of the curfew. The Navy police were nearby and picked us up and had us lay down face down in the truck. We were driven to the Police Station which was near by. We spent the night in the police station because no one would answer the phone until the following morning. Fortunately Ken didn't know any Spanish and I had to tell him to be quiet in English. He was not too happy about the situation.
Finally one of the priests came from the house to pick us up and we drove back which was less than a three minute ride. Afterwards, the navy personnel that picked us up apologized for picking us up. In fact the young navy man lived right across the street from the church.
It was a time also that the military would be present in the back of the church during Mass to listen what we foreigners "Americans" would have to say in the homily, if there would be something said against the military government. .
My Japanese friend ken then traveled to other parts of Southern Chile. I then saw him off by bus from Temuco for Argentina. He was also writing a diary about his trip throughout South America.
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