Mr. Coombs, 77 years old, is a Sacramento native, Stanford University graduate with a teaching credential and one of the finer relocation center educators. He helped set up the school curriculum at Minidoka and taught English and Social Sciences. Teaching the Japanese American students was a job he took seriously with dedication and pride. He lived among them in camp, endured their hardships, shared their joys and became closely acquainted with students and parents. He remained in contact after the camps closed, after the war ended, and even to this day. His late wife, Marguerite Askew, was also a teacher in Minidoka, and taught Spanish and French.

FRANCES CUMPSTON

This is an Oral History of Frances Cumpston (77), Non-Nikkei, widowed and native of Florin. She has good relationships with people and especially is a good neighbor and friend to Japanese Americans, before, during and after WW II. She was one of the very few present at the train depot when all Japanese Americans departed for the Relocation Centers. Parts of the text are more of a candid discussion between the people presentóinterviewer, interviewee, Percy Nakashima and his wife, Aileen. Frances mentions the positive influence of husband, Bill, their parents, relatives and the local Methodist Church. There is a brief discussionópro and con about Redress.

FUMIKO DEGUCHI

Whether living in Japan or in America, life seemed to be one of constant and courageous struggle for Mrs. Deguchi, an Issei. She started with a sickly husband, and lack of English was quite a handicap in America. She was head-of-household which included her own six children and aged in-law parents. ìBeing poor was most difficult being in America.î Yet, she liked the freedom and not being bound by tradition and custom. She recalls learning to drive, taking the driving test in English, making all the preparations to leave for Poston Relocation Center, problems of resettling in Florin, and frequent poor relationship with in-laws. She is enjoying old age and retirement with 17 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren around her.

JERRY AND DOROTHY ENOMOTO

The life story of Jerry Enomoto (71) is similar to the American Horatio Alger and the legendary Japanese Ninomiya Kinjiro. From humble beginnings he has achieved a position of citizenship and responsibility receiving many honors and respect covering seventy years. Born in San Francisco, he attended Lowell High School and Tule Lake (Relocation Camp) High School during WWII. After graduating from UC Berkeley, he went to work as a counselor at Californiaís San Quentin Prison, became the first California Asian American Director of Corrections and first Asian American U. S. Marshal, Eastern District of California. His service to the community includes many JACL board positions including National JACL President, 1966-70. This Oral History also includes an interview with his wife, Dorothy (69), who was born in Atlanta, Georgia and shared high school valedictorian honors with Martin Luther King, Jr. She is a former Deputy Director of Corrections of California and is active in many community services in her own right.