Robert Combs

Robert shares his experiences as a young teacher who volunteered to start his teaching career at the Minidoka War Relocation Center. He recounts how he came to love the students and the community he found there.

Video Timeline

Note: To listen to a specific clip, move the slider on the video to the designated clip time listed below.

00:00 – Introduction

00:18 – Clip 1
Description of being a teacher in Minidoka camp. Experiences with the students.

02:58 – Clip 2
Description of a positive relationship between the camp guards and the Japanese at Minidoka.

04:30 – Clip 3
Describes how important education was to the Japanese in the Minidoka camp.

05:48 – Clip 4
Describes the success of the teachers and Japanese students at the Minidoka camp compared to Idaho schools.

07:53 – Clip 5
Describes teaching at Minidoka and how several students went back East for college.

09:28 – Clip 6
Describes how schools from back east sent books to the camp. Described an experience one of his students had with President Bush.

12:18 – Clip 7
Describes his feelings about going into teaching in the camp and how the neighbors reacted when he returned.

13:34 – Credits


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