MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON WARTIME RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT OF CIVILIANS CITIZENS

My name is Frank H. Komoto. I live at ____________, Sumner, Washington 98390. I am farming 25 acres and am 59 years old. In 1941, I also lived in the Sumner area, where my parents were farmers.

When we were ordered to evacuate, I was very shocked. We were given 1 week to evacuate. We lost everything, approximately $10,000 in goods. We were left with only the clothes on our backs.

We were evacuated, I was very shocked. We were given 1 week to evacuate. We lost everything, approximately $10,000 in goods. We were left with only the clothes on our backs.

We were evacuated to the Puyallup far grounds and then to Minnidoka, Idaho. Living conditions were bad. It was very crowded and the food was bad. Our friends brought us to the evacuation camp in Puyallup and eventually to Minnidoka by train. We were starved from waiting to be fed on the train.

In camp I was a laborer and did carpentry work and washed dishes.

Our family was very disorganized in the relocation camp. Our loyalties were unchanged. We were imprisoned Americans.

After we left the camp in 1943, we moved to Mesa, Idaho and found work in the orchards. We had to start all over again, with no money, no property. We lived there until 1947 and then returned to Sumner, Washington.

Sine our loss after the internment, we were hard put to re-establish ourselves and purchase new farming equipment and household goods.

I believe we should each be compensated about $50,000 in direct compensation including my brother and sister, and especially my mother and father.

My older brother, George, was in the Army and fought for America and he came home with one leg shot off.

I will always remember the World War II Incarceration as a dark cloud in my past; one that I will never be able to erase.

[Signed]