Interview with William Combest

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: This is the introduction to the interview.

Keywords:

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation

Partial Transcript: Mr. Combest, first I would like to thank you for allowing me to interview you about the CCCs. What's your full name?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about where his family is from and his situation before he joined the CCCs. He also talks about joining the CCCs.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Poverty

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Let's talk about Idaho for awhile.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest discusses the camp in Idaho. He talks about his duties and wages.

Keywords: Ditch Digging; Reading and Writing; Wages

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Were you all pretty isolated out there, where you were?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about the winters at Deer Flat and how hard winters could be.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Snow Shovelling

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939 Winter

Partial Transcript: What was your first impression of the place when you first got there?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about his first thoughts upon arriving at Deer Flat. He also discusses what his duties were and some of the buildings at the camp.

Keywords: Cleaning; Dam Work; Deer Flat; Ditch digging

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: We had a leader and an Assistant leader.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about the leadership at Deer Flat and what the leaders were and were not allowed to do.

Keywords: Deer Flat, WWI Commanders

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Did you join the CCC's because your family was having hardships?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about what drove him into the CCC and how the CCC dressed him.

Keywords: clothes; Deer Flat; World War I; World War One; WW1; WWI

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: When you got to go into town what would you do?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about going into town and what they had to do there.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Smoking Pipes; Town

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: What was the educational building like?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about the other buildings at Deer Flat. He also talks about the educational building and how they tried to help the illiterate corps members.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Education; Infirmary; literacy

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: What was the attitudes towards the Leaders?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about what was expected of him at Deer Flat.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Leadership; Rules and Regulations

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Did you get to save any money when you made five dollars a week?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about how he spent his money once he earned it.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Money

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: What was the infirmary you all had?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest briefly talks about their infirmary.

Keywords: Deer Flat; hospitals; sick ward

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Did you enjoy your stay out in Idaho?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about what he took away from his time in Idaho. Mr. Combest then talks about what he did after he left Idaho.

Keywords: Deer Flat; Transition

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Mr. Combest, what did you do when you left Idaho?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about what he did after he left Idaho and how he ended up in McCreary County at Bell Farm. He talks about building a road to Stearns and their other activities. He also compares Bell Farm with Deer Flat.

Keywords: Bell Farm; forest fires; road building; Stearns KY

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 509 (Bell Farm, Ky) Farmer McCreary County, Ky New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: ...We had a basketball team.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about sporting events and differences in uniforms.

Keywords: Bell Farm; Civilian Conservation Corps Sports

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 509 (Bell Farm, Ky) Conservation Depression--1929 New Deal, 1933-1939

Partial Transcript: Did y'all get a lot of leave?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Combest talks about Pay and Leave and how the regulations were slacker since Deer Flat.

Keywords: Bell Farm; going into town

Subjects: Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 2506 (Nampa, Id) Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 509 (Bell Farm, Ky) Conservation Depression--1929 Farmer McCreary County, Ky New Deal, 1933-1939