16 Combat Team Members Entertain At Poplarville

Sixteen members of the Japanese-American combat team traveled to Poplarville Thursday night and put on several feature numbers for the Poplarville Civic Organization celebration held in the athletic stadium of Pearl River Junior college.

The soldiers made the trip in a college bus driven by Sgt. Lemore E. Scott DENL of the college ROTC. The invitation to attend the celebration was extended by Lt. Col. John S. Somers, commandant of the ROTC unit at the college. The program was presented under the auspices of Pearl River Junior college, Poplarville Rotary Club and the Poplarville American Legion Post.

The Japanese-Americans were invited so that the townspeople might become better acquainted with the Nisei soldiers. The visitors offered their own program of entertainment as part of the celebration, and the Hawaiian music of Pvt. Harry Hamada and his Shelby Serenaders almost stole the show. Judo bouts under the direction of Pvt. James Kamo also proved popular.

Officers who made the trip with the soldiers were First Lt Richard K. Betsue, 2nd Lt. Robert S. Taria, 2nd Lt. Norman R. Gilbert, regimental special services officer; and Major E. C. Carpenter, Camp Shelby special services officer.