442nd VVV Fund Drive for Infantile Paralysis

A drive for funds to aid the fight against poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) in the Hawaiian Islands, is being conducted in the Japanese American Combat Team here, many of whose members came from Hawaii.

The poliomyelitis drive is sponsored by Varsity Victory Volunteers, a unit of Japanese Americans which was widely praised for its patriotic services in Hawaii. The VVV’s formerly were members of the Hawaiian Territorial Guards. When opportunity came for them to join the combat team they volunteered as a unit and disbanded as VVV’s. Now they're active again, without formal organization and fundraising for a worthy cause.

Lt. Ralph Yempuku and Chaplain Lt. Thomas E. West, acting as general chairman, have organized enlisted men committees in the various battalions and special units of the combat team. Altogether 160 enlisted men are working on the drive.

So far, Company I has led the parade of volunteer contributors, pledging $200 within the first half hour after the drive was announced at Retreat last Thursday night.

The money will be sent to the Islands, said Chaplain West as an expression of the soldiers’ appreciation of the fight on the home front and reflecting the interest of the Japanese American soldiers and the health and welfare of the children of the Islands.

Chairmen of the committee are Pvt. Unkie Uchima of the 1st Bn., Pvt. Warren Higa of the 2nd Bn., Lt. Robert Kadowaki of the 3rd Bn., Pvt Shiro Amioka of the Special Units, Pvt. Ted Tsukiyama of the 522nd Field Artillery, and Pvt. Harry Tanaka of the 232nd Engineers.