Bogalusans Entertained Soldiers From Hawaii

If the girls of Bogalusa, La. are wearing gardenias over one year, it is an adoption of a Polynesian custom introduced by members of the 442nd (Japanese-American) combat team, when they were guests there last week-end of the Young Woman's Professional Club.

The 25 enlisted men who made the trip from Camp Shelby to Bogalusa by bus found their hostesses anxious to learn Hawaiian customs. At a banquet held at the YWCA Saturday evening Lt. Bert N. Nishimura, who was in charge of the visiting group, related folklore tales of the islands, telling of the Polynesian custom of wearing flowers to denote marriageability — a blossom over the left ear signifying engagement, and over the right ear, that the girl is unattached and receptive to suit for her hand in marriage.

By a coincidence, a large number of gardenias was given Lt. Nishimura during the afternoon by the hostess, Mrs. Charles Goodyear. At the end of his speech, the Lieutenant gave the flowers to the visiting soldiers, who in turn presented them to the girls to the tune of “To You a Lei.” The girls wore the gardenias throughout the evening in the Polynesian fashion.

The “Combateers” and the “Serenaders,” two musical units of the combat team, played at the banquet Saturday evening, and on Sunday one unit visited the hospital and played Hawaiian songs for the patients, who also were given gardenia leis.

The visitors attended church services with their hostesses on Sunday, and in the afternoon they swam at the YMCA and private pools, after which they returned to camp Sunday evening.

Those who made-up the visiting group, in addition to Lt. Nishimura, were Harry Hamada, Henry Ashiro, Toshio Tota, Schiro Arita, Hiroshi Inamine, Henry Pasima, Hiram Haguvara, Kyoshi Gova, Herbert Sasaki, Morris Taketa, Stanley Hashimoto, Charles Tanaka, Davis S. Sugimoto, Joe D. Sato, Tadashi Takano, Katsugo Miho, Fred Furumizo, Kazuo Parauchi, Kunio Sarayama, John T. Ushijima, Jack Iriguichi, Masayuki Yamamoto, Edward Yamaguchi, Tammy Nakahara, Mac Shintaku, and James Kamo.