Combat Team And Girl Guests Enjoy Week-In Dances

The 442nd Combat Team had a thoroughly enjoyable week-end with girl guests from the Rohwer and Jerome Relocation Centers in Arkansas. The three bus-loads of girls and their chaperones arrived in Camp Shelby late Saturday afternoon. Some of them had been here for the dance which the combat team had on May 1, but most of the group were newcomers.

The dance which began at 8 PM at Service Club 5 was opened by the theme song of Pfc Chris Zarba’s 296 Eng. Band. The Service Club was beautifully and especially decorated for the members of the Combat Team and their guests. Chinese lanterns were strung across the front and rear of the club, balloons and long cellophane “hula skirts” were hung from the lights, and the Combat Team’s guidons were decorating the side posts.

Although most of the guests did not know any of the Combat Team members before coming here, a few girls were reunited with “home town fellows.” Among these were Miss Kiyoka Saiki and Sgt. Shigeo Teragi of the 3rd Bn., and Miss Midori Kasai and First Sgt. Peter Fukasawa of Batry, 522nd F. A.

Most outstanding of the reunions however, was that of relatives separated for seven years. Mrs. Tsuruko Kishaba left Hawaii seven years ago to come to the mainland to get married. Pvt. George Uchihara of Service Company, 442nd Inf., is her nephew while Pvts. Susumu and Minoru Kishaba are brothers-in-law. All three chatted over past experiences, all unmindful of the dancing, entertaining, and gaiety that surrounded them.

Pvt. Harry Hamada and his Shelby Hawaiians entertained during a short intermission with music and dances of old and new Hawaii. Most enjoyable was a hula done by one of the Shelby Hawaiians colorfully dressed in a grass skirt, and bright leg and wrist bands.

The grand march was led by Col. C. W. Pence, commanding officer of the Combat Team and Mrs. Pence.

After refreshments of ice-cold punch and cake there was more dancing until another short intermission at which time Sgt. Charles Tanaka and his Hawaiian Combateers entertained with more dances and songs of Hawaii. At the close of his short program, gifts of bracelets, brooches, and lapel pins were presented to each guest from Arkansas as a souvenir from Service Club 5. Dancing continued until midnight when the boys all sang “Aloha Oe” as their guests boarded buses that took them to the dormitories.

Sunday morning at 9:45 soldiers and their guests attended morning services in the outdoor area near Service Club 5 with Chaplains John T. Barrett and Eugene West in charge. After enjoying meals in the various mess halls, the girls were taken back to the service club for a tea dance which lasted until the time of their departure. Music for the afternoon dancing was furnished by the Station Hospital Band.

Appropriately closing an enjoyable week-end, the members of the Combat Team sang “To You Sweetheart Aloha” as the guests boarded the buses which took them back to Arkansas.