Ernie Pyle was the prime mover that got the Combat Infantry pay and Badge
for the Infantry Solder. In late 1944 and 1945 there was a theater in downtown Tokyo named for him. The Enlisted men were given first choice in going to performances there. Officers were only allowed in if there there were empty seats. I saw a performance of The Mikado staged there. That was the first time The Mikado was performed in Japan as prior it was thought to be disrespectful to the Emperor. The cast included Japanese in certain rolls.