The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 174

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2003 11 He made Marilyn smile OLiiDS FLOOiWJG "For All Your Window Flooring Needs" THE PALM BEACH POST am 1 4 CUSTOM VERTICAL IKAKUFACTOHERS MOHAWK MASLAND ALADDIN BEAUUEU CUSTOM WEAVE HORIZON WORLD GALAXY Quick thinking grabs visiting movie star's rapt attention. 7 HiDrterDoiiglas window fashions Silhouette Luminette Wood Blinds Duette Mini Blinds FLOORirJG fADRCT BERBER 'PLUSH WAHFCT Installed WPad sq. yd TILE Installed Starting At: WOOD Installed Starting Al: Installed Starting At: BLirJBS 1ft iff'' George Ewing in his tent in Korea (above) and Ewing today (left). Photos special to Neighborhood Post PVC Verticals WOOD SHUTTERS $ms Canyletelj Installed vithsB Me mks ck fo By GEORGE W. EWING Special to Neighborhood Post It was early 1954; I had just spent my first Christmas, New Year's and winter with the 40th Infantry Division in Korea.

The cease-fire had been signed earlier on July 27 at Pan-munjom, Korea, ending the Korean War. Home was a tent and a sleeping bag, which was not so bad as other GIs were still sleeping in bunkers. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio married in January, and in February were in Japan where Joe was to hold baseball clinics. It was soon learned that an Army officer had invited Marilyn to entertain U.S. soldiers in Korea.

The word spread through the troops and we found she would be visiting our division headquarters, several miles from where I was. I hitched a ride in the back of a 214-ton Army truck, called a deuce and a half, that was heading to the event The bench seats were all taken, so I took my place on the floor of the truck's bed. It was a bit cold, but I thought it was worth it. Arriving, we found several hundred other GIs waiting on the hillsides surrounding a stage that had been quickly erected. Marilyn had flown to Seoul and would be arriving by helicopter at the base.

We soon heard the chopper; after it landed, she transferred to an Army tank which took her to a make-shift dressing room. She changed into a low cut, clinging dress decorated with colored sequins. She sang Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend with her sexy voice over amplifiers pointed toward thousands VINYL COVERED VVOCD SHUTTERS Completely Installed vithia thtee veeks f- 4-' I PSai III STGRS Excluding Specials No Minimum Purchase Required. I Mnct Prooanf fVuinnn at Timo nf Durrhaea I Marilyn Monroe made her way from the stage and paused at the dressing room door for photos. Expires 60403 Hi in i VI RTIC.AI CAHftT I was able to get a priceless photo of her with the seductive smile she was so famous for.

The rest of my tour in Korea was mostly uneventful with a couple trips for rest and relaxation to Japan. The 40th Division rotated to the United States in May, and I served the rest of my time with the 8th Army Headquarters Finance, in Seoul, in charge of officers' payroll. Needless to say, Marilyn's visit had to be the highlight of my Army career and I am sure many others feel the same way. George Ewing is a resident of Boca Raton. i i SI I got to the door of the dressing room just as the show ended.

Marilyn made her way from the stage and paused at the door for photos. Most of the guys were shouting her name: "Marilyn, Marilyn, Marilyn." I decided to call out, "Mrs. DiMaggio!" This got her attention, and of us, mostly lonely soldiers. I was far back when the show started, but having just bought a new Canon 35mm camera at the mobile PX (which visited us once a month), I decided to get closer for some photos. Working my way through the mass of guys, 4.