70 Years Ago, Marilyn Monroe Thrilled Over 100,000 Troops in Korea: See the Unforgettable Photos
Over the course of four days, Marilyn thrilled over 100,000 troops and the feeling was mutual
Marilyn Monroe was married three times in her lifetime, the shortest of which to retired Yankees baseball player Joe DiMaggio (1954 to 1955). By all accounts their relationship was a volatile one, yet it gave her four of the most joyous days of her life when, during their honeymoon to Japan, she had the opportunity to go to South Korea on a USO tour with the sole purpose of entertaining troops — more than 100,000 of them — that were still there following the Korean War. While she did so, DiMaggio would stay in Japan to help with the training of a baseball team there.
Even though her husband didn’t attempt to stop her from going, it was obvious he wasn’t enjoying the clear fact that she was already the more famous of the two of them. As historynet.com reports, “DiMaggio fully expected to be America’s most exalted celebrity in Japan, but it was Monroe the Japanese people came to see. At the hotel the adoring crowd would not disperse until she agreed to wave goodbye to them from a balcony — ‘like I was a dictator of something,’ she complained. It didn’t help DiMaggio’s mood that some reporters had taken to referring to him as ‘Mr. Marilyn Monroe.'”
Things worsened during a press conference, which was meant to be for both of them, but most questions were directed at Monroe and consisted of queries like whether or not she slept naked or if she wore anything under her clothes. “More trouble,” notes the site, “came the following day when a formal invitation arrived from General John E. Hull, the head of the Far East Command [requesting] that Monroe visit Korea to entertain the troops. With DiMaggio likely to be tied up for days preparing the teams in Japan’s Central League for the upcoming season, Monroe thought the visit was a grand idea.”
So embark on the 1954 Korea tour she did, which newsreel footage of the time (seen in the video below) describes like this: “Marilyn Monroe arrives in Korea to tour the front lines for four days. Hubby Joe DiMaggio is in Japan coaching Japanese baseball teams. Marilyn wears drab GI clothing as she meets the boys. No GI ever got such attention. The weather is cold, but nothing distracts from the enthusiasm of the welcome. Now, who’d want an Air View at this time? In the natural and chilly outdoor bowl, Marilyn proves she’s a real trooper. The hills are alive with troops. As Marilyn puts on her act, officers estimate that she plays to about 60,000 men in her first two days in Korea. There’s agreement among soldiers and Marines, privates and commanding officers: Marilyn is tops. Says she, ‘Gosh, I’ve never seen so many men in my life.'”
One of the Korean War veterans who was in attendance recalled in a clip on the YouTube channel Marilyn Monroe Video Archives, “There were I don’t know how many thousands and the noise was so overbearing — the echo from the hills was coming back at us. It was one constant roar when they saw Marilyn Monroe walking across the stage. That smile electrified the whole crowd. She was just so wonderful when she went down among the GIs and started snatching pieces of paper and put autographs on them, signing matchbooks, pieces of newspapers — anything she could just so they could have a signature on it. She was just so down to Earth.”
Adds the clip’s narrator, “Despite the freezing cold, Marilyn treats the troops to a rousing show, including a rendition of her signature song, ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.’ Although this film of her performance is shot without sound, her rapport with the audience is obvious.”
Enjoy the military photos and Korea photos of Marilyn Monroe’s USO performance that follow.
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For Marilyn, it was an opportunity for payback to the troops
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The soldiers had never seen her films
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Everyone was thrilled to have Marilyn there
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That excitement was mutual
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Marilyn was a boy’s best friend!
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Meet the man who got Marilyn into (singing) shape
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Marilyn could have her cake and eat it, too!
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Lunchtime in Korea
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Batter up in Korea!
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A (tiny) bit of privacy for Marilyn
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Tanks for the memories!
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Hold that pose!
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G.I. Monroe
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Not quite the paparazzi, but…
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Some of Marilyn’s Fondest Memories
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