Topic: US Marines honour Wellington author

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United States embassy marines have ambushed Paraparaumu author Joan Ellis on the way to a marines reunion in Washington DC and presented her with a string of pearls.

The gift, presented at the embassy in Wellington yesterday, was a tribute to her efforts in writing A String of Pearls - a book detailing the memories of US Marines in New Zealand during World War II.
Mrs Ellis, who flew to Washington yesterday to be guest of honour at the Second Marine Division reunion, said she had no idea the trip would start with such a wonderful and appropriate gift from two handsome marines.
The 83-year-old has great memories of marines arriving in Wellington in 1942. "I was a teenage girl just out of school and in my first job in an office in Petone. Life was a bit dull and suddenly the streets were alive with hundreds of marines, all handsome and looking like film stars."
"We didn't smoke, didn't drink or take drugs and had so much fun. They were the best years of our lives." She said her mum and dad drove her to regular dances in the Hutt and Wellington where she jitter-bugged with the young American soldiers who were here for a few months before being shipped out to fight the Japanese.
Her book was inspired by a 50th anniversary trip to New Zealand by former marines in 1993. The book is a compilation of their reminiscences. US ambassador Bill McCormick said the stories were treasures worth preserving and "we could think of no more appropriate gift to show Joan how grateful we are, than a string of pearls".