Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-24
SocietyNeWs
By Lee Welsh

4OSOC4QUJ AAASA0 @A0NO VIVA
termed Day for DecorationS-as
both the Army Chief of Staff,
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, and
the Chief of Naval Operations,
Admiral Robert B. Carney, re-
ceived new decorations to add to
their already impressive list
and an Air Force general, Brig.
Gen George S. Cassidy, re-
ceived bright new gold medal.
Society in all its varied phases
was kept busy rushing from the
Philippine Embassy to the Ar
gentine Chancery to the home of
the Chief of the Portuguese
Military Mission to NATO.
Gen. Ridgway received the
Philippines highest award to a
foreigner-the Philippine Legion
of Honor, with the rank of chief
commander.
1t was presented to him by
Gen. Carlos Romulo, former
Ambassador to the United States,
and now the special Ambassador
of President MagSaysay to the
United States, in an impressive
ceremony at the embassy on r
street.
Hondsome Group
Gen. and Mrs. Romulo and
Gen. and Mrs. Ridgway formed
the receiving line and greeted
guests preceding the ceremony.
AS the American general and
his beautiful wife became part
of the receiving line, Gen. Rom
ulo moved out and stood survey
ing the scene. Hand on chin,
he remarked: my, this is a
handsome group" And he was
quite right. His wife had on
one of the lovely Philippines
ternos in a stark white native
gust material, embroidered with
seed pearls and sequins. Mrs.
Ridgway, with a lovely tan,
wore a stunning beige cocktail
dress, embroidered in gold, and
q huge pink straw hat. A large
fresh orchid was pinned to her
dress. The attractive general, in
uniform with row after row of
decorations, added the finishing
touches to the handsome
group"
Although the Philippine dress
Is always lovely, Mrs. Romulo'S
dress was so outstanding that it
moved Mr.. Manuel CollanteS,
chief of protocol for the en-
bassy, to remark: IT know our
native dress very well, and this
is really one of the most beau
tiful I have ever SEEM"
After the citation was read,
Gen. Romulo spoke briefly. At
one point, referring to Gen.
Ridgway, he said: 81 remember
well the handsome young man
who was aide de camp to Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Jr. He Stayed all
Of the girls in Manila" AS the
audience laughed, Gen. Ridg-
way leaned over and touched his
wife's arm, saying: Don't you
believe a word of it."
Chief Justice Earl Warren,
Mrs. John Foster Dulles, wife of
the Secretary of State, and Mrs.
George Humphrey, wife of the
Secretary of the Treasury, were
among those present.
Philippine Hero
1t. Gen. Jesus Vargas, chief
of staff of the Philippine Armed
Services, looked very cool in a
crisp white uniform. One of the
United States heroes of the
Philippines was there - Col.
Stephen Mellnick, who was for
merly one of the intelligence
officers of Gen. MacArthur's
staff and was in prison camp in
Davao. His escape. with nine
other men, is famous in Philip
pine history. Col. Mellnick is
now busy writing a book on these
experiences.
But this one is going to con-
tain humor." he said. $50 much
has been written about the
horror of the prison camps of the
Japanese. now that it is so long
ago am beginning to remember
the funny things that happened"
One of the loveliest guests were
blond Mrs. Cyril Wilson, who
with Mr.. Wilson, president of the
Chemical Bank, was down from
New York for the presentation.
She and Mr.. Wilson are great
friends of the Romulos.
Argentine Decoration
The youngest ambassador in
Washington, 36-year-old DR..
Hipolitio j. Paz. Ambassador of
Argentina, and chic Mrs. Paz
were greeting friends by the