Grant H. Ewing, of Fort Lupton, 28, died in late February 1951, in a prisoner of war camp near Pyoktong, North Korea, due to pneumonia and malnutrition. His remains were recently identified by the Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency, in Honolulu, and returned to his family.
He was born Oct. 19, 1922, in Fort Lupton, to Millard H. and Juanita (Midcap) Ewing, the eldest of three boys. Along with his brothers Millard Jr., and Dale, he attended Porter Elementary and Fort Lupton schools.
Grant joined the Navy Oct. 6, 1942, and trained in Farragut, Idaho, and in San Diego. He was stationed aboard the SS Albert B. Cummins. On Nov. 8, 1943, he was transferred to the SS Silcox, and to the SS Turman in March 1945. All these ships were supply ships, and Grant served on them as a gunner’s mate. On Jan. 18, 1946, Seaman First Class Ewing was honorably discharged from the Navy. During his Navy years he visited the Aleutian Islands, Iceland and Australia, among many other places.
After World War II, Grant worked at jobs in Reykjavik, Iceland, Detroit, Kansas, and Indianapolis, before he returned home to farm with his father in Fort Lupton. In 1949, he started a hog business on the family farm in Fort Lupton. Grant had a girlfriend, Florence Longenecker, of Washington, D.C.
When the Korean War broke out, Grant enlisted in the Army, in June 1950, and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., and then moved to Seattle, where he was shipped overseas with Battery C, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. His original destination was Japan, but it was changed to Korea after the Communist offensive there.
Letters from Grant to his parents seemed to indicate that Grant thought things were going well and that he would return home soon. However, Grant was reported missing in action Nov. 30, 1950. He had been captured when the Chinese, in a surprise attack, overran the American forces at the battle at Kunu-ri and captured several hundred GI’s. Two fellow prisoners at Pyoktong, North Korea, said Grant died of pneumonia some time in February 1951. Other released POWs verified the circumstances of death without a doubt. The war department set the date of his death as Feb. 28, as a matter of record.
A man with him in the prison camp told Grant’s mother, Juanita, that Grant spent his time helping those who needed it at the POW camp. Cpl. Ewing has been posthumously awarded the following decorations: Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service medal, Republic of Korea – Korean War Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button-World War II.
Grant was predeceased by his parents; and his brothers, Millard and Dale Ewing. He is survived by eight nieces and nephews: Cynthia Ewing Pinner, of Greeley, Kirk Ewing, of Keenesburg, Lloyd Ewing, of Austin, Texas, Lilah Ewing Bruce, of Eugene, Ore., Juanita Ewing, of Portland, Ore., Charles Ewing, of Aurora, Kenneth Ewing, of Parker, and Sherry Ewing, of El Centro, Calif., as well as a large extended family.
A celebration of life is set for Oct. 19, on what would have been Grant’s 93rd birthday, at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home, 75 S. 13th Ave., which handled the arrangements. Internment with full military honors will be at Hillside Cemetery, 13750 Weld County Road 12, Fort Lupton. A reception will follow at 3:30 p.m., at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 South Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton.
Memorial gifts may be made to the USO.