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'''John Joseph Mawn, Sr.''' (January 10, 1915 – November 4, 2007), was a  [[United States Army]] major who was the technical advisor for the [[Elvis Presley]] 1960 film, ''G.I. Blues''. As public information officer at Fort Chaffee near [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]], [[Arkansas]], Mawn replied to the media when Presley’s draft notice became public. Presley received his "G.I. haircut" at Fort Chaffee on March 25, 1958, a day after his induction by the draft board in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]]. Earlier, Mawn told an [[Associated Press]] reporter that the already legendary entertainer would look like a "peeled onion", a retort which garnered national headlines. Presley himself said simply, "Hair today, gone tomorrow."

'''John Joseph Mawn, Sr.''' (January 10, 1915 – November 4, 2007), was a  [[United States Army]] major who was the technical advisor for the [[Elvis Presley]] 1960 film, ''G.I. Blues''. As public information officer at Fort Chaffee near [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]], [[Arkansas]], Mawn replied to the media when Presley’s draft notice became public. Presley received his "G.I. haircut" at Fort Chaffee on March 25, 1958, a day after his induction by the draft board in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]]. Earlier, Mawn told an [[Associated Press]] reporter that the already legendary entertainer would look like a "peeled onion", a retort which garnered national headlines. Presley himself said simply, "Hair today, gone tomorrow."

Mawn was born in Scranton, [[Pennsylvania]], to Thomas Mawn (1881-1967), a railroad worker, and the late Elizabeth Mawn. He was conscripted into the Army in April 1941, when he was the 26-year-old manager of the soft goods department for a business in [[New York City]]. He was assigned to overseas duty with the 94th Infantry Division as a heavy machine gun platoon sergeant. He received a battlefield commission in March 1945 and was discharged six months later. Mawn's decorations included the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the [[Purple Heart]], the [[Bronze Star]], and four battle stars for combat in northern [[France]], the Ardennes Forest, the [[Rhineland]], and the Central European campaigns

Mawn was born in Scranton, [[Pennsylvania]], to Thomas Mawn (1881-1967), a railroad worker, and the late Elizabeth Mawn. He was conscripted into the Army in April 1941, when he was the 26-year-old manager of the soft goods department for a business in [[New York City]]. He was assigned to overseas duty with the 94th Infantry Division as a heavy machine gun platoon sergeant. He received a battlefield commission in March 1945 and was discharged six months later. Mawn's decorations included the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the [[Purple Heart]], the [[Bronze Star]], and four battle stars for combat in northern [[France]], the Ardennes Forest, the [[Rhineland]], and the Central European campaigns.<ref name=aopoa/>

In 1946, Mawn rejoined the Army and was stationed in [[Osaka]] with the 25th Infantry Division during General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s occupation of [[Japan]]. In 1951-1952, he was a heavy weapons company commander in [[South Korea]], having earned his second Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Army Commendation Metal, a cluster to his Bronze Star, and three battle stars. He was stationed at Fort Chaffee from 1952 to 1957 as information officer. When Mawn was sent to Germany, [[Arlie Metheny]], another information office, coordinated Presley's induction at Fort Chaffee..

In 1946, Mawn rejoined the Army and was stationed in [[Osaka]] with the 25th Infantry Division during General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s occupation of [[Japan]]. In 1951-1952, he was a heavy weapons company commander in [[South Korea]], having earned his second Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Army Commendation Metal, a cluster to his Bronze Star, and three battle stars. He was stationed at Fort Chaffee from 1952 to 1957 as information officer. When Mawn was sent to Germany, [[Arlie Metheny]], another information office, coordinated Presley's induction at Fort Chaffee..

After the death of his wife of forty-five years, Helen L. Mawn (1916-1988), formerly of [[Kansas]], Mawn moved in 1989 to St. Petersburg, [[Florida]]. Failing health compelled him to return to Fort Smith in 2000 to be near his daughters, Karney M. More and Joan E. Mawn. He also had a son, John Mawn, Jr., and wife, Sherrill, of Gonzales in Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]] in south [[Louisiana]], three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

After the death of his wife of forty-five years, Helen L. Mawn (1916-1988), formerly of [[Kansas]], Mawn moved in 1989 to St. Petersburg, [[Florida]]. Failing health compelled him to return to Fort Smith in 2000 to be near his daughters, Karney M. More and Joan E. Mawn. He also had a son, John Mawn, Jr., and wife, Sherrill, of Gonzales in Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]] in south [[Louisiana]], three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Not long before his death, Mawn was inducted into the Arkansas River Historical Society Hall of Fame based in Catoosa, an inland river port on historic U.S. Route 66 near [[Tulsa]] in eastern [[Oklahoma]]. He was the director of publicity for his World War II 94th Infantry Division Association. He also served on the association's executive council, the association president from 1995-1996, and editor of the association journal, ''The Attack.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aopoa.net/history/hallfame2007.htm|title=John Mawn|publisher=Aopoa.net|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>

Not long before his death, Mawn was inducted into the Arkansas River Historical Society Hall of Fame based in Catoosa, an inland river port on historic U.S. Route 66 near [[Tulsa]] in eastern [[Oklahoma]]. He was the director of publicity for his World War II 94th Infantry Division Association. He also served on the association's executive council, the association president from 1995-1996, and editor of the association journal, ''The Attack.''<ref name=aopoa>{{cite web|url=http://aopoa.net/history/hallfame2007.htm|title=John Mawn|publisher=Aopoa.net|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>

Mawn died of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Services were held on November 8, 2007, at the Immaculate Conception [[Catholic Church]] in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Interment, with full military honors, followed in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

Mawn died of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Services were held on November 8, 2007, at the Immaculate Conception [[Catholic Church]] in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Interment, with full military honors, followed in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.