Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon
Encyclopedia
Gordon Paiea Chung-Hoon, (Honolulu, Hawaii
, July 25, 1910 – July 24, 1979) was an admiral in the United States Navy
, who served during World War II
, and the first Asian American
flag officer
. His father, William Chung-Hoon Jr., a Chinese English Hawaiian, was a County Treasurer and his mother Agnes Punana, a Hawaiian, was a member of the Kaahumanu Society
. He graduated from Punahou School
in 1929.
and graduated in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American, U.S. citizen graduate of the academy. While a student he gained national prominence as the football team's halfback and punter, and in 1934 starred on the team that broke an 11 year winless streak against the Army team. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star
for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism as commanding officer of from May 1944 to October 1945.
In the spring of 1945, Sigsbee assisted in the destruction of 20 enemy planes while screening a carrier strike force off the Japan
ese island of Kyūshū
. On April 14, 1945, while on radar picket station off Okinawa, a kamikaze
crashed into Sigsbee, reducing her starboard engine to five knots and knocking out the ship's port engine and steering control. Despite the damage, then Commander
Chung-Hoon valiantly kept his antiaircraft batteries delivering "prolonged and effective fire" against the continuing enemy air attack while simultaneously directing the damage control efforts that allowed Sigsbee to make port under her own power.
. He was appointed to be the Director of Hawaiian Department of Agriculture, and died in July 1979.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, July 25, 1910 – July 24, 1979) was an admiral in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
flag officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
. His father, William Chung-Hoon Jr., a Chinese English Hawaiian, was a County Treasurer and his mother Agnes Punana, a Hawaiian, was a member of the Kaahumanu Society
Kaahumanu Society
The Ahahui Kaahumanu Society is a civic club in Hawaii formed by Princess Victoria Kamamalu in 1864 for the relief of the elderly and the ill. The club celebrates the life of Queen Kaahumanu and the preservation of the monarchy in Hawaii....
. He graduated from Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
in 1929.
Military career
He attended the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
and graduated in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American, U.S. citizen graduate of the academy. While a student he gained national prominence as the football team's halfback and punter, and in 1934 starred on the team that broke an 11 year winless streak against the Army team. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism as commanding officer of from May 1944 to October 1945.
In the spring of 1945, Sigsbee assisted in the destruction of 20 enemy planes while screening a carrier strike force off the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese island of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. On April 14, 1945, while on radar picket station off Okinawa, a kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
crashed into Sigsbee, reducing her starboard engine to five knots and knocking out the ship's port engine and steering control. Despite the damage, then Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Chung-Hoon valiantly kept his antiaircraft batteries delivering "prolonged and effective fire" against the continuing enemy air attack while simultaneously directing the damage control efforts that allowed Sigsbee to make port under her own power.
Post-military
He retired in October 1959 as a Rear AdmiralRear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
. He was appointed to be the Director of Hawaiian Department of Agriculture, and died in July 1979.