Mun Charn Wong
Encyclopedia
Mun Charn Wong was a Chinese American
businessman from Hawaii
. Wong served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II
along with his friend, Wah Kau Kong
, the first Chinese American fighter pilot. He played football on the Air Force team and was a noted quarterback. After the war, Wong became a successful life insurance
executive for the Transamerica Corporation
. In 1989, the company recognized him as a "Legend of Transamerica", the highest honor awarded by the company.
Wong was active in his community, serving as president of several Chinese cultural organizations and on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Association. In his free time, Wong enjoyed playing with celebrity golfers, and his amateur team won the '87 U.S. Open Preview Pro Am golf tournament with the help of Larry Ziegler
. Throughout the years, Wong kept Kong's memory alive, publishing an educational booklet, working with U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka
to educate the public, participating in a television program about Kong on KHON-TV
, and giving interviews to historians. To preserve Kong's memory, Wong helped establish the Wah Kau Kong Memorial Award Scholarship in Aerospace Studies at the University of Hawaii
.
on January 24, 1918. He was raised on the island of Oahu
along with four brothers and two sisters. Wong attended Ka'ahumanu Elementary School and Washington Intermediate School, and graduated from McKinley High School
in 1936. He studied chemistry at the University of Hawaii
and was a member of the university chapter of the ROTC and the Hawaii National Guard
. Wong graduated from UH in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
. Long's decision to join the Air Force was inspired by that of his childhood friend, Wah Kau Kong. During World War II
, Wong was stationed across Western Europe
and flew several missions over Germany. Wong played football on the Air Force team and was a noted quarterback
. Although he had never played football before joining the Air Force, Wong tried out for the team in 1943; 300 players showed up and 36 were chosen, with Wong making the team. Coach Captain Charles Erb, Jr. helped improve his game, and his skills were noticed:
In 1944, Wong learned of the demise of his friend, Wah Kau Kong
, who had flown 14 missions with two kills before becoming engaged in an air battle with a German fighter pilot over Blomberg
, Germany
. However, no further information was available. Determined to find out what happened to Kong, and out of respect for Kong's family, Wong vowed to discover details of the duel and return any of his friend's belongings to the Kong family. Thus, Wong embarked on his own mission to Blomberg with the permission of his commanding officer. Through interviews of local residents, Wong was able to find the specific location that Kong's P-51 Mustang
(the "Chinaman's Chance") was shot down. Wong made contact with the man who carried Kong's body from the crash site and was able to recover his friend's remains, sending them home to Honolulu for proper burial.
.
musician and composer Randy Wong, credits his grandfather with giving him his initial interest in the music genre. Mun Charn Wong sold life insurance to exotica pioneer Arthur Lyman
, and he used to take his grandson to see Lyman perform on Friday nights. Wong enjoyed golf and was known to play with notable PGA
golfers. In 1986, Wong played with Larry Ziegler
and a team of amateurs to win the '87 U.S. Open Preview Pro Am golf tournament against competing team captains Johnny Miller
, George Archer
, and Gil Morgan
.
Wong died in Honolulu on September 17, 2002, at the age of 84. His final resting place is in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
.
, Lions Clubs International
, and Rotary International
.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
businessman from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Wong served in the U.S. Air Force 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...
along with his friend, Wah Kau Kong
Wah Kau Kong
United States Army Air Corps 2nd Lieutenant Wah Kau Kong was the first Chinese American fighter pilot...
, the first Chinese American fighter pilot. He played football on the Air Force team and was a noted quarterback. After the war, Wong became a successful life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
executive for the Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation is a holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms doing business primarily in the United States. It was acquired by the Dutch financial services conglomerate AEGON in 1999.-History:...
. In 1989, the company recognized him as a "Legend of Transamerica", the highest honor awarded by the company.
Wong was active in his community, serving as president of several Chinese cultural organizations and on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Association. In his free time, Wong enjoyed playing with celebrity golfers, and his amateur team won the '87 U.S. Open Preview Pro Am golf tournament with the help of Larry Ziegler
Larry Ziegler
Larry Ziegler is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Ziegler was born in St. Louis and grew up in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He was one of 14 children; he had seven brothers and six sisters. He began as a caddie and worked his way up to head club pro...
. Throughout the years, Wong kept Kong's memory alive, publishing an educational booklet, working with U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka
Daniel Akaka
Daniel Kahikina Akaka is the junior U.S. Senator from Hawaii and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry and is currently the only member of the Senate who has Chinese ancestry....
to educate the public, participating in a television program about Kong on KHON-TV
KHON-TV
KHON-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station in Honolulu, Hawaii. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 2.In addition to its Honolulu broadcast facilities, KHON has relays on all the major Hawaiian Islands to rebroadcast programs outside of metropolitan Honolulu: KHAW-TV in Hilo; KAII-TV in...
, and giving interviews to historians. To preserve Kong's memory, Wong helped establish the Wah Kau Kong Memorial Award Scholarship in Aerospace Studies at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
Early life
Mun Charn Wong was born in Honolulu, HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
on January 24, 1918. He was raised on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
along with four brothers and two sisters. Wong attended Ka'ahumanu Elementary School and Washington Intermediate School, and graduated from McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education and serves grades nine through twelve...
in 1936. He studied chemistry at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
and was a member of the university chapter of the ROTC and the Hawaii National Guard
Hawaii National Guard
The Hawaii National Guard consists of the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Hawaii Air National Guard. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered...
. Wong graduated from UH in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Military service
After college, Wong joined the U.S. Air Force, where he was eventually promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. Long's decision to join the Air Force was inspired by that of his childhood friend, Wah Kau Kong. 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...
, Wong was stationed across Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and flew several missions over Germany. Wong played football on the Air Force team and was a noted quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. Although he had never played football before joining the Air Force, Wong tried out for the team in 1943; 300 players showed up and 36 were chosen, with Wong making the team. Coach Captain Charles Erb, Jr. helped improve his game, and his skills were noticed:
this slender, unimposing chap has been coming along fast under Coach Erb's tutelage. His specialty is the rifling of a forward pass. Wong is one of those gridiron technicians who can add airmail to special delivery, to the great delight of the fans who like their football out in the open.
In 1944, Wong learned of the demise of his friend, Wah Kau Kong
Wah Kau Kong
United States Army Air Corps 2nd Lieutenant Wah Kau Kong was the first Chinese American fighter pilot...
, who had flown 14 missions with two kills before becoming engaged in an air battle with a German fighter pilot over Blomberg
Blomberg
Blomberg is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with c. 17,000 inhabitants.-External links:*...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. However, no further information was available. Determined to find out what happened to Kong, and out of respect for Kong's family, Wong vowed to discover details of the duel and return any of his friend's belongings to the Kong family. Thus, Wong embarked on his own mission to Blomberg with the permission of his commanding officer. Through interviews of local residents, Wong was able to find the specific location that Kong's P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(the "Chinaman's Chance") was shot down. Wong made contact with the man who carried Kong's body from the crash site and was able to recover his friend's remains, sending them home to Honolulu for proper burial.
Career
Wong spent two decades in life insurance, beginning in 1953 with L.T. Kagawa's Security Insurance Agency, which later became known as Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii as part of the Transamerica Life company. Wong was immediately successful, achieving the Million Dollar Round Table and Leading Producers Club in just his first year. In September 1989, Wong attended the Transamerica convention in Stockholm, Sweden where he was named the "Legend of Transamerica," the highest honor bestowed by the company. Wong was one of only twelve life insurance agents to be named a legend in the history of Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance CompanyTransamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation is a holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms doing business primarily in the United States. It was acquired by the Dutch financial services conglomerate AEGON in 1999.-History:...
.
Personal life
Wong was married to Mew Choy, and together they raised four sons and two daughters. One of Wong's eight grandsons, exoticaExotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
musician and composer Randy Wong, credits his grandfather with giving him his initial interest in the music genre. Mun Charn Wong sold life insurance to exotica pioneer Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica...
, and he used to take his grandson to see Lyman perform on Friday nights. Wong enjoyed golf and was known to play with notable PGA
Professional Golfers Association
Professional Golfers' Association, , is the usual term for a professional association in men's golf. It is often abbreviated to PGA...
golfers. In 1986, Wong played with Larry Ziegler
Larry Ziegler
Larry Ziegler is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Ziegler was born in St. Louis and grew up in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He was one of 14 children; he had seven brothers and six sisters. He began as a caddie and worked his way up to head club pro...
and a team of amateurs to win the '87 U.S. Open Preview Pro Am golf tournament against competing team captains Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller
John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf...
, George Archer
George Archer
George William Archer was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo...
, and Gil Morgan
Gil Morgan
Gilmer Bryan Morgan II, OD is an American professional golfer.Morgan was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1968. In 1972, Morgan earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee before turning...
.
Wong died in Honolulu on September 17, 2002, at the age of 84. His final resting place is in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a cemetery located in Honolulu, Hawaii that serves a memorial to those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces...
.
Associations
Wong was president of the Wong Kong Har Tong society from 1959-1960 and the president of the Association of Life Underwriters of Hawaii in 1962. He was also on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Association, and belonged to several fraternal and service organizations, including the Shriners, the MasonsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
, and Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
.
Publications
- "Power Phrases That Sell Money". (May 1988). Insurance Sales 131, pp. 17–18.
- Wah Kau Kong: America's First Chinese-American Fighter Pilot (1993). With Dean C. Sensui.
Further resources
- Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961. (1951-08-23) Air Force Convention, 1951. Public domain image of Mun Charn Wong.