Gordon Chung-Hoon

He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 25, 1910. His father, William Chung-Hoon Jr., was a county treasurer and his mother Agnes Punana, a Hawaiian, was a member of the Kaʻahumanu Society. Chung-Hoon was the fourth of five children born to his family."[http://goldsea.com/Personalities/Heroes/heroes2.html Rear Admiral Gordon P. Chung-Hoon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922073452/http://goldsea.com/Personalities/Heroes/heroes2.html# |date=2015-09-22 }}" from Asian-American WAR Heroes, accessed March 5, 2016. He graduated from Punahou School in 1929.

Chung-Hoon attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American graduate of the academy.{{cite book |title=Sea change at Annapolis: the United States Naval Academy, 1949-2000, Volume 415 |last=Gelfand |first=H. Michael |year=2006 |publisher=UNC Press |isbn=0-8078-3047-X |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJDHptZWHUUC&q=first+filipino+graduate+usna&pg=PA48 |access-date=September 2, 2009}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://navysports.com/news/2008/10/19/Navy_To_Play_Its_1200th_Football_Game_Saturday_Against_SMU.aspx|title=Navy To Play Its 1200th Football Game Saturday Against SMU|author=Jack Clary|date=October 19, 2008|work=Navysports.com|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=October 22, 2009}} In 1958 Sports Illustrated's Silver Anniversary All-American issue featured Chung-Hoon as one of its 1933 football stars.

After graduation Chung-Hoon was assigned to the cruiser {{USS|Indianapolis|CA-35|6}} as an ensign.{{Cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015025949143;view=1up;seq=1|title=Navy directory. Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, also including officers of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast ... Apr 1934-Jan 1936.|website=HathiTrust|page=16|language=en|access-date=2018-11-11}} As of January 1937 he was serving as an ensign aboard the destroyer {{USS|Montgomery|DD-121|6}}.{{Cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015025949127;view=1up;seq=3|title=Navy directory. Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, also including officers of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast ... July 1936-July 1938.|website=HathiTrust|page=17|language=en|access-date=2018-11-11}} He was a lieutenant (junior grade) on {{USS|Dent}} as of January 1939.1938 US Navy Directory, Active List, page 17.

Chung-Hoon served on the battleship {{USS|Arizona|BB-39|6}} as a lieutenant,"[http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/12/book-review-the-men-of-the-arizona-bb-39-revised-edition/ BOOK REVIEW – The Men of the Arizona (BB-39)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307001515/http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/12/book-review-the-men-of-the-arizona-bb-39-revised-edition/# |date=2016-03-07 }}" reviewed by LCdr. Jason P. Grower, USN, Naval Historical Foundation, Dec. 6, 2016. but was in Honolulu on a weekend pass during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chung-Hoon heard the attack from Honolulu and attempted to return to his ship but was delayed by roadblocks and traffic jams.[https://books.google.com/books?id=48-qDw9hvB8C&dq=%22Gordon+Chung-Hoon%22&pg=PA1911 Duty, Honor, Victory: America's Athletes in World War II] by Gary L. Bloomfield, Globe Pequot, 2004, page 20. By the time he reached the Arizona the ship had already exploded and sunk.

After the sinking of Arizona, Chung-Hoon served as a naval liaison officer with coastal artillery before becoming executive officer on a destroyer in 1942, working convoy details in the Atlantic."Chung-Hoon, Former Grid Great at Academy Still Winning Letters on Pacific Navy Team" by Laurie Johnston, The Honolulu Advertiser, 1945. He also served on board the cruiser {{USS|Honolulu|CL-48|6}}."[https://web.archive.org/web/20030205072819/http://sjkids.scottsburg.com/Testimony%20to%20Chung-Hoon.htm TESTIMONIAL TO GORDAN PAEIA CHUNG-HOON, Captain USS SIGSBEE 14 May 1944 to 19 June 1945]" by John R. Williams, Signalman Second Class, USS Sigbee website, accessed 7/25/16.

From May 1944 to October 1945 Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer {{USS|Sigsbee|DD-502|6}}. In the spring of 1945, Sigsbee assisted in the destruction of 20 enemy planes while screening an aircraft carrier strike force off the Japanese island of Kyūshū. On April 14, 1945, while on radar picket station off Okinawa, a kamikaze crashed into Sigsbee, reducing her starboard engine to {{convert|5|kn|lk=in|spell=in}} and knocking out the ship's port engine and steering control. Despite the damage, then Commander Chung-Hoon kept his antiaircraft batteries delivering "prolonged and effective fire" against the continuing Japanese air attack while simultaneously directing the damage control efforts that allowed Sigsbee to make port under her own power.

The damage had been severe enough that Admiral William Halsey, Jr. told Chung-Hoon to scuttle the ship. However, Chung-Hoon declined to do so, telling the admiral "No, I have kids on here that can't swim and I'm not putting them in the water. I'll take her back.""[http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/16/ln/ln05a.html USS Chung-Hoon at home in Pearl Harbor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928063325/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/16/ln/ln05a.html# |date=2012-09-28 }}" by William Cole, The Honolulu Advertiser, September 16, 2004.

The next day Chung-Hoon led a burial at sea for the dead. One crewmate said of Chung-Hoon during the burial, "I often remember that the only man tough enough not to duck, was also the only man tender enough to cry."

For Chung-Hoon's service aboard Sigsbee he received the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism.

During the war, two of Chung-Hoon's brothers served in the army in the Pacific theater.

File:Gordon Chung Hoon 2.jpg

After Sigsbee was inactivated following the end of the war, Chung-Hoon was transferred to Pearl Harbor in November as officer in charge of the Special Activities Division of Service Force, Pacific Fleet, responsible for various administrative duties.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258804718/?terms=%22chung-hoon%22|title=Cmdr. Gordon Chung-Hoon Now On Duty At Pearl Harbor|date=21 November 1945|work=Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|page=2|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}}

From August 16, 1950, to March 7, 1952, Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer {{USS|John W. Thomason}} during the Korean War. Under Chung-Hoon's command the destroyer operated as part of the 7th Fleet, patrolling off the coast of Korea and taking part in gun bombardments.

He was promoted to the rank of captain on 1 July 1953.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oxAXAQAAIAAJ&q=%22chung-hoon%22+and+%22radm%22|title=Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy and Marine Corps|date=1964|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=65|language=en}}

He served as the Commanding Officer of Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific from March to June of 1954, where he directed the training and certification of Hawaii based ships.

Chung-Hoon served as captain of the guided missile testing ship {{USS|Norton Sound|AVM-1|6}} between July 1956{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259898973/|title=Chung-Hoon Captain of Missile Ship|date=14 August 1956|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|page=A10|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} and August 1957. He was subsequently transferred to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C.,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/31914653/?terms=%22chung-hoon%22%2Band%2B%22norton%2Bsound%22|title=Capt. Arthur R. Galla Takes over Norton Sound|date=2 August 1957|work=Oxnard Press-Courier|access-date=11 November 2018|page=1|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} his last post.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/24288200/?terms=%22chung%2Bhoon%22%2Band%2B%22chief%2Bof%2Bnaval%2Boperations%22|title=Adm. Chung-Hoon Retires to Hawaii|date=10 December 1959|work=Independent|access-date=11 November 2018|page=12|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} Chung-Hoon retired in October 1959 and was promoted to rear admiral upon retirement, making him the first Asian American flag officer of the United States Navy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258156668/?terms=%22chung+hoon%22+and+%22rear+admiral%22|title=Best Wishes|date=13 January 1961|work=Newspapers.com|access-date=2018-11-11|page=14|language=en}}

File:Adm chunghoon portrait.jpg

He was appointed to be the director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture by the first Governor of the State of Hawaii, William F. Quinn, and held that position between January 1961 and June 1963. Chung-Hoon subsequently worked as a Realtor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/270969523/?terms=%22chung-hoon%22%2Band%2B%22state%2Bsenate%22|title=Chung-Hoon in race for State Senate|date=21 July 1966|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=11 November 2018|page=A-13|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} He made a foray into politics by running as a Republican for one of the four seats representing the Hawaii 7th State Senate District in 1966, but finished fifth in the primary.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260566561/?terms=%22chung-hoon%22%2Band%2B%22state%2Bsenate%22|title=Hot Fights Loom In Senate Races|last=Engledow|first=Ed|date=3 October 1966|work=Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|page=A-1A|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} Chung-Hoon died on July 24, 1979,{{Cite news|title=Chung-Hoon arrives today |author=Lt. j.g. James McLeod |newspaper=Hawaiʻi Navy News |date=September 10, 2004 |url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/navycni/groups/public/@pub/@hawaii/documents/document/cnip_011873.pdf |access-date=October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184426/https://www.cnic.navy.mil/navycni/groups/public/%40pub/%40hawaii/documents/document/cnip_011873.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }} at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/271812196/?terms=%22chung-hoon%22|title=Adm. Gordon Chung-Hoon: Naval Hero, Civil Servant|date=26 July 1979|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=11 November 2018|publisher=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription}}

The {{Sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}} {{USS|Chung-Hoon|DDG-93|6}}, commissioned in 2004, is named for him.{{Cite news|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/09/mil-040920-nns01.htm|title=Chung-Hoon Commissioned|author=Calderón|first=Daniel J.|date=September 20, 2004|newspaper=Navy NewsStand|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123528/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/09/mil-040920-nns01.htm|archive-date=2018-07-31|url-status=live}}

Chung-Hoon first married Anita Corson while serving aboard Dent in December 1938;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275981148/?terms=%22married%22%2Band%2B%22chung-hoon%22|title=Chung Hoon-Corson Rites Held Thursday in Twilight|date=10 December 1938|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=11 November 2018|page=3 (Society)|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} she died of cancer in 1950.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/280911757/?terms=%22corson%22%2Band%2B%22chung-hoon%22|title=Anita Chung-Hoon Dies at Tripler; Funeral Friday|date=4 May 1950|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=11 November 2018|page=6|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} He married Ola Luckey in 1952, and later retired in order to spend more time with her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/268488109|title=Missile destroyer to honor officer|last=Waite|first=David|date=12 October 2000|work=Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|pages=B1, B2|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} Luckey died of cancer in April 1960, months after they had returned to Honolulu following his retirement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259232191/?terms=%22ola%22%2Band%2B%22chung-hoon%22|title=Mrs. Ola Chung-Hoon Dies; Services Saturday|date=28 April 1960|work=Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|page=C4|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}} He married his third wife, travel consultant Jean Carlisle (died 2001), in January 1961, adopting her son, Perry White; Chung-Hoon was otherwise childless.{{Cite news|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Apr/21/ln/ln27aobituaries.html|title=Obituaries|date=21 April 2001|work=Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010717232229/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Apr/21/ln/ln27aobituaries.html|archive-date=2001-07-17|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/269968485/?terms=%22jean%22%2Band%2B%22chung-hoon%22|title=Mrs. Jean J. Carlisle Married To Rear Admiral Chung-Hoon|date=1 February 1961|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=11 November 2018|page=20|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{blockquote|The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Gordon Paiea Chung-Hoon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. SIGSBEE (DD-502), a unit of an Advanced Picket Group, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 14 April 1945. Although his ship suffered major damage when struck by an enemy plane and all power was lost, Commander Chung-Hoon coolly carried out defensive maneuvers and directed his anti-aircraft batteries in delivering prolonged and effective fire against the continued heavy enemy air attack. Afterwards, he supervised damage-control procedure which resulted in his ship being made sea-worthy for a safe return to port under its own restored power. Commander Chung-Hoon's gallant fighting spirit, courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."[http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=20290 Hall of Valor for Gordon Paiea Chung-Hoon], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306040230/http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=20290# |date=2016-03-06 }}" Military Times, accessed March 5, 2016.}}

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{{Portal|Hawaii}}

• [http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg93/Pages/history.aspx United States Navy biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113035559/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg93/Pages/history.aspx |date=2015-01-13 }}
• [https://www.usni.org/node/2817 "Lest We Forget", By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler & Arthur D. Baker III. Proceedings, November 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093742/https://www.usni.org/node/2817 |date=2018-07-31 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chung-Hoon, Gordon Paiea}}

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