Dewey Kwoc Kung Lowe - Army Air Forces
Born in Oakland, CA on Oct 18, 1924, Dewey Kwoc Kung Lowe never knew his father, who died when Dewey was a toddler. He and his two siblings were raised by their young widowed mother who supported the family working in a Chinatown sewing factory. Dewey was fascinated by airplanes and shortly after his 18th birthday he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. By April 1944 he had completed training and was about to be assigned to fly B-25 bombers. But the British, American, and Chinese armies fighting in the roadless mountains and jungles of Burma had need for a new type of supply for troops in combat. Dewey and his entire class were reassigned to the newly formed 1st Combat Cargo Group, whose C-47 transport planes would supply troops fighting at the front or behind enemy lines by low-level air drop, glider, and improvised landing strips. Japanese infiltration tactics that so often severed the ground supply lines to Allied troops would thereby be rendered ineffective.
2nd Lt. Lowe arrived in the China-Burma-India theater with the 1st Combat Cargo Group in September 1944, the only pilot of Chinese descent in his squadron. They joined the allied offensive to liberate Burma. Lowe’s squadron was then transferred to bases in China, eventually becoming part of the Fourteenth Air Force commanded by Gen. Claire Chennault, who had long wanted direct control of his own air supply assets. In November 1944, a major Japanese offensive in central China found Lowe setting unflyable airplanes afire, then flying the last plane out of Liuchow airfield just ahead of the rapidly approaching Japanese. From November 1944 to July 1945, Lowe flew a variety of missions: the treacherous Hump air route over the Himalayas, resupply of fuel and munitions to Chennault’s forward air bases, resupply to ground troops, rescue missions, and paratroop drops behind enemy lines. He survived a crash landing. Darkness, bad weather, and enemy radio jamming often threatened disaster and more than one mission ended with a harrowing return to base on near-empty gas tanks. By the time Lowe was recalled to the States in July 1945, he had flown 312 combat missions, logged 671 flying hours, and earned a promotion to 1st Lieutenant, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster.
After WWII, Lowe went into the U.S. Air Force Reserve, but for the Korean War was recalled to active duty. He remained in the active USAF until his retirement in 1985. He also flew combat missions in the Vietnam War, but made his real mark where he had started: in supply and logistics. He was the first Chinese-American in the USAF to be promoted to brigadier general, and the first to be promoted to Major General. At his retirement he was the highest ranking Asian-American in the USAF, and recipient of the USAF’s highest peacetime decoration, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. He passed away in 1994 at age 69.
Lewis Woo Yee - Army
Staff Sergeant Lewis Woo Yee was born in Taishan, Guangdong, China on September 11, 1922. Lewis’ grandfather first immigrated to the United States to work on the railroad in the mid-1800’s. He later owned a general store in Beaumont, Texas. Lewis’ father later immigrated to the United States and eventually co-owned the Main St. Café in Houston where Lewis worked after arriving in Houston in 1937. Six years later, in May of 1943, Lewis joined the Army and was sent to Springfield, Illinois for basic training.
Lewis was assigned to the 14th Air Service Group, the “Flying Tigers,” and pursued technical military training at Patterson Field, Ohio. The 14th Air Service Group was a unique group of 2400 Chinese Americans from across the country. They were formed after the success of the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers" (1941-1942). General Claire Chennault and General Joseph Stilwell requested a unique group of Chinese Americans from the War Department, fluent in both English and Chinese, to support the American Armed Forces in China, Burma and India Theater of Operations.
In April 1944, Lewis deployed to Asia Pacific. His unit embarked overseas from Newport News, Virginia to Oran, North Africa, Bombay, India, and then to Kunming, China via the treacherous Burma Road. The "Flying Tigers" primary duty was to service combat aircraft with their electrical, mechanical and maintenance skills. When short-handed, Lewis would even be forced to double-up as a co-pilot. He was also one of the few members of the "Flying Tigers" that could read and write the Chinese language. This proved to be a very useful skill as he was able to negotiate with a local villager to deliver three hot meals a day at a cost of $1.00 per trooper for his 10-man squadron. His duty continued for a period of eight months. In August 1945, the 14th Air Service Group “Flying Tigers” returned to Seattle via Shanghai.
Staff Sergeant Lewis Woo Yee was honorably discharged in January of 1946, earning the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon and three Overseas Service Bars. In addition, he was accorded the Junior Flying Tiger membership, a special honor bestowed to those serving under General Chennault during his USAAF tenure, 1943 to 1946.
Lewis returned to Houston. On Veterans Day, November 11, 1946, Lewis met Roberta Woo of San Antonio and they married on February 9, 1947. From 1946 to 1992, Lewis was the owner of several restaurants and was an active citizen leader in the Chinese-American community. In 1983 Lewis became a founding board member of Asian American National Bank of Houston; in 1992, he became a Chairman of the bank until retiring in 1997. Over the years he has been blessed with four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Throughout his military service, Lewis learned many lessons in life. One lesson reminds him of an old Chinese proverb --"Life is both bitter and sweet." That describes his military experience. The sweet was the lasting bond of friendships with his fellow soldiers, plus the places they were able to visit. On the bitter side, Lewis recalls human suffering, terrible death and destruction in the war zone. His hope for the future is that "each nation will help each other. All nations should be governed by the people, living in peace and harmony in this wonderful world," says Lewis. "I am thankful to God for protecting me during my time in service, and for providing me with a wonderful family. I can now serve in God's Army, to be a servant for Him."
Jong Dare - Army
Private Jong Dare the Army of the United States, Company “M” 363d Infantry, serial no 39031022
Jong Dare was proud to have served in the United States Army during World War II. At age 37, he was inducted on October 31st, 1942 at San Francisco, California.
Jong was born in Hoy Ping, Canton, China. There he met May Lee - his forever soul mate. They immigrated to the US; and started a family of five children: Herbert, Sara, Robert, Colbert, and Edbert.
Jong worked as busboy before joining the Army. After his Honorable Discharge, he became a grocery store owner in the San Francisco Mission District. He and May worked long hours at the store, and raised their children. Their grocery store success enabled the opening of a second location in the SF Noe Valley District.
Due to health issues, Jong passed away suddenly in January 1977. May passed away in October 2009. Both are buried in Colma, California at Woodlawn Cemetery.
As of 2020, all five children are doing well; and amongst them, a total of 6 grandchildren.