Our Veterans
Henry Soo Hoo - Army Air Forces
Born in Detroit, Ml in 1925, after graduating from high school at age 16, he attended a local college until enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Locations for training included Sheppard Field, TX (basic); Logan, UT (air cadet/flight); Santa Ana, CA (staging); Hondo Air Base, TX (navigation). In June 1944 promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and sent to Boca Raton, FL to train for flight over water. Then assigned to Lincoln, NE and McCook Air Field—9th Bomber Group. By February 1945, Henry was in theater in Saipan with the 20th Air Force, 73rd Bomber Wing, 869th Bomber Squadron, 497th Bomber Group. As navigator for B-29 crew of A-7, "Gravel Gertie,” he was promoted to First Lieutenant. By June 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, two Bronze Service Stars for Asiatic Pacific Service in Japan Air Offensive and the Distinguished Flying Cross for a daring daylight mission on Taicharai Airfield—Kyushu, on April 17.
Post WWII he remained with the Air Force Reserves for five years. After graduating cum laude from Purdue in electrical engineering, Henry worked briefly for Chrysler Aerospace in Huntsville, AL before becoming a research assistant for Detroit Edison. Ultimately he retired from the City of Detroit Dept. of Building and Safety Engineering. Married in 1954 to Jenny Pon, they raised three children. Deceased in March 2017 at age 92, Henry was preceded in death by Jenny and his older brother, Leo Sr., who also served as First Lieutenant as a fighter pilot in the Air Corps during WWII. Both received the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Detroit in September 2000.
Yoke F. Moy - Army Air Forces
Yoke F. Moy (aka George Moy) was born on April 3, 1911 in Canton, China. He was one of nine children, but was the only child in his family to be educated abroad in Hong Kong. After graduating, he wanted to expand his horizons and build a future for his family in America. His father back in China was pretty strict, but allowed Yoke to follow his aspirations. Unfortunately, Yoke had to leave his pregnant wife, Moon T. Chen, because it would be safer for them to be in China than to take that arduous trip to an unfamiliar land.
Shortly after arriving in America, Yoke was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force. Yoke's education in Hong Kong made him an asset in the Air Force because he spoke Chinese and English fluently. During his time in the Air Force, he was asked to be a translator on many occasions.
After being honorably discharged, Yoke sponsored his wife and his daughter Mary to come to America. Moon T. Chen and Mary took the long journey by sea from Shanghai, China to Seattle, Washington, then boarded a train that took them to New York City. On December 13, 1946, Yoke was reunited with his wife and met his daughter Mary for the first time.
Yoke settled with his family in the Bronx, New York and opened a Chinese laundry. Unfortunately, the time spent with his family was short lived. Yoke passed away two years later on January 3, 1949, at the tender age of 37. Yoke is survived by his wife Moon T. Chen, his daughter Mary, his three grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
Wayne Wong - Army
Wayne Wong (aka Wong Hong Way) was born on July 10, 1922 in Canton, China. On February 3, 1939, when he was just sixteen, Wayne migrated to America on a ship crossing the Pacific Ocean. Wayne served in the U.S. Army and was deployed on April 7, 1944 to Normandy, France. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on October 15, 1945 at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, and awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
After returning from the war, Wayne attended the University of Houston and earned an associate’s degree in Radio Electronics. He exchanged marriage vows with his wife Mary Moy on December 20, 1948 in New York City. Wayne tried to find a position in radio electronics, but the job climate wasn't good. To support his family, he worked at Don's Chinese Restaurant in Queens, New York. He was a waiter but also had other responsibilities such as maitre d', bartender, and cook. In 1951, he purchased the restaurant from the owners and retained the original restaurant name. By the late 1950s, Wayne’s entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of English enabled him to open another restaurant, Wayne Wong’s Continental in Lake Success, New York, located in Long Island. It became one of the largest Chinese restaurants on Long Island.
He sponsored many of his employees from China to obtain their “green cards,” and assisted them in becoming U.S. citizens. In addition, Wayne was also a proud, generous, and supportive family man who served his community well. He sponsored many local organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Little League baseball teams, and Cub Scouts. Wayne passed away on June 24, 2008 at the age of 85. Wayne is survived by his wife Mary, his three children, Leonard, Herbert, May and five grandchildren.