Our Veterans
Curtis Joe Wong - Navy
Curtis Joe Wong was born in a village near Canton, China called Hoi Ping on September 12, 1922. He was the eldest of three children to Jimmy Chow Wong and Chow Kung Tai Joe. He immigrated to the United States in 1935 at the age of 13. Curtis enlisted in the US Navy when he was 22 years old. Curtis was assigned to the USS Petrof Bay Carrier Ship which was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. On which, he received the Philippine Liberation Medal (2 Stars), Asiatic Pacific Service Medal (5 Stars), American Area Service Medal, and Victory Medal for service performed in the following operations: VC-76, Western Caroline Operation - September 6, 1944 to September 29, 1944; VC-76, Leyte Operation - October 20, 1944 to October 28, 1944; VC-76, Luzon Operation - January 4, 1945 to January 8, 1945; VC-76, Iwo Jima Operation - February 29, 1945 to March 8, 1945; VC-76, Okinawa Guento Operation - March 25, 1945, to May 30, 1945.
Curtis married Lillian Lee on May 28, 1946 in Washington D.C. and later moved to Greenwood, Mississippi where he owned and managed the American Food Store and the Curtis Star Supermarket. In 1970, he moved the family to Sacramento, California where he owned the Prime Rib Inn. In 1987, he moved to Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs, California where he established Curtis Wong Realty. His greatest joy was the love of his wife, 7 children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Curtis was enormously proud to be an American of Chinese descent who had served the United States of America.
Harry G. Jung - Army
Harry G. Jung, born in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 1, 1924 is a World War II veteran (PFC) who served in the United States Army from November 28, 1942 to July 27, 1945. At the young age of 18, Mr. Jung left his job at RCA to join the military after hearing an announcement about Adolf Hitler and Germany come over the loud speakers, and he felt that it was his patriotic duty to stop them from seizing control of Europe. After being sworn in on December 1942, PFC Jung was sent to Fort Indiantown Gap in Cumberland, Pa. After finishing his basic training, he was under the 104th. infantry Timberwolf Division and shortly was assigned to the 414th. Regiment, 1st. Battalion, Company C under Commander, Colonel Touart. He became a rifleman, was a messenger that delivered verbal and written communications between the platoon leader and the commanding officer. The 414th. Regiment participated in a night assault on the Village of Eschweiler, Germany. During this assault, PFC Jung suffered multiple injuries to his right hand caused by grenade fragments. `He was honorable discharged and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct, WWII Victory, European Campaign and American Campaign Medals. After his separation from the military, he got married and have two daughters and two grandchildren. He attended trade school for refrigeration under the GI Bill. Eventually, Mr. Jung found a job and worked as a printing press operator for a printing company for 35 years before he was unfortunately laid off. He then worked as a salesman at a discount toy store in Pennsauken, NJ for 10 years before retiring. His current hobbies include bowling, watching sports and word search puzzles.
Hom Moon Jung - Army
Hom Moon Jung was born in Mainland China and immigrated to America in April 1929. In the United States Army, he was a Technician Fifth Grade Surveyor 227 with the Cannon Company 15th Infantry Regiment. As a surveyor, he served with an Infantry antitank company in United States training centers and 10 months in the European Theater through two combat campaigns and battles in the Rhineland Central Europe. His duties involved field surveying, computation of data, recording of topographical data and sketching maps showing topographical characteristics and anti-mechanized defense elements for the use by the higher command. He also performed mine detection and disarmament work and various pioneer duties, such as, making roads, excavations for intrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body. He received the Combat Infantryman Badge military qualification and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAMECM) and the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) decorations and citations. Prior to his military service, he was the manager of a retail food business. He owned and managed the T and T Market in Tucson, Arizona for a period of 8 years. The business handled groceries, fresh vegetables, meat and liquor. He did all the buying, the supervising of bookkeeping and sales, and the business employed 6 to 8 clerks. He also managed the business affairs and the advertising. In June 1937, he also completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. After his World War II military service, he returned to Tucson, Arizona and became the owner and operator of the retail food business Desert Trailer Market. The business handled groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meat butcher shop, tobacco products, over the counter health care products, and beer, wine, and liquor. He married Hom Young See and they raised three sons. He received his naturalized United States Citizenship in December 1947. His family is very proud of his US Army military service.