Our Veterans
Yin K. Leong - Army
Yin K. Leong was born in Toisan, China on November 9, 1909 to Ton and Hom Shee Leong. In search of a better future, he left his rural Cantonese village and joined his father who had immigrated to the United States in 1892. He settled in Portland, Oregon and worked to support his family in China as a welder at Kaiser Shipyards. Inducted into U.S. Army Service Corps on January 18, 1943, he served as a Corporal, 5th Grade, Medical Technician (409) in the 121st Station Hospital. He was deployed to Europe on September 20th, 1943 and served as a Combat Medic in the Battle of Normandy and other engagements in the European Theater until September 26, 1945. He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After receiving an Honorable Discharge on October 14, 1945, he returned to Portland, Oregon and became joint owner of the New Cathay Restaurant. He was reunited with his wife, Wai Fun, son Wing Kwong Leong and daughter Lila Lai Kuen Lee in America, where they became United States citizens. Yin K. Leong passed away on September 23, 1998 at the age of 89. He is survived by his two children, six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. As an avid sports fan, he is remembered for his hard work, patriotism, and love for his community and family.
Ging Foon Young (aka Tai H. Lieu) - Army
Ging Foon Young was born in Toishan, China 1925. At 16 years old,he immigrated to USA under the name (Lieu Tai H), he lived with his father and worked in the laundry shop . He was drafted in the US Army 1943, worked as radio repairman in China with US Army Signal Corp . He was honorably discharged from the Army in December 1945. He was awarded American defense service medal, Pacific service medal, good conduct medal and world war II victory medal. Ging Foon Young passed away 1998, survived by his wife Yuen Yee,daughter Jeanette, son Edward and five grandchildren.
Bill Lyn Jong - Marine Corps
Bill Lyn Jong, a WWII veteran, served in the 2nd Battalions, 22 Marines, 6th Marine Division, US Marine Corps from May 3, 1944 to August 8, 1946.
Born in San Francisco in1922, Bill Lyn Jong is a third generation Chinese American. He was enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began active duty on May 3, 1944. While in Pacific theater his assigned duty was intelligence man and sign painter. From April 1 to July 12, 1945, Bill participated in the successful combat action on Okinawa, Ryukyu Island, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. Soon after the victory in Okinawa, the 6th Marine Division went to the island of Guam and prepared for duty in China.
Following the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945, the 6th Marine Division arrived in Tsingtao, China on October 11, 1945 to help the Nationalist Chinese government with the surrender of Japanese forces occupying parts of China. There, Bill’s rank was Private First Class. Later in 1946, Bill was promoted as Corporal. In April that year, he appeared in the U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls with a rank of Sergeant. On August 8, 1946, Bill was discharged as a corporal with honor and received Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
Being a Chinese American served in the Pacific, he was asked sometimes: “You were? What side were you on?” In 1994, Bill was interviewed by Asian Week reporter Sam Chu Lin and said, “I was a scout in reconnaissance and a runner, I feel so insignificant because so many people died right and left, and I was saved and spared…We thought our nation was threatened, and I was out there to defend it. I was ready to put my life on the line for my country. I really believed that.”