Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islanders Heritage Month: Gordon Pai‘ea Chung-Hoon, first Asian American rear admiral in US Navy

Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon, born July 25, 1910 in Hawai'ian territory to a Chinese father and Hawai'ian mother, attended the US Naval Academy in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American graduate from the academy. He played football for the Navy as halfback and punter, helping break an 11-year losing streak against Army in 1934. 

After graduation, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis as ensign.  In January 1937, he served on the USS Montgomery, and then lieutenant (junior grade) on the USS Dent in January 1939.

He served on the USS Arizona as a lieutenant and was in Hawai'i on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  He was in Honolulu when the attack occurred.  He then worked as a naval liaison officer with coastal artillery, and also served on the cruiser USS Honolulu.

In May 1944, Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer USS Sigsbee. On April 14, 1945, the Sigsbee assisted in an aircraft carrier strike force off Kyushu, when a kamikaze crashed into her.  The  explosion killed 23 men, knocked out the port engine and steering control and severely damaging her starboard engine.

Admiral Halsey told Chung-Hoon to scuttle the ship, but Chung-Hoon refused, saying "No, I have kids on here that can't swim and I'm not putting them in the water.  I'll take her back."

He managed to keep the ship a float while continuing to fire on enemy aircraft, and made it safely back to port. He received the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism.

Chung-Hoon commanded the USS John W. Thomason during the Korean War and was promoted to captain July 1, 1953. He retired in 1959 and was promoted to rear admiral, making him the first Asian American flag officer of the US Navy.

He passed away on July 24, 1979, the day before his 69th birthday.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Eleuterio Marquez, first Hispanic American recipient of the Navy Cross

 

I had to do some checking on this one, because I was confused.  Eleuterio "Joe" Marquez is the first Hispanic recipient of the Navy Cross.  Frederick Riefkohl is the first Puerto Rican recipient of the Navy Cross.  

Marquez was born in Los Angeles and was just 19.  He had been in the navy for just a year before he was part of the force that landed on the island of Peleliu during WWII, in September 1944.  At the time, he was Pharmacist's Mate Third Class.  The force took heavy casualties and 59 corpsmen were kill in action.  Marquez established a station where he could administer first aid and plasma, and send wounded troops back to the ships.

In October 1944, Marquez and his unit climbed Bloody Nose Ridge to oust the Japanese from their fortifications.  One night, they came under heavy fire and Marquez was severely wounded, but he managed to start tending wounded. He worked through the night to tend to all of wounded.  

There is apparently a paranormal slant to this story but I won't expand on it.  Yet.

Marquez was awarded the Navy Cross, the first American of Mexican descent to receive the honor.  He passed away in 2015.

https://www.military.com/history/first-hispanic-navy-cross-recipient-was-corpsman-peleliu.html#:~:text=Marquez%20was%20awarded%20the%20Navy,in%202015%20at%20age%2090.

Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: Kurt Chew-een Lee, first Asian American Marine officer

Kurt Chew-een Lee, born January 21, 1926 in San Francisco, California to Chinese immigrants, is the first Asian-American to become an officer in the US Marine Corps.  He was in high school when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and he joined the Marine Corps in 1944.  He graduated from The Basic School, USMC officer training in 1946 as second lieutenant, becoming the first non-white officer and the first Asian-American officer in the Marine Corps.

He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  He attained the rank of major on January 1, 1963 and retired in 1968.  He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.  He passed away in March 2014.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Frederick Riefkohl, first Puerto Rican recipient of Navy Cross

Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, born in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, is the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the US Naval Academy and the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest award after the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.

As a lieutenant, Riefkohl served as Commander of the Armed Guard of the USS Philadelphia.  On August 2, 1917, a periscope was sighted and a torpedo passed under the stern of the ship.  A shot was fired, which struck close to the submarine, which then disappeared.  Lt. Riefkohl received the Navy Cross for  his bravery.

After WWI, Riefkohl assumed command of the USS Vincennes during WWII until it was destroyed by the Japanese at the Battle of Savo Island.



https://web.archive.org/web/20070926215707/http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/01_wwi-nc/nc_02_WW1_Navy-SUB.html

Celebrating Black History Month: Doris (Dorie) Miller, Pearl Harbor hero

Doris (Dorie) Miller is the first black recipient of the Navy Cross for his acts of bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Stationed on the West Virginia, Miller had finished serving breakfast and was collecting laundry when the first torpedo hit.  He reported to his battlestation but it had been destroyed.  Reporting for other duty, he was ordered to help load ammunition into the .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns in the conning tower.  Although he was unfamiliar with the weapon, he began firing at enemy aircraft until the ammunition was depleted.

He helped rescue injured sailors through oil and water to the West Virginia's quarterdeck, saving countless lives.

On May 27, 1942, Miller was recognized by Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet aboard the Enterprise.  He received the Navy Cross for gallantry during combat:

For distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. While at the side of his Captain on the bridge, Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge.^[9]

He was assigned the position of Petty Officer, Ship's Cook Third Class, June 1, 1943 on the Liscome Bay.  Miller died when the ship was destroyed by the Japanese during the Battle of Makin Island, November 24, 1943.