The 407th Air Service Squadron of World War II: GROUP 17: LOUIE

BEN W. LOUIE

Ben Wing Louie was born on November 6, 1922 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. A passenger list said his birth place was “Sunning, Kwangtung, China”.

Nine-year-old “Wing Bin Louie” and his five-year-old brother, Show Wah Louie, were aboard the steam ship President Cleveland when it departed Hong Kong on December 6, 1931. They had been with their mother, Lew Shee, at “Kow Yue, Sunning, Kwangtung, China”. The brothers arrived at Seattle, Washington on January 13, 1932 and admitted nine days later. Louie’s Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 7030/3473. The boys final destination was to their father, Pun Louie, at 679 King Street in Seattle.

The 1940 United States census counted Louie in San Francisco, California at 617 Grant Avenue. He stayed with his cousin, Louie Toon.

Louie graduated from Galileo High School in 1940.

Fall 1940 Telescope yearbook

At some point Louie signed his draft card. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 23, 1942.

Louie was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Louie and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Ben W. Louie…..San Francisco, California

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 2, December 31, 1943, said

Basketball Game.
Playing their 5th game this season, the 407th casaba team met the 912th Engrs Squadron Thursday in the field gymnasium. Considered the number one basketball tossers in Patterson Fld, the 912th defeated the 407th aggregation by a score of 40-21.

So far, in all the games played, the 407th team, managed by Sgt Woody Chan, has met up with keen and stiff competition, and this last game was no exception. In the 5th game just played the starting line-up consisted of Sgt William “Murphy” Quan (captain), Pfc Albert Fong, Pvt Ben Louie, Pvt Henry Wong (13), and Pvt Edward Chew. Other players include Cpl Wing H. Fong, Pfc John S. Leong, Pfc Howard Quan, Pvt Peter Gee, Pvt Edwin Chu, Sgt Woodrow Chan, Cpl Thomas Lee, Cpl Samuel Yee, Sgt Charles Lum, and Pfc Howard Loo.

Gung Ho, No. 5, January 21, 1944, said

More Casaba Tussles.
Last week and early this week the squadron basketball team played its 8th and 9th games in the current Patterson Field intra-squadron casaba series.

Playing against the 923rd Guard Squadron last Friday night, our team came through with a victory, the score being 28 to 26. The final did not indicate that the 407th team led their opponents throughout the game. The staring line-up included Murphy Quan, Peter K. Gee, Ben Louie, Henry Wong (13), and Henry Leong, with Murphy scoring 16 points to become high point man.

Monday night, playing against Aviation Sq “B”, the opposing team won by a score of 29 to 25. The starting line-up was almost the same, the change being the inclusion of Albert Fong, who took Henry Leong’s place. Again Murphy Quan was high point man, coming through with 11 points.

Next Monday the 407th team will play its 10th game in this series, with the Base Hospital team as opponents. The following night the team will play a separate game against the 3511th Serv Unit, Military Dept., University of Dayton. The latter is an ASTP unit, and reported to consist of fast and expert tossers. The game will be played at the university gymnasium.

Gung Ho, No. 6, January 28, 1944, said

Basketball Team Plays Two More Games.
The 407th casaba contingent was kept busy on the eve and the first day of Chinese New Year. These athletic sessions did not prevent the players from celebrating the festival, but they did interrupt the celebration.

Playing on its 10th game in the current Patterson Field intra-squadron series against the Base Hospital team the 407th came thru with a victorious score of 47 to 22. The starting lineup were Murphy Quan, Albert Fong, John Leong, Peter K. Gee and Henry Leong.

Murphy, playing forward, was high scoring man, making no less than 28 points, which was more than the opposing team got in their entire game. Murphy now has 91 points to his credit in the series, and this puts him up among the first five high scoring men in the league.

The following evening, playing the ASTU (Army Specialized Training Unit) team at the U. of Dayton gym, the 407th was defeated by a score of 44 to 28. However, this trouncing did not affect the squadron team’s standing in the league series, as this was an extra-mural games, played at the ASTU’s invitation. The 407th starting lineup for this game was the same as the previous night’s game except for Ben Louie, who replaced John S. Leong.

The 407th team’s next intra-squadron game will be played Feb. 2 against the 9th Reporting Detachment. The chances for winning, according to our team, are fifty-fifty.

Gung Ho, No. 7, February 4, 1944, said Private Louie was promoted to Private First Class.

Gung Ho, No. 9, February 18, 1944, said

The Unlucky 13th.
The numerical symbol of universal bad luck hit the 407th’s basketball aggregation last week when it played its 13th game in the intra-squadron series against the Hqs ASC quintet. It was the 13th game, and it was played on a Friday. And there were 13 players in the team.

The starting line-up included Murphy Quan, Albert Fong, Ben Louie, Henry Leong, and Henry Wong (13). Our team led the game all the way until the end of the third quarter. Then, at the last quarter, the opposing team begin to break loose with a few goals. At the end of the game the score was tied—25 to 25.

A 3-minute overtime was played. The opposing made one foul goal—and won the game by that one single point.

For the 407th team, Albert Fong was high scorer, turning in 11 points. Murphy Quan followed with a total of 6 points. That half a dozen digits, though, placed Quan as the highest individual scorer in the league series. At the end of the game that night he had totaled 130 points.

As of last Friday, the 407th casaba team’s standing in the series was, 6 games won and 7 games lost, with about 2 more games to go.

MEN OF THE 407TH
CASABA TOSSING CELESTIALS
There is one outstandingly interesting thing about the 407th basketball team. And that’s in the fact that out of 13 players 11 are from San Francisco. Of the remaining two, one is from Oakland, Calif., and the other from New York City. This makes a total of 12 Californians out of a team of 13 players.

We might mention in passing that Sgt Woodrow Chan, the team’s manager, is from Long Island, N. Y. while property manager Pfc Elvin Ong is also from Frisco. But we might add that Woody is a native-born Californian.

What does all these statistics prove? Nothing very much perhaps, except that wherever you find a bunch of San Francisco Chinatown boys together you are bound to find some good basketball players among them. The largest Chinatown in the U. S. is the home of the best casaba tossing celestials to be found in the country. They are familiar with all the favorite sports of the American people, but for some reason they excel in basketball. Give the average SF Chinatown boy a gym or a backyard with a couple of baskets and a ball, and he will feel at home. The casaba tossers of the 407th were weaned in the basketball countts [sic] of St. Mary’s School, the Chinese YMCA, the French School, the Chinese Playground, the Commodore Stockton School—all inside the purlieu of S F Chinatown.

Take Sgt Murphy Quan for instance. A San Franciscan by birth and domicile, he has been tossing the casaba around since he could run. When he graduated from Mission High, where he was a basketball player on the varsity quintet, he started playing with the various Chinatown A. C’s—the small little clubs that used to come and go. Murphy didn’t care which club he played under, so long as he could toss that ball around.

He finally teamed up with the Nom Wah, Chinatown’s crack basketball outfit. The Nom Wah developed slowly, but at the height of its splendor it had practically all the best casaba players to be found in the community. The skill and prowess of its players was something to see & admire. Murphy played under the Nom Wah banner for years and became one of its outstanding players. His team played not only in SF, but also in Sacramento, Stockton, Los Angeles etc. It entered as many leagues and tournaments as it could handle. Winning 3 leagues in one season was one of Nam Wah’s crowning achievements, and Murphy was in there pit Ching for all he was worth.

Six players who have played in the Chinese Playground league are Cpl Albert Fong, Pfc Henry Wong-13, Pvt Peter K. Gee, Pfc Ben Louie, Pfc Howard Quan and Cpl Harry Q. Wong. In addition, Fong has also played with the Chinese “Y” and the Mohicans All-Stars; Wong has played with the Cherokee Club; Gee also with the Dragoneers and the Chung Wah Trojans; Harry Wong was with the Chinese Y as well as the Dragoneers; and Louie and Quan were with the Chinese YMCA.

As for the others, Pfc Henry Leong played in the Galileo H. S. Team; Pvt David Fong was with the Chung Wah Trojans; Pvt Edward Chew was with the Oakland Chinese Presbyterian Youths team; Pfc Howard Loo played for the Dragoneers; Pvt John S. Leong for the Sacred Heart H. S. and Pvt Edwin Chu for the Chinese Church League in New York.

—W. H.

Gung Ho, No. 10, February 25, 1944, said

….Pfc Ben Louie hasn’t been able to go out for days…and he wasn’t restricted either….the reason is simple….both pairs of his OD pants are in salvage….and because of his 5'11" he couldn’t even borrow his buddies’ trousers either……..

Gung Ho, No. 12, March 10, 1944, said

….Glimpses: ....and Cpls John B. Chuck and Jean Shing, and Pfc. Ben Louie racing to the proximity of three WAC’s in the mess hall….

Gung Ho, No. 13, March 17, 1944, said

SQUADRON QUINTET WINS CONSOLATION TROPHY
By defeating the 478th Air Base Sqdn to the tune of 28–26 the 407th basketball team this week won the consolation trophy in the current Post league tournament.

There was double satisfaction in winning this game, for the 478th had beaten our team in the previous intra-squadron tournament.

The starting lineup for the 407th included Murphy Quan, Albert Fong, Ben Louie, Henry Wong (30), and Henry Leong.

Almost at the end of the game, with only 4 minutes to go, Henry Wong fell and sprained his ankle. David Fong substituted for him and helped to sustain our team’s speedy playing. Murphy Quan piled up 13 points to maintain his high scoring record.

The consolation trophy has been awarded to the team. The quintet has played its second and last tournament for the season but by no means has it played its last game. Meanwhile, Murphy Quan continues to play forward with the Patterson Field All-Stars. This group was honored last Saturday evening with a special banquet at the service club.

Louie was discharged January 26, 1946. Two days later he signed a new draft card. His San Francisco address was 804 Grant Avenue. Louis was described as five feet eleven inches, 156 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Later Louie moved to Southern California. Louie graduated from Santa Monica City College, California. The school newspaper, Corsair, April 14, 1948, listed the students for the June event.

Louie was a registered voter in Los Angeles, California. In 1948 he lived at 641 North Broadway and did not state his party affiliation. In 1952 he was a Democrat who resided at 1115 Wall Street. In 1956 and 1962 his address was 1337 West 42nd Street.

Louie passed away on September 2, 1979, in Santa Clara, California. He was laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park. (He should not be confused with Ben W. Louie, of San Francisco’s House of Louie, who passed away on June 6, 1998.)

DONALD Y. LOUIE

Donald Yun Louie was born on September 20, 1923 in Fresno, California according to his World War II draft card and California Death Index. The California Birth Index and Social Security Death Index have 19 as the birth day. His Social Security application said his parents were “Louie H. Ball” and Ng Shee.

The 1930 United States census counted Louie as the youngest of six siblings. His sister, Minnie, was the head of the household. They lived in Fresno at 561 C Street.

A passenger list said Louie and his younger brother, Francis, departed San Francisco on August 11, 1933 bound for China. On March 26, 1938 fourteen-year-old Louie, Francis, and eighteen-year-old Walter were aboard the steam ship President Cleveland when it departed Hong Kong. Their sister paid for their passage. The trio had stayed with Y.W. Chan at 16 Wing Lok Street in Hong Kong. The brothers arrived at San Francisco on April 15, 1938 and admitted the same day. Their final destination was to Richard Louie, a brother, at 1060 Powell Street in San Francisco.

In the 1940 census Louie and four siblings were in Richard’s household. His wife was Esther. Richard was a restaurant manager. They were San Francisco residents at 1020 Stockton Street.

The San Francisco Chronicle, June 8, 1941, listed the graduates, including Louie, of the High School of Commerce.

On June 30, 1942 Louie signed his draft card. His address was unchanged. He was employed at Moores Navy Yard in Oakland. Louie’s description was five feet six inches, 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Louie enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 19, 1942.

Louie was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Louie and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Donald Y. Louie…..San Francisco, California

In the book he appeared in the squadron fold-out photograph between pages 54 and 55.

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 1, December 25, 1943, said

EM’s Return from Detached Service
After a two weeks’ special course in the air service dept at Orlando, Fla., 9 EM’s returned to the 407th this week. The group consisted of T/Sgt Floyd Sam, S/Sgts Henry Wong, James Yee, Ton G. Lum and George Wong, Sgts Donald Y. Louie and Hing B. Lo, Pfcs Koonwah Lim and George M. Shue.

Sgt Louie reported that the Flordia [sic] sunshine gave him a good tan. But Pfc Shue, contrariwise, caught a cold instead.

T/Sgt Sam gave out that several of the boys, namely Lum, Louie, Lo and Lim, had occasion to visit Cypress Garden down yonder. It so happens that this place is our C.O.’s hometown, and the boys seriously thought of invading the latter’s home. But in a case of cold feet caught them and the idea was abandoned.

The boys also visited the movie set where the “Tarzan” pictures are made—and found out how Johnny Weismuller could climb those jungle trees so fast. No, they feel they can climb them just as dextrously [sic].

One of the highlights of the EM’s returning trip was the real Chinese meal they had in Jacksonville. Said Floyd: “We had sea-weed soup, Chinese style chicken, beef and tomatoes, bean cakes, etc. Boy, did we eat!”

Gung Ho, No. 3, January 7, 1944, said Sergeant Louis was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

10 EM’s Indiana-Bound

Days ago, near Liberty, Ind. a B-25 was forced down in the middle of a corn field. To get it out it was deemed necessary to dismantle the plane part by part.

This week that job of dismantling was given to the 407th. Ten EM’s were picked for the task, and left for Indiana Tuesday, accompanied by WO T.A. Egnoski. This temporary duty is to last approximately 5 days, at the end of which some additional practical experience should have been gained by the men.

The 10 EM’s who went there: M/Sgt. Floyd Sam, S/Sgt Donald Louie, Sgt Hing Lo, Sgt Wm Toy, Cpl Koonwah Lim, Cpl Geo. Chow, Sgt Donald Poy, Sgt Fulton Yee, Cpl Andrew Goon, Pfc Woo H. Niy….

Gung Ho, No. 5, January 21, 1944, said

8 EM on Detached Service.
This week another out-of-town assignment was given the 407th. This time it was to assist in the repairing of a P-39 at Columbus, Ohio.

So to Columbus last Monday went S/Sgt Donald Louie, Cpls Henry Mar, Din Lew, John R. Ung, Kenneth Mah, Pfc’s John Chuck, Gim Jeong, and Pvt Louie Woon. The officer in Charge was W.O.T.A. Egnoski.

Gung Ho, No. 9, February 18, 1944, said

....Speaking of Roses, Sgt Sammy Yee and S/Sgt Donald Louie met one in Chicago this weekend...

Gung Ho, No. 13, March 17, 1944, said

….S/Sgt Donald “Yehudi” Louie all alone with his date on a bus going Cincinnati way….and attempting to avoid M/Sgt Floyd Sam, who was maneuvering for an intro….but in vain, for Sam, bold and unabashed, introduced himself….

After the war Louie returned to San Francisco.

According to the 1950 census Louie was in the household of Joseph T. Chan who married his sister, Evelyn. They had a one-year-old son. Also in the household were Louie’s brothers Walter and Francis. They lived in San Francisco at 1047 Clay Street. Louie was an aircraft mechanic.

Louie passed away on September 21, 1996 in San Francisco.

WAH LOUIE

Wah Louie was born on April 17, 1923 in Canton, China according to his World War II Draft card. A passenger list said he was born at “Hoiping, China”.

Seventeen-year-old Louie was aboard the steam ship President Coolidge when it departed Hong Kong on July 12, 1940. The passenger list said he had been with his mother, Kwan Shee, at “Shek Hon Li, Hoiping, China”. Louie arrived at San Francisco, California on July 31, 1940 and admitted on September 3, 1940. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 40198/008-04. Louie’s destination was to his father, Fook Thin Louie, at 847 Grant Avenue in San Francisco.

On June 30, 1942 Louie signed his draft card. His address was 947 Grant Avenue in San Francisco. Louie was described as five feet five inches, 125 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

Louie enlisted on December 31, 1942.

Louie was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Louie and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Wah Louie…..San Francisco, California

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 5, January 21, 1944, said

…..Shades of One Wing Low! A rash of ocarina and tonette amateur players has broken out in the squadron…..to date at least seven feverish GI’s, suddenly stricken with this musical disease…and have filled the barracks with weird and unearthly sounds…mostly during the dark of night. Nightly they congregate in small groups and proceed to do what they termed practicing, bringing out their “directions for playing” charts….Their ears deaf to the entreaty of bunk buddies, they wailed and blowed on their miniature instruments.

…..And Pfc Wah Louie, who doesn’t blow either the ocarina or the tonette, is rumored to be a violinist, a trumpeteer [sic], a saxophone tooter….and can play both Chinese and swing music….Is true?…..

Gung Ho, No. 7, February 4, 1944, said

….Pfc Wah Louie has introduced the oculette as a potential rival to the tonette, which many are playing these nites in the barracks…The new novelty musical gadget looks and sounds like a flute…and already three occupants in #3 barracks are sold on the instrument….now some fluty noises are in prospect.

Gung Ho, No. 13, March 17, 1944, said

....Glimpses: Pfc Wah Louie learning to tap dance....from a how-to-do-it book....

Gung Ho, No. 20, July 15, 1944, said

...Herewith once more is our usual dish of il-literary beansprouts...It’s a far cry from Patterson Fld, Ohio to India, but chop suey is still chop suey wherever the locale..so here goes nothing...

...Wah Louie, who seems to be fortune’s special child, went over to the theater last Sat. eve to play a few bingo games..& came away with nothing but the first prize—a gasoline stove...And the first thing he did with it the next nite was to brew rice congee for his pals...succulent broth seasoned with dried shrimps & mushrooms...

Gung Ho, No. 22, July 22, 1944, said

....No news re the 1st Sgt’s monkey hunting expedition this week...he’s got a monk to play with right now, that’s why...the 1st/Sgt feeds it...Kwong D. Hom & Wah Louie walk it...Herbert Wong disciplines it...’n we cuss it becuz the so ’n so has gone & chewed up some Gung Ho drafting utensils...

William Hoy’s story, “Pvt. Wah Louie & The Crane”, appeared in the CBI Roundup, October 19, 1944.

The date of Louie’s discharge is not known. After the war he returned to San Francisco.

Louie was aboard the ship General William H. Gordon when it departed Hong Kong on March 21, 1949. He was married but his wife, name unknown, was not with him. On April 7, 1949 Louie arrived at San Francisco where his address was 947 Grant Avenue.

There was a “Wah Louie” who was naturalized on June 25, 1962 but the location was not stated on the index card.

Additional information about Louie has not been found.

HONG W. LOWE

Hong Wong Lowe was born on August 12, 1910 in Stockton, California according to his World War II draft card. His Social Security application had the birth date September 18, 1910. The different dates can be explained in the Chinese-American Calendar for the 102 Chinese Years Commencing January 24, 1849, and Ending February 5, 1951. The chart below for 1910 is Sun Tung 2nd Year. Column 8 and number 12 in black correspond to September 15 in red, just three days off from the application date. After the war Lowe changed his birth date.

Fifteen-year-old Lowe was aboard the steam ship President Lincoln when it departed Hong Kong on March 27, 1926. He had been with an uncle in “Heungshan, China”. Lowe arrived at San Francisco on April 21, 1926. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 24980/004-20. Lowe’s final destination was the Wai Hing Company on Stockton Street in San Francisco.

Lowe has not been found in the 1930 and 1940 United States censuses. In 1940 he was a registered voter, Democrat, who lived in San Francisco at 1037 Washington Street.

On November 2, 1940 Lowe signed his draft card. His address was the same but changed, in August 1941, to a number on Pacific Street. He was unemployed. Lowe’s description was five feet three inches, 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He named his daughter as a contact person.

Lowe enlisted on April 24, 1943. He was single.

Lowe was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Lowe and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Hong W. Lowe…..San Francisco, California

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 7, February 4, 1944, said

….A large, fat envelope came to Cpl Hong W. Lowe the other day….it was no feminine epistle but certain blanks from the collector of internal revenue…for the fiscal year 1943–44….and were deposited quickly into the nearest waste-basket….

Gung Ho, No. 23, August 5, 1944, said

…..Short Shorties: Mon K Fong, Wm P [sic] Wong, Hong W Lowe, Suey W Jue, Soo J Wong, et al, are all emulating Captaincies “Doc” Lau’s style of smoking now—with ivory holders…

In October 1944 Lowe was hospitalized due to dysentery.

Lowe was discharged on December 17, 1945. He returned to San Francisco.

Lowe and his wife, Wai Hing Chu, were aboard Philippine Air Lines, flight 303/A, when it departed Hong Kong on December 18, 1948. They landed at Honolulu, Hawaii on December 19, 1948. Their destination was San Francisco. Lowe’s address was 230 North San Pedro in Los Angeles, California.

According to the 1950 census Lowe was divorced. He was in the household of his brother-in-law, Walter C. Wong, who had married his sister, Luella. The couple had two daughters. They were Los Angeles residents at 639 Commonwealth Avenue. Lowe was unemployed.

The 1952 Los Angeles voter registration listed Lowe at 230 North San Pedro.

A public record said Lowe lived at Daly City, California in 1993.

Lowe passed away on October 26, 2006. The Social Security Death Index said his last residence was Dearborn, Michigan.

TOM LUEY

Tom Chew Luey was born on April 8, 1923 in San Francisco, California according to his World War II draft card and the California Birth Index at Ancestry.com. However, his mausoleum has the date August 8, 1923.

The 1930 United States census counted “Shew T. Luey” as the oldest of two children born to Sue Jing Luey and Wong Shee. His father’s business was printing stationery. The family lived in San Francisco at 1047 Stockton, Street.

In the 1940 census the Luey name became Lowe. Luey’s first name changed to Tom. His father was Clarence who operated a print shop. Luey’s siblings were Betty, Charlie and Faye. The family were Oakland residents at 720 Oak Street.

Luey graduated from Oakland Technical High School in June 1942.

Tom Chew Lou [sic]
Senior Memories yearbook

Luey’s World War II draft card reflected the surname change from Luey to Lowe.

Luey signed his draft card on June 30, 1942. His address was unchanged. He was employed at the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland. Luey’s description was five feet eight inches, 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Luey, under his birth name, enlisted on February 12, 1943.

Luey was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Luey and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Tom Luey…..Oakland, California

In the book he was mentioned on pages viii, 28, 40, 71 and 74. Luey appeared in a photograph on page 53.

Luey was discharged in January 1946. On January 14, 1946 his new address, 1036 Foothill Boulevard, was written on the draft card.

Luey has not yet been found in the 1950 census.

Luey married Rose A. Lim in Santa Clara, California on June 1, 1951.

The 1957 Oakland, California city directory listed Luey at 3327 Davis.

The Oakland Tribune, May 14, 1972, profiled Luey’s wife, Rose, who was Mother of the Year. On page 16 the profile said

Husband Tom Luey is an electronics technician at the Oakland Naval Air Station.

Luey passed away on November 15, 2019. Luey was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery.

HENRY LUKE

Henry Luke was born on January 6, 1905 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. His immigration records have not been found.

The 1940 United States census counted Luke and two others in Manhattan, New York City at 48 Rivington Street. He had been in Manhattan since 1935. Luke was a bookkeeper at a restaurant.

On October 16, 1940 Luke signed his draft card. His address was 323 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. He worked at the New Canton Restaurant at 114 Rutland Road in Brooklyn. Luke was described as five feet five inches, 128 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Luke enlisted on October 8, 1942.

On December 6, 1943 Luke was naturalized at Dayton, Ohio.

Luke was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Luke and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Henry Luke…..New York, New York

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 3, January 7, 1944, said Private First Class Luke was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

Gung Ho, No. 9, February 18, 1944, said

…For the record, the oldest EM in the 407th seem to be Cpls Henry Luke and Bert L. Deng…closely followed by Sgts William P. Hsia and Henry B. Lew….and the youngest is Pvt Johnny Quong….their respective ages?….that’s a telling!……

Gung Ho, No. 22, July 22, 1944, said

CPL HENRY LUKE, R.I.P.
The following squadron memorandum dated July 21, 1944 speaks for itself:

“It is with regret that the Enlisted Personnel of this organization is advised of the death of Cpl Henry Luke on 27 May 1944.” “A former member of this command Cpl Henry Luke was a good soldier in every respect and a credit to the Armed Forces of his country.”

Well-liked by everyone in the squadron, Henry passed away after a lengthy illness at another station. He hailed from New York City and had been a member of the squadron from its inception.

In the Shadow of the Tiger said Luke had a heart attack.

Luke was laid to rest at the Long Island National Cemetery.

YORK Q. LUKE

York Que Luke was born on October 6, 1923 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. A passenger list said his birthplace was “Len Shan Toyshan, China”.

Eleven-year-old “York Que Look” and his father, “Hong Noon Look” were aboard the steam ship President McKinley when it departed Hong Kong on March 16, 1935. In China they had stayed at “Len Shan Village” with Luke’s mother. Father and son arrived at Seattle, Washington on April 3, 1935. Luke was investigated and admitted April 11. Luke’s Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 7030/9462. Their final destination was Seattle at 515 8th Avenue South where Luke’s grandfather, “Look Him” lived.

Luke has not been found in the 1940 United States census.

On June 30, 1942 Luke signed his draft card. His Seattle address was 4222 University Way. Luke’s description was five feet four inches, 120 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Luke enlisted on July 8, 1943.

Luke was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Luke and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

York Q. Luke…..Seattle, Washington

In the book he appeared in a photograph on page 61.

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 4, January 14, 1944, said

Now for our Dept. of Romance & Similar Nonsenses: …talk about lines being crossed—Cpl Hing Jee was stood up too t’other nite in town..but this isn’t the end of the story…as Jee sat eating in the Chungking eatery Cpl Fred Ko and Pvt York Q. Luke breezed in with two belles…you’ve guessed it: one of the gals was Jee’s missing date!…

Gung Ho, No. 5, January 21, 1944, said

….while in another corner Sgts George Shue and Andy Kan, Cpls Elwood Lew and Fred Ko, Pfc’s Harry King and Albert FL Fong, Pvts York Q. Luke and Yee T. Yook scribbled autographs in Chinese and American to a group of lassies…

Gung Ho, No. 7, February 4, 1944, said Private Luke was promoted to Private First Class.

Gung Ho, No. 14, March 24, 1944, said

....Pfc York Q Luke is velly unhappy over his recent short haircut...[on] account he can’t fashion that cute lil wave over his forehead....now Pvt Yee T Yook has a clear field in vieing [sic] for the best-groomed cranium....Meanwhile Sgt Joseph K Lee likes his spring haircut, short tho it is....

After the war Luke returned to Seattle. Luke was pictured in The Memoir 1947 (see Group 25) which was published by the Chick Char Club, San Francisco, California.

Luke is on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project. His daughter, Faye, is a Supporting Member of the project.

Luke, as York Que Look, returned to China where he married Foon Heung Ng at Canton on June 20, 1947. Her birthplace was “Jok Lok, Toishan, Kwangtung, China”.

In early 1949 Luke traveled to Hong Kong to see his newborn daughter, Joanne. On the return he flew Alaska Airline from Hong Kong on March 17, 1949. The flight also stopped at Tokyo and Vancouver.

In the 1950 census, “York Que Look” lived at 4222 East 42nd Street in Seattle. He was partner at a laundry.

Luke’s wife and daughter flew Northwest Airlines to the United States on November 26, 1951.

The 1954 Seattle city directory listed Luke at 5014 1/2 University Way. He was employed at Century Laundry. The 1960 directory had the same address. He worked at Ding Ho Laundry & Cleaners.

On September 13, 1961 Luke’s wife became a naturalized citizen. Their address was 4222 University Way, N.E. in Seattle. They had four children: Joanne K., Fay K., Robin Q., and Dale Q.

The Seattle Times, September 15, 2005, reported the reunion of the 14th Air Service Group and 987th Signal Company in Seattle. There were two photographs of Luke with Chong Wong. Luke and his wife, Arlene, had four children, eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Luke’s obituary appeared in the Seattle Times, November 5, 2014.

York Que Luke passed peacefully on October 30, 2014, a few weeks after his 91st birthday. He was born on October 6, 1923 in Linshan Village, Toishan District, Kwangtung Province, China. In April 1935, at the age of 12, he came to Seattle with his father.

York was a WWII veteran. He served in the China-Burma-India theatre as a member of the U.S. Army 14th Air Service Group, 407th Air Service Squadron supporting the famous Flying Tigers. At the end of the war, having served 2 1/2 years, he was honorably discharged in December 1945 and returned to Seattle to work with his father in the family laundry business.

While visiting family in China with his father in 1947, York met his future wife, Arlene. They were married in a ceremony at the American Consulate in Canton, Kwangtung, China on June 20, 1947. York returned to Seattle in 1949. His wife and daughter joined him in Seattle in 1951. Over the years, York and Arlene raised four children.

York started Ding Ho Laundry and Cleaners on First Hill near Harborview Hospital on April 1, 1956. With his wife beside him, they built the business to become one of the city's best known laundries and a clientele of Who’s Who of Seattle.

After 35 years, in December 1991, York sold Ding Ho Laundry and Cleaners and retired with the new year. During their retirement, York and Arlene enjoyed time with family and friends, and traveling and cruising in the United States, Canada, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

York is survived by his loving wife, Arlene, four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 8, at 11:00 am at Bonney-Watson Capitol Hill, 1732 Broadway, Seattle, WA; interment at Lake View Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made in York’s name to Kin On Health Center or the American Red Cross.

Luke was laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery.

CHARLIE C. LUM

Charlie Coral Lum, Jr. was born on July 10, 1924 in Elaine, Arkansas according to his World War II draft card.

The 1930 United States census counted Lum as the second of five siblings. Their parents were Charlie, a grocery store merchant, and Bertha. Lum’s father was born in China; his mother and older sister were Mississippi natives. The family lived in Elaine, Arkansas on Mill Street.

In the 1940 census, the Lum household increased with the addition of another child and an uncle. They resided in West Memphis, Arkansas at 418 Wroodway. Lum finished his first year of high school.

On December 15, 1942 Lum signed his draft card. He worked for his father. His description was five feet six-and-a-half inches, 165 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

At Little Rock, Arkansas Lum enlisted on May 13, 1943.

Lum was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Lum and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Charlie C. Lum, Jr…..West Memphis, Arkansas

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 2, December 31, 1943, said

Basketball Game.
Playing their 5th game this season, the 407th casaba team met the 912th Engrs Squadron Thursday in the field gymnasium. Considered the number one basketball tossers in Patterson Fld, the 912th defeated the 407th aggregation by a score of 40-21.

So far, in all the games played, the 407th team, managed by Sgt Woody Chan, has met up with keen and stiff competition, and this last game was no exception. In the 5th game just played the starting line-up consisted of Sgt William “Murphy” Quan (captain), Pfc Albert Fong, Pvt Ben Louie, Pvt Henry Wong (13), and Pvt Edward Chew. Other players include Cpl Wing H. Fong, Pfc John S. Leong, Pfc Howard Quan, Pvt Peter Gee, Pvt Edwin Chu, Sgt Woodrow Chan, Cpl Thomas Lee, Cpl Samuel Yee, Sgt Charles Lum, and Pfc Howard Loo.

Gung Ho, No. 3, January 7, 1944, said

…..Sgt Charles Lum admits he has attended “Doc” Lau’s first aid lectures four times already, but still doesn’t know how many kinds of fractures there are, by gosh….incidently [sic] Charlie is the only man in the outfit who talks with a southern twang, and no kidding…no wonder, ’cause he comes from West Memphis, deep in the hill-billy state of Arkansaw [sic]….yassuh….and boys, don’t kid yourself into thinking Charlie doesn’t understand Chinese…he may not be able to speak much, but he sho’ can listen!…..

Gung Ho, No. 5, January 21, 1944, said

…There were even a few young Chinese women at the affair…and they are a rarity in these here parts…Aurora [?]ay was the unusual name of one them…she hailed from Cuba, that’s why….there were Mrs. Daisy Moy, Mrs. Ida Wong, and Miss Bo-jun Wong…and don’t think the boys didn’t appreciate their presence….ask Sgt Charlie Lum for details…yeah, just ask…

After the war Lum returned to Arkansas.

A passenger list said Lum departed the United States, bound for China, on May 23, 1947. Evidently he was looking for a war bride. Lum was aboard the motor ship Castleville when it departed Hong Kong on October 17, 1947. He arrived at Los Angeles, California on November 5, 1947. His address was 409 Broadway Street in West Memphis, Arkansas.

In the 1950 census Lum, his wife, Gloria, a China native, and one-year-old daughter, Carolyn, were West Memphis residents at 223 South Worthington. Lum was the proprietor of a grocery store.

On March 25, 1963 Lum married Wakako Cunningham. The marriage certificate said she was born in Japan and a resident of Memphis, Tennessee. During the war she may have been sent to one of the two concentration camps in Arkansas. This was the second marriage for both.

Lum passed away on July 1, 1989. His obituary appeared in the Commercial Appeal, July 5, 1989.

Charlie C. Lum, 64, of Marion, Ark., owner of the Broadway Luncheon in West Memphis and a retired U.S. Postal Service employee, died Saturday morning at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis following a stroke. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memphis Funeral Home Union Chapel with burial in Crittenden Memorial Park in Marion. He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran and a member of Marion Church of the Nazarene, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He leaves his wife, Niimi Lum; five daughters, Miss Wendy Lum and Miss Tina Lum, north of Marion, Miss Karen Lum of Chapel Hill, N.C., Mrs. Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles and Ms. Jeane Lum of Oakland, Calif., two stepdaughters, Mrs. Linda Strickland and Mrs. Kathy Jenkins of Memphis, a stepson, John Cunningham of West Memphis; to sisters, Mrs. Pansy Wing of Los Angeles and Mrs. Frances Quan of Monterey Park, Calif., two brothers, Edwin Lum of Los Angeles and Albert Lum of Pacific Palisades, Calif., and seven grandchildren.

Lum was laid to rest at Crittenden Memorial Park.

TON G. LUM

Ton Goon Lum was born on June 23, 1921 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. A passenger list said his birthplace was “Faryuen, Kwangtung, China”. His naturalization petition said “Lok Chung, Ping Shan, Kwantung, China” was the true birthplace.

Thirteen-year-old “Goon Tan Lum” was aboard the steam ship President Hoover when it departed Hong Kong on October 6, 1934. His mother, Leung Suey Ping, provided an affidavit for his entry. The passenger list said he had stayed with his brother, Lum Kwan Poon, at “Look Cheung, Faryuen, Kwangtung, China”. Lum arrived at San Francisco, California on October 24, 1934 and admitted on February 13, 1935. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 34517/011-02. Lum’s final destination was to his father, Yee Leon Lum, at 101 NW 3rd Street in Portland, Oregon.

Lum had not been found in the 1940 United States census.

On February 15, 1942 Lum signed his draft card. His address was 45 West Worth in Stockton, California. Lum’s description was five feet five inches, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Lum enlisted on May 8, 1942.

Lum was on page 73 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed L and his hometown in 1945 on page 216.

Ton G. Lum…..Portland, Oregon

In the book he appeared in photographs on pages 45 and 53. Lum was mentioned on pages 46 and 47.

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 1, December 25, 1943, said

EM’s Return from Detached Service
After a two weeks’ special course in the air service dept at Orlando, Fla., 9 EM’s returned to the 407th this week. The group consisted of T/Sgt Floyd Sam, S/Sgts Henry Wong, James Yee, Ton G. Lum and George Wong, Sgts Donald Y. Louie and Hing B. Lo, Pfcs Koonwah Lim and George M. Shue.

Sgt Louie reported that the Flordia [sic] sunshine gave him a good tan. But Pfc Shue, contrariwise, caught a cold instead.

T/Sgt Sam gave out that several of the boys, namely Lum, Louie, Lo and Lim, had occasion to visit Cypress Garden down yonder. It so happens that this place is our C.O.’s hometown, and the boys seriously thought of invading the latter’s home. But in a case of cold feet caught them and the idea was abandoned.

The boys also visited the movie set where the “Tarzan” pictures are made—and found out how Johnny Weismuller could climb those jungle trees so fast. No, they feel they can climb them just as dextrously [sic].

One of the highlights of the EM’s returning trip was the real Chinese meal they had in Jacksonville. Said Floyd: “We had sea-weed soup, Chinese style chicken, beef and tomatoes, bean cakes, etc. Boy, did we eat!

Gung Ho, No. 2, December 31, 1943, said

Come Out Soon, Fellers!
As 1943 draws to a close and 1944 comes over the horizon, a small number of our personnel are confined at the station hospital for various sicknesses. They include Sgt Sack Wan, S/Sgt Norman Lerenman (attached), Cpl H.L. Hachett (attached), Pvts Herbert J. Lee, Jan W. Wong, Harry Gin, S/Sgt Ton Lum and Cpl Benson K. Lee.

To these buddies goes our greetings for the New Year, and hearty wishes for their early recovery.

Gung Ho, No. 9, February 18, 1944, said

….S/Sgt Tom G. Lum ran into difficulty when he attempted to instruct some interested GI’s on the art of making a helmet netting….seems most of the guys couldn’t get it started....but once started, couldn’t find a satisfactory solution on how to end it...resulting in most of the finished setting being big enuf for hammocks.....

Gung Ho, No. 11, March 3, 1944, said

....On the musical front: S/Sgt Henry Leung and Ton G Lum run neck and neck in their daily race to the mandolin....both are lovers of the old Chinese classics....but since Henry Leung always seems to get to the instrument first, Ton G Lum has to be satisfied with vocalizations only....And Cpl William Hoy has a tough time getting the mandolin away from them long enough for band practice....

Gung Ho, No. 12, March 10, 1944, said

…..Oh, oh, what a shiner S/Sgt Grey K. Toy collected t’other day!….a present from S/Sgt Ton G. Lum, incidentally….the two were in a camouflage class and accidentally Lum hit Toy, with a tree branch….and forgot to ask, till afterwards: “Did I hurt you?”..

Lum was discharged on November 26, 1945. Lum is on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Recognition Project.

Lum enrolled in the College of Agriculture of the University of California at Davis. The school newspaper, California Aggie, December 19, 1946, said Lum participated in a boxing match. The result was published in the January 16, 1947 issue.

The 1950 census counted Lum in Black, California on “Road 14 east to 96”. He was doing farm work. The census sheet included Donald S. Fong, one line above Lum, who operated a farm.

Lum graduated in 1950. He studied agronomy and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was listed in the June commencement program.

El Rodeo yearbook

Lum married Margaret Chan at Sacramento, California on November 23, 1958.

Lum was listed in the Spreckels Sugar Beet Bulletin 1960.

On July 7, 1970 Lum became a naturalized citizen. He changed his name from Ton Goon Kong to Ton Goon Lum. His address was 275 South Eighth Street in Dixon, California. At the time he had two children.

Lum passed away on February 25, 1996 in Dixon, California. His obituary appeared in the Sacramento Bee, February 28, 1996.

China-born Ton Goon Lum became U.S. war hero, respected farmer
Ton Goon Lum, a native of China who later became a U.S. war hero and Solano County farmer so skillful that he served as mentor for aspiring growers, died Sunday at his Dixon residence. He was 74. In recent years, he had suffered from a [missing text] Ton Goon Lum family members said.

Mr. Lum was the first farmer in California to grow sunflowers for hybrid seed production. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, he served as a director of the Sacramento Valley Farm Credit Association and of the Ulatis Resource Conservation District, an agency that oversees draining, irrigation and weed control near Elmira and Vacaville. At one time, in partnership with Del Young as Lum Young Farms, he leased 4,000 acres in the Elmira-Vacaville area, raising tomatoes, corn, wheat, bell peppers, popcorn and sugar beets.

Born in Canton, Mr. Lum came to the United States when he was 13. He graduated from Stockton High School, joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and served in the China Theater as an aircraft mechanic. It was in China that he was decorated for heroism after risking his life by pulling troops from a burning transport plane that had crashed on takeoff Dec. 21, 1944. Awarded the Soldier’s Medal for his action, he was cited for “gallant selflessness.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from UC Davis, he launched his Solano County farming career, an endeavor that lasted 34 years. He retired in 1986. Mr. Lum was known for his role as mentor to numerous UC Davis graduates, including Rich Collins, now owner of the nation’s only Belgian endive farm in Rio Vista, and Craig McNamara, who raises tomatoes and walnuts in Winters.

“He’s the one who taught me how to get Mother Nature to cooperate,” Collins said. “He subleased me five acres so I could get started and he even loaned me his equipment.” McNamara, reared in big cities, said he knew virtually nothing about farming before arriving at UC Davis as a plant and soil science major in the early 1970s. “I was extremely fortunate he took me under his wing,” McNamara recalled Tuesday. “He was caring, nurturing, trusting. And he had this tremendous grace and patience, even when I made unfortunate mistakes like putting gasoline into a diesel tractor’s fuel tank. I never saw Ton ruffled.”

Mr. Lum’s survivors include his wife, the former Margaret Chan, whom he married 37 years ago in Sacramento; sons, Paul L. Lum of Vacaville and Thomas G. Lum of Goleta; a brother, Richard Lum of Davis; sisters, Anna Whitman and Marilyn Lum, both of Portland, and four grandchildren.