The 407th Air Service Squadron of World War II: GROUP 29: YEP

GUEY S. YEP

Guey Sun Yep aka Guy Yep was born on August 8, 1923 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. Passenger lists said his birthplace was “Toishan, China”.

Eleven-year-old “Guey Sun Yip” was aboard the steam ship Empress of Asia when it departed Hong Kong on August 10, 1934. The passenger list said he had been with his mother, Wong Shee, at “Tung On, Toi Shan, China”. Yee arrived at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on August 31, 1934. He transferred to the ship Princess Marguerite which took him to Seattle, Washington. His final destination was to his father, Yip Kee Yick, in Hibbing, Minnesota.

Starting December 16, 1939 Yep traveled to China. “Sun Guey Yip” was aboard the steam ship President Pierce when it departed Hong Kong on October 29, 1940. In China he stayed with his mother. He arrived at Los Angeles, California on November 26, 1940. Yee’s Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 14036/1971A. His final destination was Hibbing, Minnesota.

On June 30, 1942 Yep signed his draft card. His Hibbing address was 1924 4th Avenue East. He was self-employed. Yee’s description was five feet five inches, 115 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Yee’s obituary said he was drafted on May 25, 1943.

Yep was on page 74 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Yee and his hometown in 1945 on page 218.

Guey S. Yep (Guy Yep)…..Hibbing, Minnesota

In the book he was mentioned on pages 46 and 47.

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 10, February 25, 1944, said

….Pvt Guey S. Yep and Cpl Arthur T. Wong sure got a couple of real hotfoots t’other day….did they hurt?…Would four lighted matches in your soles hurt?…they had to go on sick call the next morn!……..

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

.....Some Dee-troitism:... Other first-times were S/Sgt Yang F. [sic] Lee and Pvt Guey S. Yep....

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

….Almost half of the male customers at the Dayton Skateland t’other not-so-blue Monday were 407th EM...yassuh....’twas free nite for servicemen for one thing....and there were plenty of gals for another thing....Some fancy skaters we’ve got, tho....Pvt Guey S Yep, who could roll backward or forward or cut figure 8’s with the greatest of ease....or free-and-easy rollers like Sgt Mon K Fong and Pvt Kay W Chin....or a model of nonchalance like S/Sgt Hong S Wee, who does it with both hands in his pockets....Pfc Chong A Fong [sic] chose the backward steps....while just a mere tyro was Pvt William Wong, who stayed on the outer circle most of the time....it’s safer anyhow....

After the war Yep moved to Texas. Yee is on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Recognition Project.

In China Yep married Mae Fong Lam at the Peking Union Church on October 3, 1946. She was aboard the ship Admiral C.F. Hughes when it departed Shanghai on March 11, 1947. Lam arrived at San Francisco, California on April 1, 1947. Her final destination was Wichita Falls, Texas. (Lam traveled with Fong Tuey Chan who married Nem S. Yung, of the 407th, on August 28, 1946.)

The 1950 census counted, “Guy Yep”, his wife and two-year-old son, Guy, at 1717 Ninth Street in Wichita Falls. Yep owned a restaurant.

The 1954 Houston, Texas city directory listed Yep at 333 Irvington Court.

Yep’s wife was naturalized on November 9, 1959. Their address was 242 Victoria Drive in Houston. They had four children: Harding Guy, Calvin, Lily Mae and Judy.

Yep passed away on October 20, 2019. His obituary was posted at Joseph J. Earthman Generations.

Guy Sun Yep was born on August 8, 1923. He lived in Hibbing, Minnesota, as a child until he was drafted into the military on May 25, 1943. After his basic training in Springfield, Illinois, he went overseas in 1944, to North Africa and then to India by boat. He was assigned to the 14th Air Service Group of the Flying Tigers. The 14th Air Service Group was activated in November 1942, to support the Army Air Force Flying Tiger’s aerial operations in China. As administrators, mechanics, engineers and electricians, the Chinese American soldiers contributed mightily to Allied success by maintaining aerial operations from airfields across unoccupied China. Guy was stationed at several different locations in China.

Guy received a Bronze Star for his heroic actions while stationed in Sian, China. On December 21, 1944, he witnessed a U.S. Army transport plane with Chinese national soldiers, military equipment, and their ammunition on board crash just after takeoff. The plane exploded and was in flames. The ammunition was exploding when he and two fellow soldiers rescued five of the soldiers from the crash.

While in China, Guy met his wife Mae Fong Lim. They were married on October 3, 1946. After being discharged from the military, he and his wife moved around the United States and settled in Houston, Texas. Guy held various jobs before he opened Houston’s first Chinese import and export store. The Oriental Import and Export Company was located on Polk in the Historical Chinatown.

Guy is preceded in death by his wife, Mae Fong Yep, and daughter, Gloria June Yep. He is survived by his children: Harding, Calvin, Lily, and Judy. His grandchildren: Harding P. Yep, Jewelry D. Yep, Ahnika Mar, Ryan Yep, Tiffany Yep, Andrew Chang, and Zoe Chang. His great grandchildren: Jordan Yep and Hayden Yep.

The family will gather for a private burial service at Houston National Cemetery where Guy will be laid to rest.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in the name of Guy Sun Yep to a most deserving charity.

CHIN F. YING

Chin Foon Ying was born on November 1, 1910 in Sunning, China according to his World War II draft card.

Eighteen-year-old “Ying Foon Chin” was aboard the steam ship President Taft when it departed Hong Kong on May 14, 1929. The passenger list said he had been with his wife, Lee Shee, at “Kao Ling, Sunning, Kwangtung, China”. Yee arrived at Seattle, Washington on June 3, 1929 and admitted upon arrival. His Chinese Exclusion Act Case file number was 30/3883. Yee’s final destination was to Ng Chuck Son, a friend, at 34 Pell Street in New York Chinatown.

Ying has not been found in the 1940 United Staes census.

On October 16, 1940 Ying signed his draft card. His address was 34 Mott Street in New York Chinatown. He was described as five feet six inches, 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Ying enlisted on July 9, 1942.

Ying was on page 74 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Ying and his hometown in 1945 on page 218.

Chin F. Ying…..New York, New York

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

...Talk about happy smiling faces, you should see the countenances of those lucky boys who returned this week from furlough...How about that, Sgts Andrew Lee, Wm Quan, Cpls Fong Lee, Wilfred Eng, Tonley Ju, Mon K. Fong, Benson Lee, Pfc’s Din Lew, Homer Eng, Roland Gee, Howe Jay, Chin Ying, Pvts John J. Lee and Henry Wong (30)?.........

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

Squadron Party Huge Success.
One more squadron party was held last Tuesday in the spacious clubrooms of the Loretto Club in Dayton. Consisting of a Chinese dinner and dance, it was arranged and prepared in a matter of 48 hours. Yet it turned out to be the best party so far given by the 407th. This was the consensus of opinion of both the EM’s and their guests.

Some 350 persons, including 150 guests, enjoyed themselves on the specially prepared 5-course Chinese dinner, which, incidentally, was cooked in our own mess and rushed by truck into town. To many of the guests the men of the 407th were the first Chinese-Americans they had ever met and talked with. Thus the development of Sino-American friendship also became an element of this party, though few were actually aware of it.

… The five-course dinner consisted of Siu Choy soup, ham fried rice[,] egg fooyong, Chinese fried chicken[,] almond and forturn [sic] cookies. It was whipped up in a matter of hours by available culinary experts of the 407th, Cpls Chung Quan and George Soo Hoo, Sgt. Joe Louis, Pfc’s Sew H. Chan, Gin Wong, Pong L. Wong and Chin F. Ying.

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

....and Cpl Chin F Ying is very fond of Mary....so much for romance.....

The World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, at Ancestry.com, said Ying was treated for dermatitis venenata in September 1945. He was discharged from the hospital in October.

Ying was aboard the USS General W.F. Hase when it departed Calcutta, India on November 29, 1945. He arrived at New York on December 28, 1945 and discharged in early January 1946. There is a “Ying F. Chin (aka Foon Ying Chin)” on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Recognition Project.

The 1950 census counted “Chin Ying Foon” in New York City at 43 Henry Street. He was a presser at a laundry.

Additional information about Ying has not been found.

YEE T. YOOK

Yee Ting Yook was born on November 18, 1924 in China according to his World War II draft card. A passenger list said his birthplace was “Hoiping, China”. Yee was his surname.

Eleven-year-old “Ting Yook Yee” and his older brother, Wong Ting Yee, 32, were aboard the steam ship Ixion when it departed Hong Kong on December 12, 1935. The passenger list said they had stayed with Po On Wo at 225 Queen’s Road in Central, Hong Kong. The brothers arrived at Seattle, Washington on January 10, 1936. His brother was admitted that day. After an investigation Yook joined him on January 20, 1936. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 7030/8301. Their final destination was to Wong On, a friend, at 701 King Street in Seattle.

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

On December 31, 1942 Yook signed his draft card. His address was 13 Berwick Street in Melrose, Massachusetts. He was employed by his brother. Yook’s description was five feet five inches, 118 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Yook enlisted at Boston on May 13, 1943.

Yook was on page 74 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Yook and his hometown in 1945 on page 218.

Yee T. Yook…..Hartford, Connecticut

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

The squadron’s publication, 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. 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 Yook returned to Massachusetts.

In 1948 Yook traveled to China where he married Chun Suey Seto. The couple was aboard the ship General William H. Gordon when it departed Hong Kong on August 1, 1948. They arrived as San Francisco, California on August 19, 1948. Yook’s address was 472 Main Street at Malden, Massachusetts.

Yook has not been found in the 1950 census.

In the 1990s Yook resided in Everett, Massachusetts at 38 Walnut Street.

Addition information about Yook has not been found.

JUE S. YUEN

Jue Sam Yuen aka Sam Yuen Jue was born on July 20, 1922 at “Kwongtung, China” according to his World War II draft card. His naturalization petition had the birth information March 14, 1919 and “Sek Kong Lee, Won Sek, Hoiping, [Kwangtung,] China”. He will be referred to as Jue.

Seventeen-year-old Jue, his father, Lok Yut Jue, mother, Yuk Sim Kwan, and brother, Wai King Jue, were aboard the steam ship President McKinley when it departed Hong Kong on September 26, 1936. They stayed with Jue’s paternal grandfather, Chun Ngow Jue, at “San Boi Lee, Hoiping, China”. The family arrived at Seattle, Washington on October 14, 1936. Jue’s father was admitted that day; the others joined him on October 26. Jue’s Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 7030/9117. Their final destination was the Jue Yut Company in Cary, Mississippi where Jue’s uncle, Oi Yut Jue, lived.

The 1940 United States census counted Jue, his parents, brother and two sisters in Cary, Mississippi. His father was a merchant at a retail merchandise store. The household included Jue’s uncle, wife and four children.

On June 30, 1942 Jue signed his World War II draft card. He was a resident of Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Jue’s description was five feet three inches, 110 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Jue enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on April 20, 1943.

Jue’s “first name”/surname was misspelled Jew in Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993 and on page 218 of In the Shadow of the Tiger which included his hometown in 1945.

Jew [sic] S. Yuen (Sammy Yuen Jew [sic])…..Rolling Fork, Mississippi

In the book Jue was in the squadron fold-out photograph between pages 54 and 55. Fighting for the Dream: Voices of Chinese American Veterans from World War II to Afghanistan (2014) has a chapter about him.

After the war Jue returned to Mississippi. Jue is on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Recognition Project which his children and grandchildren, Linda Jue, Richard Jue, Larry and Lucy Jue, Christina Jue and Max Ivester, are Supporting Members.

In August 1946 Jue married Susan Hong an Arkansas native who lived near Memphis, Tennessee.

On September 19, 1949, Jue and his wife departed aboard Pan American Airways, flight number Four/13, from Honolulu, Hawaii. They flew to San Francisco.

The 1950 census counted Jue, his wife, and two-year-old son, Larry, at Rolling Fork, Mississippi on China Street. He was a retail grocery store merchant and his wife a saleslady.

Jue filed his naturalization petition on October 25, 1967. His address was 206 East China Street in Rolling Fork. He was naturalized on May 27, 1968.

Jue was the subject of an August 2005 Associated Press article about the Chinese grocery stores of Mississippi.

In 2009 Jue and his wife attended the Flying Tigers reunion in Oakland, California. A photograph of the couple appeared the San Francisco Chronicle, October 2, 2009.

The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), June 5, 2010, said Jue was

... the first man who worked directly for Chennault to visit the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum ... https://chennaultmuseum.org

Jue passed away on November 23, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His obituary appeared in the Delta Democrat-Times.

Rolling Fork – Funeral services for Sam Yuen Jue, 92, of Rolling Fork will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at First Baptist Church Chapel, Greenville. He died November 23, 2011, at River Region Medical Center, Vicksburg. Burial will be in Greenville Chinese Cemetery, under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.

He was born in Guangdong, China moving to the United States in 1936, making his home in Rolling Fork. In 1946, he married Susan Hong Jue. He was a veteran of WWII serving with the Flying Tigers under the leadership of General Chennault.

After his discharge, he returned to Rolling Fork where he worked for Sam Sing Company which he later became owner and operator. He retired at the age of 70. He was a life member of the VFW and the American Legion and the (CACA) Chinese American Citizen Alliance.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Hong Jue of Rolling Fork; two sons, Larry Jue (Lucy) of Rolling Fork and Richard Jue of Rolling Fork; a daughter, Linda Jue of Yazoo City; granddaughter, Christina Jue of Rolling Fork; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Chapel, Greenville. Memorials may be made to the Chinese Mission at First Baptist Church, Greenville.

Jue was laid to rest at the Chinese Cemetery in Greenville, Mississippi.

WONG K. YUEY

Wong Kai Yuey aka Yuey Kai Wong was born on December 26, 1923 in Canton, China according to his World War II draft card. His naturalization petition had the birth information February 11, 1923, “Foo Shan Village, Hoy Sun District, China”.

Fifteen-year-old Yuey was aboard the steam ship President Coolidge when it departed Hong Kong on July 29, 1939. The passenger list said he had been with his mother, Mar Chee, at “Foo Shan, Toyshan, Kwangtung, China”. Yuey arrived at Los Angeles, California on August 21, 1939. After an investigation he was admitted on September 30, 1939. Yuey’s final destination was to his father, Cho Hong Wong, at 481 Gin Ling Way in Los Angeles Chinatown.

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

On June 30, 1942 Yuey signed his draft card. His Los Angeles address was 1605 West Pico Boulevard. He was a student at Belmont High School. Yuey’s description was five feet three inches, 110 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Yuey enlisted on April 13, 1943.

Yuey was on page 74 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Yuey and his hometown in 1945 on page 218.

Wong K. Yuey (Yuey K. Wong)…..Hollywood, California

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

A photograph of him was published in the East Liverpool Review (Ohio), February 22, 1944.

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 12, March 10, 1944, said

407th In The News.
This past week or so has seen men of the squadron making some front page news in at least two papers.

First, the Illinois State Journal (Springfield, Ill.) gave an entire page in its issue of February 28th to pictures of 407th EM at work. There were 8 photographs in the full-page spread and showed such EM as Koonwah Lim, Sing Y. Yee, Wilbert Chung, Woo Niy, Bot Wong, and Wong Yuey at work and training.

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

....Add monkey-shines in barracks #2: Sgt Joseph K Lee, Cpl Wellie Chinn [sic] and Pvt Wong K Yuey found themselves short-sheeted on going to bed....

The World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, at Ancestry.com, said Yuey was hospitalized due to dysentery in July 1944.

After the war Yuey married Mar Ngan Yee on August 10, 1946 at Shanghai. They traveled separately to the United States. Yuey’s wife was aboard the ship Fred C. Ainsworth when it departed Shanghai on September 26, 1946. She arrived at Seattle, Washington on October 19, 1946. Her final destination was to Yuey at 211 1/2 East 5th Street in Los Angeles.

The 1950 census counted Yuey, his wife, and sons, Jimmy and Tommy, at 854 East 24th Street in Los Angeles. He was clerk at a grocery store.

Yuey’s wife was naturalized on August 21, 1959. Their address was 3924 South Dalton Avenue in Los Angeles. They had a third son, Benny.

Eleven years later “Kai Yuey Wong” became a naturalized citizen on December 18, 1970. His Los Angeles address was 3759 Lockland Drive.

Yuey and others were honored at the “Salute to WWII China Veterans & Families” in Los Angeles, September 21, 2012.

Yuey passed away on August 3, 2013. He was laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park. Photographs of him are at Dignity Memorial and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.

NEM S. YUNG

Nem Sing Yung was a paper son whose World War II draft card had the birth information July 25, 1922, Canton, China. According to his naturalization petition, Yung’s real name was Goon Chung Ong which he changed to John Yung Ong. He was born on September 29, 1921 in “Toi Sun District, Kwantung, China”.

Teenaged “Nen Sing Yung” and his father, Jin Teung Yung, were aboard the steam ship Empress of Asia when it departed Hong Kong on February 23, 1938. The passenger list said they had been with his mother, Moy Shee, in Canton, China. Father and son arrived at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on March 12, 1938. They transferred to the ship Princess Charlotte which took them to Seattle, Washington on the same day. His father was admitted upon arrival. After an investigation Yung joined him on April 15, 1938. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file number was 7030/10821. Their final destination was Po Lung & Co. at 515 8th Avenue South in Seattle.

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

On June 30, 1942 “Yung Nem Sing” signed his draft card. His address was 102 Market Street in Newark, New Jersey. He was described as five feet eight inches, 118 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

On Yung’s naturalization petition said he began active duty on April 5, 1943.

Yung, misspelled Ying, was on page 74 of Chinese America: History and Perspectives 1993. In the Shadow of the Tiger listed Yung and his hometown in 1945 on page 218.

Nem S. Ying [sic] (John Ong)…..Corona, New York

The squadron’s publication, Gung Ho, No. 3, January 7, 1944, said

...Talk about details, here’s one that was thrown on the willing shoulders of 12 GI’s on New Years Day...Having used the Loreto Club for our New Year Eve spree the place had to be policed up...so on New Year’s morn Pvts Nem Young [sic], Pong Ng, Wilbert Chung, Pfc’s Goy Chin, Harry King, Cpls Park Chin, John Ung, Ray Fong, Chee O. Der, Stephen Ng, Tonley Ju & S/Sgt. York Kao wore duly selected for this detail...the place was thoroly [sic] GI’d under the direction of 4 members of the club, feminine gender..then the detail was tendered a dinner with the fund remaining from the party...as guests they had the foregoing four ladies.......how nice!

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

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

.....Sa-ay, several would-be GI Don Juans have been busy flipping the pages of a tome called “Modern Love Letters”....to improve their correspondence maybe.... Pfc Nem S. Yung owns the volume, but seldom gets to use it....which calls to mind the fact that the discussions aneut [sic] love and kisses in the “GUNG HO’S” Chinese section has veered off in another direction....which was to be expected becuz you can’t explain such a thing as Romance to some of our China-borns whose native language doesn’t even have the equivalent of such a word.... Is true, so help us.

While in China, Yung married Fong Tuey Chan on August 28, 1946 in “Peiping, China”. She was aboard the USS Admiral C.F. Hughes when it departed Shanghai on March 11, 1947. Chan had stayed with a friend, Mong Ming Chin, at “Toishan, China”. She arrived at San Francisco on April 1, 1947. Her final destination was to Joe K. Chin, an uncle, at 84 1st Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey. (Chan traveled with Mae Fong Lam who married Guey S. Yep, of the 407th, on October 9, 1946.) Yung’s naturalization petition said he returned aboard an Army ship at San Francisco in April 1947.

Yung was discharged on June 9, 1947. He, as John Yung Ong, is on the U.S. Army Air Forces Final Registered List of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Recognition Project.

In 1947 Yung moved to Houston, Texas. He has not been found in the 1950 census.

Yung’s wife was naturalized on November 9, 1959. Their Houston address was 1703 West Little York. They had three children: Robert, Timmie and Rose. Yung became naturalized citizen, John Yung Ong, on January 25, 1963. His Houston address was 11022 Chocolate Bayou. He was a grocer.

John Yung Ong passed away on November 27, 2013 according to Dignity Memorial.

John Yung Ong, 92, passed away surrounded by his loving family on November 27, 2013. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Chapel at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77079. The family will gather for a private interment.

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