Gung
Ho was mentioned on pages v, vi, vii, viii, 1, 15, 17, 33, 75, 76, 221
and 222 of In the Shadow of the Tiger. Available issues were
reproduced on pages 75 and from 77 to 205.
No. 6, January 28, 1944
Page 1
[cartoon]
A Firecracker for Hirohito or It Wong Be Leung Now
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editor, Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Pfc Elwin W. Ong, Pvt Woo K. Leung, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto.
Page 2
Squadron Participates in Springfield War Loan Parade.
A Fourth War Loan Drive parade was held in Springfield last Sunday. Participating in the parade were six flights from Patterson Field. One flight each came from the 478th Sq., the Air Service Command, the WAC, and 1st Radio Sq. The 407th was the only unit furnishing two flights.
Capt. E. F. Brown, executive officer of the 407th, was in charge of the flights from this field.
The flights from the 407th went to Springfield by trucks. The downtown district was jammed with spectators. As the men of the 407th marches, dressed in field jackets and with carbines or sub-machine guns slung over their shoulders, one onlooker in the crowd was heard to yell “King Hay Fat Choy!” It was an American who was familiar with the form of greeting for Chinese New Year.
The 407th flights were led by Lt H. J. Redding and WO T. A. Egnoski. This Fourth War Loan parade was the third one in recent months in which the men of the 407th have participated. The previous two were held in Sidney and Dayton.
******
******
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.
********
EM Return from DS.
Returned to the squadron this week was the eight EM who went to Columbus days ago to assist in the repair of a wrecked P-39. The job was completed on schedule.
While in Columbus the EM enjoyed themselves thoroughly after hours, being quartered in a hotel and eating plenty of a rice in a local Chinese restaurant. Pvt Louie Woon, in particular, almost waxed poetic over the arrangement. Wrote Woon: “The rooms we slept in were always
(Contd on P. 7)
Page 3
The Tale of a Pig’s Stomach & Other Celestial Victuals
There were six celebrants to begin with: Sgt Henry Lew, Cpl Hung-sheung Lee, Pfc’s Gwon J. Lee, Fong K. Eng, Fot Y. Moy, and Pvt Thomas W. Chan. I was the seventh and extra participant.
It was the eve of Chinese New Year and an occasion not to be lightly passed. What if we were four thousand lis from home, strangers in a strange land, and without the proper locale and ingredients for a celebration? The advent of the Year of the Monkey still had to be observed. So thought, Sgt Lew, late of San Francisco Chinatown, and so the others concurred. One must have wine to toast the new dawn, and at least a facsimile of a celestial banquet. Women and songs may be passed over, but viands for the inner man were truly essential.
The esteemable Mr Quan, chef at the Nanking chop suey nookery, was consulted[.] Immobile of feature and calm of demeanor, he viewed the culinary problem amidst a profusion of pots and pans and Chinese frying skillets. The Nanking catered to an American clientele, and only such foods as chop suey and chow mein were served—abominable vittles which the epicures properly hold in disdain. But how could one obtain the ingredients of a feast which would delight the palate of these brethren from afar? Some strategy was required, Mr. Quan observed. He knitted his brow in concentration. Sgt Lew was apprehensive.
The chef’s mettle was challenged, for he must fashion some tasty victuals from very simple ingredients, since the traditional foods were unavailable. Birds’ nest and shark’s fins were but a nostalgic memory here, and there were no condiments and herbs for the preparation of steamed ducks and chickens. And there was likewise no mellow rice wine. It was a culinary situation which called for cleverness and skill adaptation. The artist in Mr. Quan rose to the occasion, for was not every cook worthy of his calling an artist at heart?
So a passable dinner for six hungry celestial GI’s was promised. Sgt Lew departed to rally his five other celebrants together. The chef made this proviso—the dinner was not to be eaten till the Hour of the Serpent, at 9 PM., after the Nanking had closed its doors for the day. This was necessary to allow the chef time to do the cooking, and permit the diners to sample the dishes at their leisure and in a semblance of privacy.
At five, out of curiosity, I made a reconnaissance of the kitchen. All I saw were three pots, tightly covered, with food being steamed from Chinese iron-cast cooking pans. Dried bean curd was being steamed in one pot and dired [sic] oysters in anohter [sic], and both were later to be concocted into a soup. From the third pot came a faintly familiar and pleasant aroma.
“That,” the chef explained, “is a pig’s stomach. I was fortunate in
(Contd on P. 6)
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
….Chinese New Year gleanings….Cpl John Ung became the best liked GI in #3 Barracks…on account papa Ung sent him a whole crate of California oranges from Los Angeles…the crate was emptied in less time than you can say 407th….and Pvt Harry Lim wires all the way home to Oakland, Cal. for some mazumas to celebrate the New Year with…..
…Cpl Ray Fong must have celebrated all nite on New Year’s eve….at least he was so tired out the next day he was found sleeping in the Osborn USO….too tired even to walk the few more blocks into the field…....but far from tired was Sgt “professor” Hing B. Lo...he was tearing around downtown Dayton looking for, of all things, a razor...said he need another one...no, he didn’t find any..meanwhile M/Sgt Floyd Sam was having one weary time inside the field, also looking for something…his glasses….the nite before, in Dayton, Sam and 1st/Sgt Ed Chan looked for a hotel room…and found one as big as a dormitory, and with almost as many beds….it was so big they were almost scared to sleep……..
….New Year’s day found the smiling faces of Cpl Richard Chinn and Pvt Thew Moy adorning the front page of the Dayton Daily Herald….with a big writeup about how they were celebrating the occasion….fame for a day……..
….Two squadron EM having their birthday on the 28th are Cpl Harding Wong and Pfc Herbert J. Lee…..and the newest “tonette” tooting torturer is Cpl Henry Lee….he also has an ocarina, omigosh……..
….Pfc So Tak whizzed over to Windsor, Ontario (Canada) t’ohter [sic] weekend and was thoroly [sic] entertained by a couple of friends, Mr. & Mrs. Lee Wing Jum….he enjoyed himself so much for a whole day he almost didn’t get back into the good ole U.S.A. in time….There was a sort of pre-New Year party t’other day too at the Nanking…complete with principal speakers and toastmaster ’n everything…with Pfc Clavin [sic] “Sinatra” Huie exercising his synthetic molars and warbling a popular ditty….while Cpl David Chen, his 225 pounds flushed with the excitement of the occasion, shook the floor with his version of a hula….
….A Dayton drug-store salesgirl smiled upon Pvt Henry Wong (30)…..and the guy proceed to buy some candy kisses by the pound…She smiled twice, so he bought two pounds!….…on t’other hand Pfc Albert S. [sic] L. Fong’s dimples so flustered one gal she dropped an iron rod smack on his wrist…next thing he knew he was swathed in bandages…cause the rod was red hot….Pvt Chaw K. Ching hurt his wrist, too, on a certain nite...but that his own fault, tho, for paying too much attention to the feminine skaters at the roller rink and forgetting his balance......he should be smart like Pfc Glenn Chin [sic], who also fell down at the rink...but into the arms of not one but two femme skaters....such transparent strategy....
....After only one weak beer at the PX Pfc Wilbur [sic] Wong stumbled up to the counter, threw down a dime, and asked for a package of “tomato chips”....meaning potato chips, of course....tsk, tsk...and who are those hopeful GI’s who’s been writing to Cpl John Ung’s sisters—and haven’t got any encouraging replies yet?...
Page 5
CHOP SUEY
….If you ask us Capt. “Doc” Lau’s cough medicine really works…on account the pink liquid taste[s] so bad your throat rather quit coughing than have the vile stuff go down the hatch….and Cpl Wing O. Wong sure got unpopular t’other day with several of the top-ranking non-coms….why?….
....How come Sgt Andy Kan doesn’t get more religious pamphlets from that certain gal correspondent?...maybe she has given up the idea of reforming him?.....
….Sgt Hing B. Lo volunteered—yeah, actually—for KP Firday [sic] eve,…..on the promise he would get a weekend pass….he was happy till he was all finished….for then he found he was tagged as Sgt of the guard for next day…boy, was Lo low then….
….Talk about being rugged, Sgt Mon K. Fong was on CQ all nite the other nite….the next morning, without any sleep, he went on an all-day marching practice…and made it back to the field still on his feet….tho ready to sleep standing up….a hand to corpulent Cpl David Chen…for hiking twelve long miles and carrying his 225 pounds along without stopping….that’s endurance for you, any way you look at it…the O.D. cleaning bill was over $250 the day after the hike….the Ohio field and bus was not exactly kind to woolen….
….The men of the Flight Test section are haunting their T. O. room these days, ’specially Addy Goon and George Chow..but not to study the T. O.’s tho…the attraction is a sun-tanned little miss who works thar….and baritone Ray K. Fong represented China in an international song and dance program given by the Jewish Welfare Board, USO, in Dayton last Sabbath day….but didn’t sing in Yiddish….
….Add favorite phrases: Cpl James W Chan: “I’ll kill ya!”…and Pfc Chor Y. Law: “Have you something to do?”..
….There seems to be some doubt as to which barracks the men of the 407th sleep and snore is the best one..with force loyalty, the barracks chief reach declares his to be the best, the cleanest, and warmest, and with the best occupants…however, as far as pin-up gals are concerned, Bks #3 definitely has an edge over the other…photos of glamorous gams and bee--oo-tiful faces adorn the walls, clipped from Yank, Esquire, and the other mags of the day….the boys seem to have the same taste for Petty and Vargas models that other GI’s have….which should prove something or other….
….Cpl Eugene MonGoy is head man with a certain “Rose” in Detroit….Is so?….on the other hand, Pvt Sang Chan reportedly has the femme situation in Detroit monopolized….does it include Rose?……
….Other GI’s may be good apple-polishers, but Pfc Kwack J. Fong prefers to be an A-1 shoe polisher instead….his shoes are always so shiny they look like they are shellacked….now S/Sgt Lawrence Fong is keeping his duds in a glossy finish….just to contradict our report t’other week in this column…..oh well….
….Is Cpl Richard Gee still taking jitterbug lessons from Sgt Andy Kan…
See you later!
* * * * * * * * *
Page 6
The Tale of a Pig’s Stomach etc., (continued from Page 3)
getting a good one today, fresh and full of gastric juice.”
Pig’s stomach! (chu tu) A food as common as salt, yet, properly prepared, an epicure’s delight. Properly steamed en casserole with soup and condiments, the resultant meat fulfilled the Chiness [sic] gourmand’s three tests of a food’s virtue: taste, tenderness and crispiness.
The honorable Quan was speaking again: “I shall blend the pig’s stomach later with the bean curd and oysters. Then will be added water-chestnuts, slices of abalone, and fresh pork for additional taste. A dash of dried peppers will give the soup a special tang. It’s all a matter of blending the ingredients.”
At 8 o’clock the celebrants had arrived, adequately equipped with alcoholic liquid to do the occasion justice. With commendable patience they sat and waited. A bottle was uncorked. Talk of old times and other Chinese New Years filled the little restaurant.
And at the Hour of the Serpent the viands were brought forth, all steaming hot. All except the plate of boiled chicken, which must be cold and must be flavored with freshly prepared mustard and soy sauce. The skin of the chicken had the proper degree of yellow hue, signifying it was cooked just right, and the meat was snow-white.
There was a dish of fried prawns, large shrimps cooked in catsup in their shells until they took on the color of ripe tomatoes. Each prawn reposed on the plate in the shape of a red crescent moon.
There was barbecued spareribs—chopped into cubes and fried in deep fat and then poured over with gravy compounded of many condiments. Shredded green onions over the top gave the dish a touch of vivid color.
Then there were small shrimps finely diced and fried with several varieties of vegetables. It was a dish notable for its crunching crispiness and its colors of pink and green and brown.
There was a plate of crispy siu choy, the vegetable-that-looks-like-dragon-teeth. It wasn’t fried, as was the usual custom, but broiled to a crisp brown, them lightly fried with a portion of the pig’s stomach that was not used for soup. Siu Choy and chu tu—an unbeatable combination for crispiness and taste!
All these and wine too. Pvt Chan rose and toasted the gathering. The viands gradually vanished, though the soup bowls were replenished more then [sic] once. Pfc Moy, his moon-face now rosy, likewise proposed a toast. The wine bottle emptied.
When the Hour of the Rat was in its half-way mark, which is midnight, the good was all consumed. It was then that chef Quan came out form his kitchen nook. His eyes swept the empty dishes on the table, and his head nodded in satisfaction. Respectfully, the celebrants rose as one man and prevailed upon him to sip a toast to the coming year.
The Year of the Monkey was thus ushered in. The celebrants, though far from home, we're happy for the moment. The party was over.
....W. H.
*********
Page 7
EM Return from DS (Contd from P 2)
warm, unlike cold barracks when the orderly has neglected to feed coal to the furnace. We enjoyed the refreshing tub baths....The bed sheets were smooth and white...the mattresses soft...
“But the most pleasant times were when we dined at a Chinese restaurant, where the congenial manager took pains to serve us! For hours we would feast, occasionally loosening our belts. Boy, if we can work as much as we can eat!”
“After three days we mechanics[,] electricians, hydraulic and sheet metal men saw the fruits of our labor come to life when Lt Thomas took the P-39 up safely and flew away.
“We do keep ’em flying.”
******
Pfc Hing Ng Featured in ASC Publication
When the January 1944 issue of “Plane Facts,” publication of the Patterson field Air Service Command, came out this week, one EM in the 407th got a pleasant surprise.
The EM was Pfc Hing G. Ng, writing about the care and operation of an aircraft cannon, Lt C. E. Davidson featured Ng in a three page spread,. In six photos, Ng was shown cleaning, oiling and testing the weapon.
*****
Cpl Hoy Talks on China.
What postwar China will be like Wass the topic of a talk given this week by Cpl William J. Hoy tom embers of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church laymen’s league in Dayton. Cpl Hoy was one of three speakers on the program who discussed the future of China, Russia and Great Britian. [sic]
Mr. Samuel Aronoff, vice-president of Globe Industries in Dayton, discussed Russia, while Rev. Denis Smith talked on Great Britain. Cpl Hoy, discussing China, told of the progress already made in the development of modern China. The talks were followed by a questions and answers period.
*****
Re Squadron Fund & Insignia.
There is now over $150 in the squadron fund. The question is: what should be done with the money? That is, how should it be spent in order to derive the most benefit for the squadron from the sum? Lieut. Bowers, adjutant and custodian of the fund wants suggestions from the men. Should we buy more athletic equipment with it, or books, musical instruments—or what? Give us your ideas!
Also, more ideas for the squadron insignia are still needed, so let’s see some more pencils flying! Next week will be the deadline, and then a vote will be taken on the designs submitted. The one receiving the most number of votes will be the final choice for the unit insignia.
*********
“Gung Ho” Gets a Hand From Post Paper.
Last week Cpl James Helbert, Features Editor of the Patterson Field Postings, official camp publication, devoted several paragraphs in his column about the squadron paper. Wrote Cpl Herbert, in part:
“One of the squadron publications at this or any field is ‘Gung Ho’, weekly publication of the 407th Service Squadron, composed of men of Chinese descent…It’ (a)….job that sparkles with some of the best writing seen in a GI publication.”
The “Gung Ho” takes a bow.
GUNG HO
No. 7, February 4, 1944
Page 1
YOU CAN’T BE TOO SURE. BY CHINN
[cartoon]
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editor, Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto, Pfc Elwin W. Ong, and Pvt Woo K. Leung
Page 2
Promotions—Hurray!
A chorus of “Happy Days” resounded from many lungs this week as 50 EM, ranging from Privates to Staff Sergeants, were advanced in grade. The promotions were made effective Feb. 1st, although announcement of the fact was not made until a day later.
Advanced to Technical Sergeants were S/Sgt Andrew W. Lee and George Wong; while Sgt Grey K. Toy was promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Thirteen Corporals were advanced to Sergeant rating; 15 Privates First Class were made Corporals; and 19 Privates were advanced to the grade of Private First Class.
The Corporals who were made Sergeants included George M. Shue, Yee S. Lim, George M. Yee, Wing H. Fong, Benson K. Lee, George T. Gon, Fong Lee, Eugene W. Yee, Koonwah Lim, Sammy Chang, Kern Lee, Samuel S. [Yee] and Frank Chin.
Pfc’s who were made Cpls included Gwon J. Lee, Kim M. Wong, Foy [sic] Y. Moy, John J. Lee, Wong L. Jack, Jean H. Shing, Arthur T. Wong, Ying W. Chin, Gordon Wong, John B. Chuck, Woo H. Niy, Harry G. King, Gim W. Jeong, Billy Woo, and Wing Hom.
The following 19 Pvts were advanced to the grade of Private First Class: Ngow D. Yee, Thomas W. Chan, Chong A. Wong, York Q. Luke, Henry Wong (30), Soon H. Lee, Wilbur [sic] S. L. Chung, Louis G. Wong, Henry C. Hsiang, Hong J. Wong, Louie Woon, Wing J. Lee, Thew Moy, Hong Hom, Chaw K. Ching, Nem S. Yung, Suey W. Jue, Ben W. Louie, and Geung Chin.
To all these EM who were promoted—a hearty Gung Hay from Gung Ho!
*****
Casaba Quintet Plays 11th Game.
This week the squadron basketball team played the 11th game of the current Patterson Field intra-squadron series against the 9th Reporting Detachment. With both sides evenly matched, the 407th quintet came through with another victory. The score ended 36 to 22.
Murphy Quan again was the high scoring player, turning in 14 points, This hikes his total in the series to 105 points.
Starting lineup for this game included Henry Leong, Henry Wong (13), Albert Fong, Peter Gee, and Murphy Quan. At the beginning of the second half the starting lineup was totally replaced by John S. Leong, Howard C. Loo, Edwin Chu, Edward Chew, and David Fong. Throughout the game Wong and Leong exhibited good floor work.
*****
Cpl Ray Fong Keeps Singing.
This week the lone baritone of the 407th is fulfilling at least two singing engagement[s]. First will come the Methodist church in Dayton, to be followed by a program at the Presbyterian church at New Carlisle.
All of which makes Cpl Fong a pretty busy singing soldier.
******
WO and NCO Goes on DS.
This week another officer and another non-com left the squadron for a period of detached service. This trip will take them somewhere in the 9th Service Command area.
The officer was WO J. S. Wright, and the NCO, S/Sgt James Yee.
*****
The material prosperity of a nation does not consist in its material prosperity, but in righteousness……..Mencius.
*******
Page 3
CHOP SUEY
….Well, the Chinese New Year celebration was over this week….but not until about half a hundred GI’s had thrown themselves an “opening the year” shindig at the Chungking eatery in Dayton….Cpl Stephen Ng arranged the affair, and the boys got plenty of garlic fried chicken and steaks, plus thirst quenchers and orange pekoe tea….the Californians and the N’Yorkers vied with each other in drinking…with the Californians winning almost hands down…ze winning side had the advantage of sheer numbers….
S/Sgt Henry Leung and Pfc Goy A. Chin made noise a-plenty playing the ancient Chinese finger-guessing game (chi mui)…with Leung losing most of the time….we’re still wondering if he lost intentionally so that he could quench his thirst more adequately….could be…..
….Sgt Fong Lee, he of the scholarly demeanor, started the native New Year with a remarkable reversal of behavior….by taking up the dubious art of bowling. No kidding, boys….he actually stepped onto an alley and knocked down the pins right and left….to total 65 points…which isn’t bad at all for a tyro….
….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….
….Loudest and most rythmic [sic] snorer in barracks #3 seems to be none other then [sic] 1st/Sgt Chan….that’s the consensus of opinion after an audience had witnessed a demonstration t’other nite….unknown to the 1st/Sgt of course….“Terrific!” said the crowd.
….For politeness to the postal system you can’t beat Sgt Woody Chan..when he writes to his fiancee in the nation’s capitol he puts these words on the envelope: “Airmail—please”….on t’other hand Cpl Richard Gee sure managed to sabotage a duo of wolves who wanted to meet his date the other nite….ask Sgt Andy Kan and Cpl Bill Ng for the story….
….D’you know “Gung Ho” got a short write-up in Yank magazine for Feb. 11?….Is true, s’help us….
….Now for a few eyetems about the 7 EM who went on a little detached service last week to Greenfield, O. to dismantle a P-47….Led by T/Sgt Andy Lee, the men included S/Sgt Kim W. Jung, Sgts Koonwah Lim, Donald Poy[,] George Gon, Cpls Gwon J. Lee and Jean H. Shing….Report was the boys did not mind the cold weather at all….no sir, not while they were so well treated by the Greenfield folks….after knocking off work each day Sgt Poy had a tough time pleasing all the gals because so many of ’em liked his company….they took one look at his boyish-looking face and dubbed him “cutie,”…migosh…now those local belles all want to write to him….
….And for once Sgt Gon and Cpl Shing were glad to meet a couple of teachers….and maybe learn a few things…the latter were not only young but pretty too….the “pupils” were taken for a ride ’round the countryside….ah, such gor-gee-ous scenery!
….T/Sgt Lee and S/Sgt Jung didn’t exactly sit around their off duty hours either…oh no….Lee
(Contd on P. 4)
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
(Contd from P 3)
forgot to bring along his O.D. pants, but did that stop him from going out?…he went out—in Sgt Koonwah Lim’s trousers!….and stayed out till 8 ayem of a Sunday morn…tsk, tsk….Sgt Lim was the only one who ever got enough sleep…always in bed at 9 PM..and was the best snorer of the group outside of Cpl Gwon J. Lee…..But “we certainly appreciate the kindness of the people of Greenfield,” said all the boys afterwards….
Two Chinese civilians were visitors to the 407th last week...one was John S. Hwang, civilian personnel man for the 555th Service Squadron........the other was Jay W. Rapp of Chicago, who is Pfc Howe T. Jay’s papa....
....Cpl. Eugene Szeto is taking up Chinese in a big way....trying to learn both the spoken and written lingo....Like any guy from Brooklyn, he’s finding the going tough...when you find a half dozen words with the same sound but meaning six totally different things, that’s too much for a boy from Brooklyn....Thus far Szeto is averaging two characters a day....By the end of the duration he should know quite a handful of those ideographs....
....During the physical fitness test t’other dawning Cpl Homer Wong [sic] did a Superman in reverse....in the shuttle run race he was so-o slow the officer timing him almost started to count by minutes instead of seconds.......While Cpl Earl Jung was so fast his competitors looked like they were just walking...Pvt Yot G. Ing was the best all-around man...and proved it by logging a score of 189....the highest in the squadron
….A pretty instructress with auburn tresses is the reason Sgt Wing H Fong finds it hard to concentrate these days….while T/Sgt Andy Lee has his momentous moments with a gal named, of all things, “Muscles”…Ouch!….
….Altho Cpl Billy Woo isn’t what you’d call a newly wedded soldier, he’s still constantly extolling the virtues of marital bliss…he feels sorry for the boys who are bachelors..but we still ain’t convinced, see? Cpl Eugene Szeto, f’instance, is very anti-marriage….
….You’d think Cpl Bert Deng doesn’t like the army chow the way he rushed over to the PX for a snack right after KP duty t’other eve…Pfc Wilbert Chung goes over to the PX to buy chewing gum but he doesn’t chew the stuff…reason is the babe who sells the gums…ditto for Cpl Stanley Chinn and Sgt George Woong..only they don’t buy any gums atall..they just sit at a convenient table and just gaze at the girls behind the PX counters….
….Glimpses: Cpl Ray K. Fong gobbling his food at mess….Pfc Sew H. Chan asleep waiting for his turn at the PX barber shop….Sgt Tom Yee taking time off to clean his carbine..Cpl Paul C. Fong swerving around the corners in the recon car….Pfc So Tak repairing a buddy’s broken down watch….
….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.
Page 5
Spring….Or is it?
Don’t look now, but according to the Chinese calendar, February 5th will herald the approach of Spring. Li Chun, says the calendar, meaning spring begins. This is the time when the people of the Good Earth begins their spring planting, for in another fifteen days the Spring rains would begin to drench the soil.
Here in the Buckeye state the weather is still fairly cold. But the early morning air already has a tang to it, in contrast with the biting northwind of the past weeks. Snow still flies sporadically, but in some gardens the pussy willows are already pushing forth their buds—a sure sign of approaching Spring.
At this time one is reminded of the world of Lao-Tze, the great Chinese mystic, who said thousands of years before that men may strive and wars may come and go, but the four seasons go on forever in their appointed course.
Etc, Etc……
A number of EM have asked about the Army Institute correspondence courses, and have made request for application blanks. The Special Service Office has been contacted, but at the moment no application forms are available. However, the SSO has promised to obtain some as soon as possible, and when the forms come the squadron will be notified and those interested in taking courses may then fill their applications.
We have heard no suggestions regarding the use of our residual squadron fund yet. As was stated last week, there are over one hundred and fifty dollars in the fund at present, and Lt. Bowers, adjutant and custodian of the fund, wants to know what the men would like to do with the money. So how about jotting down your suggestions on paper and deposit them with us? It’s our dough men, so let’s see what’s best to be done with it.
[box]
SAYINGS of the SAGES
A gentleman blames himself while a common man blames others…Confucius.
Hits For GI Lips.
“My shindig Hour”—Latrine detail on the brass.
“As Time Goes By”—We’ll still have guard duty and KP tho’
“It Can’t Be Wrong”—Sick calls every day if you can get away with it
“When the Lights Go Out Again”—Okay!….Get Up!
“They Asked About You”—Yeah, they had bed check last night.
“My Ideal”—Storeroom man on KP.
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”—Missed Reveille—restricted again.
“Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”—At 5:45 AM to go back to sleep again.
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”—When cleaning out the ashes from the furnace.
Pfc Stanley W. Tom
*****
Page 6
SONGS SONGS SONGS
Army Air Corps Song
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun.
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At ’em boys, Give ’er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Nothing’ll stop the Army Air Corps!
(Chorus)
Here’s a toast to the host of those
who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow’s pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the Army Air Corps.
*****
Harbor Lights
I saw the harbor lights,
They only told me we were parting.
The same old harbor light.
That once brought you to me.
I watched the harbor lights,
How could I help if tears were starting?
Goodbye to tender ngihts [sic],
Beside the silv’ry sea.
I long to hold you near and kiss you just once more.
But you were on the ship and I was on the shore.
Now I know lonely nights,
For all the while my heart is whispering,
Some other harbor lights, will steal your love from me.
*****
Pack Up Your Troubles.
Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag.
And smile, smile, smile.
While you’ve a Lucifer to light your fag
Smile, Boys, that’s the style.
What’s the use of worrying?
It never was worth while,
So, pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag
And smile, smile, smile!
*****
There’s a Long, Long Trail.
There’s a long, long trail a-winding
Into the land of my dreams,
Where the nightingales are singing
And a white moon beams;
There’s a long, long night of waiting
Until my dreams all come true
Till the day when I’ll be going down
The long, long trail with you.
*****
Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.
Oh! how I hate to get up in the morning,
Oh! how I’d love to remain in bed;
For the hardest blow of all,
Is to hear the bugler call,
“You’ve got to get up, you’ve got to get up,
“You’ve got to get up this morning!
Some day I’m going to murder the bugler,
Some day they’re going to find him dead:
I’ll amputate his reveille
And step upon it heavily,
And spend the rest of my life in bed.
*****
GUNG HO
No. 8, February 11, 1944
Page 1
[cartoon]
YOU CAN’T BE TOO SURE BY CHINN
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editor, Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto, Pfc Elwin W. Ong, and Pvt Woo K. Leung
Page 2
A Round Dozen.
The 407th casaba quintet this week chalked up another victory in the Paterson Field intra-squadron basketball series.
Playing its 12th game against the 1st Plant Maintenance Squadron, our team came through with a score of 36 to 24, thus eliminating another opponent.
Murphy Quan continued sinking the goals, logging 19 points for this game. This brings his league totals now to 124 points and puts him among the top three players in this series. Albert Fong chalked up 9 points and brought his total score up to 68 points.
This game was marked throughout with plenty of floorwork and rough and tumble playing. At one point Harry Q. Wong, jumping up to retrieve the ball from under the basket, was clipped on the head by an opponent, and sent sprawling to the floor, completely K. O’d.
With about three more games in the series to be played off, the 407th has an even chance of getting up to the top five. It is now in six[th] place. As for individual high scoring, Murphy Quan has more than an even chance to be the top scoring man in the entire series. The ex-star player of the former crack Nom Wah basketball team in San Francisco is doing all right.
****
23 EM Receive Good Conduct Ribbons.
This week 23 men of the 407th were authorized to wear the Good Conduct Ribbons. According to Squadron Order No. 9, these EM were authorized to wear this ribbon for “having completed one year of continuous active Federal Military Service while the U. S. is at war and have displayed exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity….”
The ribbons were awarded to the following EM at the Retreat formation Thursday afternoon, the presentation being made by Capt. E.F. Brown[.]
T/Sgt Andrew W. Lee, S/Sgts York M. Kao, Hong S. Wee, Duey S. Leong, Sgts William P. Hsia, Yee S. Lim, Fong Lee, Louis Joe, Donald C. Poy.
Cpls Lee S. Ngew, Park C. Chin, Din Lew, Harding Wong, Soo J. Wong, Ying W. Chin, Hing W. Jee, William J. Hoy.
Pfc’s Shew W. Gee, Howe T. Jay, Robert H. Jung, Chung L. Quan, Howard C. Loo and Pvt Nuey G. Yee.
*****
Pfc Louie Woon Reports on Mechanics’ Party.
When enlisted men in the Army are advanced in non-commissioned grades, it is because the Commanding Officer has recognized their proficiency in their jobs, excellence in military discipline, and exhibition of leadership qualities. When these non-coms are on active duty, they naturally desire the fullest measure of cooperation from the soldiers they work with and supervise.
The non-coms of the mechanics’ unit of the engineering section have happily found that the mechanics have rendered them cheerful obedience, true loyalty, and efficient cooperation at all time. For being “on the ball” and as a token of appreciation, the mechanics were treated to a sumptuous dinner in a Springfield restaurant last Monday by the recent promoted non-coms of their section.
There were 23 EM present, and everyone ate, drank and made merry, from the lowly private to the master sergeant.
(Con’t on Page 4)
Page 3
…Cpl Chee O. Der returned from a pass to Washington D. C. and said he had a bad time of it….Reason: too many gals…SEZ he!…So sorry about our item on Pvt Henry Wong-30 and his candy kisses last week which got him into hot water with a certain Annie…..
…Musical notes: Pfc Glenn “Fuzz” Chin [sic] and his rendition of “Red River Valley” is driving the boys of the lower foyer of barracks 3 crazy….so, at times, does the warbling of Pfc Calvin Huie….for his is the simulated moaning of a dying moose…according to his best pals….
….Sgt Fulton Yee says he likes his gals and airplane props both at “Constant Speed”….Controllable pitch, too, Sgt?….
….And Pvt Henry S. Y. Wong finally found out why prop blades are painted yellow….after all these months…and who was that magnificent dope who spent a whole day looking for the “Exceptional Release” so he could lubricate it?…migosh….
….And why does Sgt George H. Lee turn green in the face whenever he’s offered a drink these cold days?….
….T’other nite Cpl Stephen Ng had a coughing spell after he climbed into his bunk….he reached for his bottle of cough medicine on a nearby ledge and took a good swallow of the liquid…in the dark…Lucky he did not gulp it down, for it was a bottle of good old iodine he had drunk out of…such things happen in the dark of nite….
….Everything-happens-to-me dept:..On a bright frosty morning Pvt Yot G. Ing drove a truck too near the front of the orderly room…and broke a few of the planks on the boardwalk…which he had to repair himself. Then, the same day, while taking a shower, he slipped and fell all over the wet concrete….with proper sound effects…no bones broken tho……..
….The exodus to Detroit and Chicago last week-end was something to see…Having heard so many tales about the attractions in Detroit from such story tellers as Sgt Andy Kan and Cpl Harry King, dyed in wool natives…and also from Cpl Eugene MonGoy, other EM wanted to see for themselves……Sgt George Woong and Cpl Homer Eng certainly did….
….As for Chicago, Sgt Mon K Fong arranged dates for a couple of close buddies…and then was left out on a limb himself!….such lack of foresight….
….Others gorged themselves on roast duck in Chicago’s Chinatown..even bringing some back all the way to Dayton to eat…to [sic] late most of them found out the Chinatown Hospitality Center was giving a Valentine party for Chinese servicemen…the week after….
….And was Cpl Harry King down-hearted when some pics he took at Detroit t’other weekend turned out to be perfect blanks…you see, there was supposed to be a pretty lass in the films somewhere….
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
....Pvt Wing S. Wong is doing okay with a gal named Jinx....so are S/Sgts York M. Kao and Hong S. Wee with their dancing lessons at ze Loretto...with such good and willing teachers as Mickey and Helen ’n a few other Lorrettoites....
....This Sunday afternoon the whole country will be hearing about the 407th....yessir....on account it will be described over the airways via a CBS national hookup....The program will emanate from inside the field and half a dozen or more EM will be interviewed....this will be an unusual program in more ways than one, if you know what we mean...Nearest radio stations with CBS outlets are WACY of Cincinnati and WBBM of Chicago....so tune in on some airborne “chop suey” items this Sunday at about 1:30 PM....
....Then, of course, there was the clip on the head Harry Q. Wong got when he played basketball t’other nite at the post gym....the opposing team was so rough two guys grabbed for Harry when he went after the casaba under the basket....he was knocked for a loop and went out....cold....
....Sa-ay, what’s this we hear about M/Sgt Floyd Sam having su-ch a good time after the mechanics’ party at Springfield?...notice we say after the party....
....Now that we’ve seen the pics for ourselves we can understand whys many GI’s wanted intros to Pfc Bot L. Wong’s twin sisters...yassuh......twins and cute too...and what’s more, they’re down in the deep south—down Georgia way....
....We thought the ancient Chinese custom of paying off one’s debts before the New Year was dead and gone....but some GI disproved it t’other day by sending some money to Cpl Eugene Szeto in repayment for an old debt...the funny part was that Szeto had practically forgotten about the whole thing.....
....One staff room in barrack 2 is known as Sloppy Joe’s....but that ain’t all....the three occupants therein, S/Sgt Kim W. Jung, S/Sgt Yang W. Lee, and Cpl Yew S. Jew, are known, respectively, as “Mugger,” “Tondelayo,” and “The Major”.....
Mechanics’ Party (Contd from P. 2
The chickens, spare ribs, shrimps, Chinese vegetable, Chinese sausages, etc. were enjoyed by all. Cigarettes and wine were distributed and poured liberally. Toasts were rendered frequently for the welfare of the 407th[,] the success of the war effort, members at the table, and also those whose presence were missed. The few who imbibed not wisely but too well were safely convoyed back to the field by their more sober comrades.
*****
*****
Page 5
MEN OF THE 407TH—
PFC SO TAK—SOLDIER OF TWO NATIONS
The time seems auspicious to speak of one Pfc So Tak. There is a soldier with distinctions. For one thing, he’s about the only 407th who speaks practically no English . His vocabulary is limited to about fifty words. And none of them, lest you jump to conclusion, are cuss words.
Pfc Tak is also the general watch repair man of the unit. With an ordinary tweezer, a nail file, and a thin wire, he’s able to doctor all faulty timepieces. He acquired this skill in one of Portugal’s far-flung Asistic [sic] colonies—Macao, a tiny peninsula off the South China coast.
Thirdly, Tak is also a culinary expert of no mean ability. He has an almost uncanny talent in concocting Chinese dishes out of ordinary vegetables and plain beef. Not to forget his specialty—barbecued chicken.
But Pfc Tak’s primary distinction lies in the fact that he’s one Chinese-American soldier with over 10 years of active service in the regular army and air force of the Chinese Republic. Between 1929–39 he was a soldier of China, serving in many provinces. Shanghai, Nanking, Canton, Kunming, Ichang, Hankow, Hangchow—China’s great cities, where the soldiers of Chiang Kai-shek had battled valiantly against the Japanese invaders. Pfc Tak had seen his share of the smoke and heat and death and massacre of battle. For two years he was in the infantry attached to the Chinese 1st Army. Then he transferred to the air force as a mechanic. He participated in 7 battles, and learned what it was to kill. In Kunming he was shot in the left leg by an enemy agent.
He saw and felt the insensate cruelty and barbarism of the Japanese military, for six members of of his family were massacred by them in the battle of Hongkong. These six included his wife. His mother escaped into unoccupied territory in Canton. A faded picture of his family, taken shortly before Hongkong was attacked, is all the memory he has of most of his family. Now, once in many moons, he hears from his 65-year old mother.
Let out of the Air Force after he was wounded, Tak returned to Canton. Then, in 1941, his elder brother in New York sent for him. He made his way down to Singapore, through the Malay states, and then all the way to Calcutta, India. Later, he found a berth as ordinary seaman abroad a British cargo ship heading for the United States.
He landed in New York on Christmas Eve, 1942, and saw his elder bother for the first time in years. Six days later he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was inducted on New Year’s eve. He became a charter member of the 407th when this unit was activated last July. Pfc Tak was in the army again. And soon now he will be a naturalized U. S. citizen.
W.H.
*******
(The foregoing story is also published concurrently in the Patterson Field Postings).
Page 6
My Girl
(Dedicated to our wives or sweethearts at Valentine time).
Her hair is black, her eyes are brown,
She looks so chic in her evening gown.
She dresses so nice, she makes me feel,
That she is perfect, and I.....a heel.
She comforts me, when I am sad,
She laughs with me, when I am glad.
She walks in elegance, so full of pride,
And when she talks, I always sigh.
When she is near, my heart is weak.
My tongue is tied, I cannot speak.
She is so perfect in every way,
I love her more, come day by day.
She’s so sweet, she’s sweeter than honey,
Yet little she cares for fame or money.
I feel like crying if she should cry,
If she should leave me, I would die.
She’s never jealous, she does not grumble.
She never quarrel ’cause she’s so humble.
I shudder when I meet her glance,
She looks like a model from beautiful France.
She is so slick, so neat and spry,
She’s like an angel from the sky.
She says she loves me—I wonder why,
There is no worse bum than I.
Pfc Stanley Tom
[Confucius portrait]
The Master said:
Learning without thought
Is labor lost; thought
without learning is
perilous.....Confucius
A Foggy Tale.
An ambitious Chinese once secured a long time lease on a tiny island off the California coast. He built himself a simple shack and raised garden truck. Because of the climate, which was generally damp, and because of the soil, and most of all because of the tenant’s industry, the venture prospered. Naturally, when a gentleman in uniform came along one day and suggested to him that he should vacate the property and turn it over to the government, the celestial protested. He wanted to know why Uncle Sam should covet his tiny possession. The visitor said:
“Well, you see, John, it’s like this: There’ a lot of fog along this coast and Uncle Sam wants to put up a lighthouse here for the benefit of ships. Savvy?”
The Chinese shook his head.
“No good,” he said. “Lighthouse no good for fog.”
“What makes you think so?” asked the government agent.
“Listen,” said the gardener, “ ’fore I come here I live long time Oakland, acloss flom bay from Flisco. Much fog dere. Uncle Sam him put up lighthousee and fog-whistle an’ fog-bell.
“Lighthousee he shine, fog-whistle he blow, fog-bell he ling—but damn fog him come just same!”
******
GUNG HO
No. 9, February 18, 1944
Page 1
A BLESSED EVENT (IT’S A GIRL!). —BY CHINN
[art]
“CONGRATULATION, 1ST/SGT CHAN.”
FROM
OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OR 407TH.
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editors, Sgt Fong Lee[,] Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto and Pfc Elwin W. Ong……
Page 2
1st/Sgt Is Papa
Really happy, for once, was 1st/Sgt Edward W. Chan this week. Last Saturday, on the birthday of a great American Abraham Lincoln, the 1st/Sgt also remembered his own, for he was also born on that auspicious date.
But that was not the real reason why he was so happy. Waht [sic] caused his jubilation was that on the same day he receive[d] a long-distance telephone call from California informing him that his wife had given birth to a baby girl that very day.
And that was why 1st/Sgt Chan was so happy.
*****
407th Goes Over CBS Network.
Last Sunday the 407th was introduced to the world over the air waves, via the Columbia Broadcasting System’s on-the-spot “World News Today” program.
Following reports from Algiers and London, the program switched to an improvised hanger studio in the field, where, beside a partly dismantled pursuit plane, Bill Slocum Jr. interviewed two EM of the squadron.
Those interviewed were Cpl Raymond K. Fong and Pfc So Tak, the first American-born, the latter having come to the U. S. From China only in 1942. With Bill Slocum asking the questions, Cpl Fong told of the work of the 407th, and of his own civilian background as a concert baritone. Pfc So Tak mentioned about members of his family who were killed by the Japanese in China.
*****
The Squadron Album Again.
Work on the squadron photograph album has begun. Thus far several scores of snapshots have been contributed by the squadron EM. However, many more pictures are still needed to complete the job.
Some of the new photographs that have come in recently include several taken at the Sheffield Corporation plant when a group of 407th EM visited the factory several weeks ago. Also received were a number of shots of the squadron manuever held near Sidney recently. The latest to come in are two photographs of the CBS radio broadcast held at a field hanger last Sunday in which the story of the 407th was aired over a national hookup.
But we need more pictures of the EM themselves, taken either on the field, at their jobs, or while visiting other cities during their off-duty hours and on week-ends. Waht [sic] is just a newsy snapshot to you today will be the history of the 407th later on, and we want these pictures included in the album. So bring ’em in!
*****
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
(Cont. on Page 6 )*
Page 3
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 properly manager Pfc Elwin 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.
****
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
...Pfc Ngow D. Yee startled Lt. Byrne t’other day with the disclosure he had been issued two right shoes....now they’re looking for the GI with with two left ones.
…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!……
….Of all the handsomely made knives you see the fellows sporting around, the smallest belongs to S/Sgt Duey S. Leong...it’s so small it can actually be used for a toothpick....it’s also sharp enuf to severe [sic] quite a few arteries....
….The item of the week was the broadcast featuring EM of the 407th....but Pfc So Tak’s nervousness before the microphone wasn’t due to worry about his lines....he had a date for that day at about that time, and was worried she’d miss him on the bus coming up to Osborn.
….Cpl George SooHoo took a graceful spill t’other nite on the snow and is nursing a sprained right ankle..s’too bad...and Cpl Elwood Lew is also a snow casualty...but he’s got complication aplenty...believe us, fellas, he itches!!! It seems the zinc oxide or sump’n in the tape is causing it....
...And where was the 1st Sgt [Edward W. Chan] on the nite his new born baby daughter arrived?...he was taking one of his rare and infrequent nite offs when the long distance phone call from California bearing the glad tidings came...maybe from now on he should stay in all the time...whattyuhthink?
....And Dee-troit is still the mecca for the 407th wolfpack on weekend...one Sgt who’s initials are George Woong has been dubbed “Baby TNT”...Hmm...but don’t ask Cpl Eugene MonGoy....he’s still recuperating from the trip....seems he contracted a bit of Rose fever, and is still in a daze...he and Woong both have it bad....
....Speaking of Roses, Sgt Sammy Yee and S/Sgt Donald Louie met one in Chicago this weekend...and Pfc. Stanley Tom is sweet on a ’Frisco Rose.....
Pfc Chris Y. Chen would have us believe he wasn’t drunk when he got that tatoo [sic] job done...says he got the idea from a sailor friend...
….S/Sgt Grey K. Toy goes for a bit of wooing via postal service with a certain U of Mich Co-ed…and they don’t discuss the weather.
....Seen standing on a Dayton street corner waiting for the dates who didn’t come to dinner were Sgt William Toy and Pfc Bot L. Wong......ditto Cpl Paul C. Fong....only the latter got stood up in Osborn......and didja notice Cpl Jean H. Shing running out on the gang t’other PM to keep that very important engagement?...a la Dagwood......
Page 5
CHOP SUEY
….On the subject of boithday, we gotta note here the occasion of Cpl Harry G. King and Pfc Calvin Huie’s joint celebration at the Chungking St Valentines Day....certainly all had a wunnerful time, judging from the hilarity and laffter......
....Most of the strange sounds that memorable evening emanated from the 25 “Humdingers” everyone was trying to coax a tune from....
....Harry is 19 and Calvin has reached the ripe old age of 20....or as Pfc Henry Wong (30) so aptly stated, nest [sic] year Calvin can vote for Roosevelt....The whole affair was keyed to foolishness, from the bibs the two celebrants wore about their necks to the plastic eating utensils they found before them...But they somehow managed to devour their chicken dinner.....
….Among the gifts presented that nite were skipping ropes, paper dollies, rattles, and a pair of monkeys which stole the show....referring of course to the wooden ones....
….Entertainment was furnished by both celebrants and the 26 hosts…just to mention a few hi-lites and ji-jinks [sic]….Cpl Ray Fong sang a few choice arias and melodies….Calvin’s rendition of Chinatown in Chinese brought down the house….And the Red River Valley Trio, consisting of Harry, Calvin, and Pfc Glen [sic] Fuzz Chin struggled thru a few unidentified ditties....
….Cpl William Hoy performed the herculean feat of keeping some 30 young ladies quiet t’other eve in Dayton....It’s true, s’help us....he made an hour-long speech on Chinese customs and traditions to a group of YWCA gals, that’s why..afterwards, tho, the femmes fired questions at him without letup for fifteen minutes...he edged for the door.....but fast........
....To at least half of the Squadron EM, the snow of the past week was sho’ surprise...since many of ’em came from sunny (ahem !) California, they’ve never seen so much snow in so short a space of time before....but everybody seemed to have had their fun out of it, juding [sic] from the snowball battles that were waged daily between the different barracks....
....Those scratches on Pfc Robert Jung’s forehead looked very suspiciously like they might have been put there by feminine claws...Is so?
....He was CQ for the nite...and at 3 ayem in the wintry yawning he went down to the furnace room to add fuel to a slowly dying fire...to make a long story short, he almost didn’t make it...on account he stumbled over the heap of coals in the dark and went sprawling on the ground...O mammy!....Ya ought to see the scars on his hands now.....we won’t mention his name........
....Now we find Sgt Tommy Yee beating a strategic retreat from the theatre of operation (cont on P. 6)
Page 6
CHOP SUEY (Cont from P 5)
Seems he thinks the town’s too crowded with the 407th….so he makes his way to Pittsburgh...Maybe that’s why Sgt Gock K. Wong and Cpl John J. Lee went to Canada...they do say the people there are very very, hospitable....and the Chinese food is of the best...priced reasonably, too.
….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.....
….Of course we all know whose birthday occurs on Feb. 22....but d’you know our Pvt George Washington Wong was also born on the same day?..Is true... He hopes to do a little cherry tree chopping too...in Tokyo.
•••••
The Unlucky 13th (from P. 2).
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.
*******
Oh! For the Good Old Times!
In every soldier’s career there comes a period of trying circumstances, wherein that good old army game known simply as the GI Party plays a prominent role.
It is definitely the bane of a soldier’s life. Ask anyone who has had K. P. on a Friday, or who has had to remove the top layer of a floor with a GI brush. But this little squadron of eager beavers outdid themselves in our last clean up campaign.
Frankly, gentlemen, I’m lost! The old place is not what it used to be, and I’m homesick! I miss the old barracks where I used to spend my off-duty leisure time. (Notice I said off-duty)
It seems like only yesterday when I could enjoy a cigarette without worrying too much about where my ashes might fall. Can’t get used to running down to the latrine for a smoke, or taking off my shoes before entering our little “Bungalow”. Have you tried to get into another guy’s meticulously, disgustingly clean barracks? Well, don’t, unless you have an intra-barracks commonication [sic] from Barracks chief to barracks chief authorizing this movement of troops! Remember the good old days when we could go next door to see Joe and shoot the breeze with impunity?? Ah, me!
But that’s all in the past now, for since the last GI party, it's been found advisable to familiarize one’s self with the times of day when the local latrines are available for conference purposes.
Cpl Eugene F. Szeto
*****
*****
No. 8, February 11, 1944
Page 1
[cartoon]
YOU CAN’T BE TOO SURE BY CHINN
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editor, Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto, Pfc Elwin W. Ong, and Pvt Woo K. Leung
Page 2
A Round Dozen.
The 407th casaba quintet this week chalked up another victory in the Paterson Field intra-squadron basketball series.
Playing its 12th game against the 1st Plant Maintenance Squadron, our team came through with a score of 36 to 24, thus eliminating another opponent.
Murphy Quan continued sinking the goals, logging 19 points for this game. This brings his league totals now to 124 points and puts him among the top three players in this series. Albert Fong chalked up 9 points and brought his total score up to 68 points.
This game was marked throughout with plenty of floorwork and rough and tumble playing. At one point Harry Q. Wong, jumping up to retrieve the ball from under the basket, was clipped on the head by an opponent, and sent sprawling to the floor, completely K. O’d.
With about three more games in the series to be played off, the 407th has an even chance of getting up to the top five. It is now in six[th] place. As for individual high scoring, Murphy Quan has more than an even chance to be the top scoring man in the entire series. The ex-star player of the former crack Nom Wah basketball team in San Francisco is doing all right.
****
23 EM Receive Good Conduct Ribbons.
This week 23 men of the 407th were authorized to wear the Good Conduct Ribbons. According to Squadron Order No. 9, these EM were authorized to wear this ribbon for “having completed one year of continuous active Federal Military Service while the U. S. is at war and have displayed exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity….”
The ribbons were awarded to the following EM at the Retreat formation Thursday afternoon, the presentation being made by Capt. E.F. Brown[.]
T/Sgt Andrew W. Lee, S/Sgts York M. Kao, Hong S. Wee, Duey S. Leong, Sgts William P. Hsia, Yee S. Lim, Fong Lee, Louis Joe, Donald C. Poy.
Cpls Lee S. Ngew, Park C. Chin, Din Lew, Harding Wong, Soo J. Wong, Ying W. Chin, Hing W. Jee, William J. Hoy.
Pfc’s Shew W. Gee, Howe T. Jay, Robert H. Jung, Chung L. Quan, Howard C. Loo and Pvt Nuey G. Yee.
*****
Pfc Louie Woon Reports on Mechanics’ Party.
When enlisted men in the Army are advanced in non-commissioned grades, it is because the Commanding Officer has recognized their proficiency in their jobs, excellence in military discipline, and exhibition of leadership qualities. When these non-coms are on active duty, they naturally desire the fullest measure of cooperation from the soldiers they work with and supervise.
The non-coms of the mechanics’ unit of the engineering section have happily found that the mechanics have rendered them cheerful obedience, true loyalty, and efficient cooperation at all time. For being “on the ball” and as a token of appreciation, the mechanics were treated to a sumptuous dinner in a Springfield restaurant last Monday by the recent promoted non-coms of their section.
There were 23 EM present, and everyone ate, drank and made merry, from the lowly private to the master sergeant.
(Con’t on Page 4)
Page 3
…Cpl Chee O. Der returned from a pass to Washington D. C. and said he had a bad time of it….Reason: too many gals…SEZ he!…So sorry about our item on Pvt Henry Wong-30 and his candy kisses last week which got him into hot water with a certain Annie…..
…Musical notes: Pfc Glenn “Fuzz” Chin [sic] and his rendition of “Red River Valley” is driving the boys of the lower foyer of barracks 3 crazy….so, at times, does the warbling of Pfc Calvin Huie….for his is the simulated moaning of a dying moose…according to his best pals….
….Sgt Fulton Yee says he likes his gals and airplane props both at “Constant Speed”….Controllable pitch, too, Sgt?….
….And Pvt Henry S. Y. Wong finally found out why prop blades are painted yellow….after all these months…and who was that magnificent dope who spent a whole day looking for the “Exceptional Release” so he could lubricate it?…migosh….
….And why does Sgt George H. Lee turn green in the face whenever he’s offered a drink these cold days?….
….T’other nite Cpl Stephen Ng had a coughing spell after he climbed into his bunk….he reached for his bottle of cough medicine on a nearby ledge and took a good swallow of the liquid…in the dark…Lucky he did not gulp it down, for it was a bottle of good old iodine he had drunk out of…such things happen in the dark of nite….
….Everything-happens-to-me dept:..On a bright frosty morning Pvt Yot G. Ing drove a truck too near the front of the orderly room…and broke a few of the planks on the boardwalk…which he had to repair himself. Then, the same day, while taking a shower, he slipped and fell all over the wet concrete….with proper sound effects…no bones broken tho……..
….The exodus to Detroit and Chicago last week-end was something to see…Having heard so many tales about the attractions in Detroit from such story tellers as Sgt Andy Kan and Cpl Harry King, dyed in wool natives…and also from Cpl Eugene MonGoy, other EM wanted to see for themselves……Sgt George Woong and Cpl Homer Eng certainly did….
….As for Chicago, Sgt Mon K Fong arranged dates for a couple of close buddies…and then was left out on a limb himself!….such lack of foresight….
….Others gorged themselves on roast duck in Chicago’s Chinatown..even bringing some back all the way to Dayton to eat…to [sic] late most of them found out the Chinatown Hospitality Center was giving a Valentine party for Chinese servicemen…the week after….
….And was Cpl Harry King down-hearted when some pics he took at Detroit t’other weekend turned out to be perfect blanks…you see, there was supposed to be a pretty lass in the films somewhere….
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
....Pvt Wing S. Wong is doing okay with a gal named Jinx....so are S/Sgts York M. Kao and Hong S. Wee with their dancing lessons at ze Loretto...with such good and willing teachers as Mickey and Helen ’n a few other Lorrettoites....
....This Sunday afternoon the whole country will be hearing about the 407th....yessir....on account it will be described over the airways via a CBS national hookup....The program will emanate from inside the field and half a dozen or more EM will be interviewed....this will be an unusual program in more ways than one, if you know what we mean...Nearest radio stations with CBS outlets are WACY of Cincinnati and WBBM of Chicago....so tune in on some airborne “chop suey” items this Sunday at about 1:30 PM....
....Then, of course, there was the clip on the head Harry Q. Wong got when he played basketball t’other nite at the post gym....the opposing team was so rough two guys grabbed for Harry when he went after the casaba under the basket....he was knocked for a loop and went out....cold....
....Sa-ay, what’s this we hear about M/Sgt Floyd Sam having su-ch a good time after the mechanics’ party at Springfield?...notice we say after the party....
....Now that we’ve seen the pics for ourselves we can understand whys many GI’s wanted intros to Pfc Bot L. Wong’s twin sisters...yassuh......twins and cute too...and what’s more, they’re down in the deep south—down Georgia way....
....We thought the ancient Chinese custom of paying off one’s debts before the New Year was dead and gone....but some GI disproved it t’other day by sending some money to Cpl Eugene Szeto in repayment for an old debt...the funny part was that Szeto had practically forgotten about the whole thing.....
....One staff room in barrack 2 is known as Sloppy Joe’s....but that ain’t all....the three occupants therein, S/Sgt Kim W. Jung, S/Sgt Yang W. Lee, and Cpl Yew S. Jew, are known, respectively, as “Mugger,” “Tondelayo,” and “The Major”.....
Mechanics’ Party (Contd from P. 2
The chickens, spare ribs, shrimps, Chinese vegetable, Chinese sausages, etc. were enjoyed by all. Cigarettes and wine were distributed and poured liberally. Toasts were rendered frequently for the welfare of the 407th[,] the success of the war effort, members at the table, and also those whose presence were missed. The few who imbibed not wisely but too well were safely convoyed back to the field by their more sober comrades.
*****
*****
Page 5
MEN OF THE 407TH—
PFC SO TAK—SOLDIER OF TWO NATIONS
The time seems auspicious to speak of one Pfc So Tak. There is a soldier with distinctions. For one thing, he’s about the only 407th who speaks practically no English . His vocabulary is limited to about fifty words. And none of them, lest you jump to conclusion, are cuss words.
Pfc Tak is also the general watch repair man of the unit. With an ordinary tweezer, a nail file, and a thin wire, he’s able to doctor all faulty timepieces. He acquired this skill in one of Portugal’s far-flung Asistic [sic] colonies—Macao, a tiny peninsula off the South China coast.
Thirdly, Tak is also a culinary expert of no mean ability. He has an almost uncanny talent in concocting Chinese dishes out of ordinary vegetables and plain beef. Not to forget his specialty—barbecued chicken.
But Pfc Tak’s primary distinction lies in the fact that he’s one Chinese-American soldier with over 10 years of active service in the regular army and air force of the Chinese Republic. Between 1929–39 he was a soldier of China, serving in many provinces. Shanghai, Nanking, Canton, Kunming, Ichang, Hankow, Hangchow—China’s great cities, where the soldiers of Chiang Kai-shek had battled valiantly against the Japanese invaders. Pfc Tak had seen his share of the smoke and heat and death and massacre of battle. For two years he was in the infantry attached to the Chinese 1st Army. Then he transferred to the air force as a mechanic. He participated in 7 battles, and learned what it was to kill. In Kunming he was shot in the left leg by an enemy agent.
He saw and felt the insensate cruelty and barbarism of the Japanese military, for six members of of his family were massacred by them in the battle of Hongkong. These six included his wife. His mother escaped into unoccupied territory in Canton. A faded picture of his family, taken shortly before Hongkong was attacked, is all the memory he has of most of his family. Now, once in many moons, he hears from his 65-year old mother.
Let out of the Air Force after he was wounded, Tak returned to Canton. Then, in 1941, his elder brother in New York sent for him. He made his way down to Singapore, through the Malay states, and then all the way to Calcutta, India. Later, he found a berth as ordinary seaman abroad a British cargo ship heading for the United States.
He landed in New York on Christmas Eve, 1942, and saw his elder bother for the first time in years. Six days later he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was inducted on New Year’s eve. He became a charter member of the 407th when this unit was activated last July. Pfc Tak was in the army again. And soon now he will be a naturalized U. S. citizen.
W.H.
*******
(The foregoing story is also published concurrently in the Patterson Field Postings).
Page 6
My Girl
(Dedicated to our wives or sweethearts at Valentine time).
Her hair is black, her eyes are brown,
She looks so chic in her evening gown.
She dresses so nice, she makes me feel,
That she is perfect, and I.....a heel.
She comforts me, when I am sad,
She laughs with me, when I am glad.
She walks in elegance, so full of pride,
And when she talks, I always sigh.
When she is near, my heart is weak.
My tongue is tied, I cannot speak.
She is so perfect in every way,
I love her more, come day by day.
She’s so sweet, she’s sweeter than honey,
Yet little she cares for fame or money.
I feel like crying if she should cry,
If she should leave me, I would die.
She’s never jealous, she does not grumble.
She never quarrel ’cause she’s so humble.
I shudder when I meet her glance,
She looks like a model from beautiful France.
She is so slick, so neat and spry,
She’s like an angel from the sky.
She says she loves me—I wonder why,
There is no worse bum than I.
Pfc Stanley Tom
[Confucius portrait]
The Master said:
Learning without thought
Is labor lost; thought
without learning is
perilous.....Confucius
A Foggy Tale.
An ambitious Chinese once secured a long time lease on a tiny island off the California coast. He built himself a simple shack and raised garden truck. Because of the climate, which was generally damp, and because of the soil, and most of all because of the tenant’s industry, the venture prospered. Naturally, when a gentleman in uniform came along one day and suggested to him that he should vacate the property and turn it over to the government, the celestial protested. He wanted to know why Uncle Sam should covet his tiny possession. The visitor said:
“Well, you see, John, it’s like this: There’ a lot of fog along this coast and Uncle Sam wants to put up a lighthouse here for the benefit of ships. Savvy?”
The Chinese shook his head.
“No good,” he said. “Lighthouse no good for fog.”
“What makes you think so?” asked the government agent.
“Listen,” said the gardener, “ ’fore I come here I live long time Oakland, acloss flom bay from Flisco. Much fog dere. Uncle Sam him put up lighthousee and fog-whistle an’ fog-bell.
“Lighthousee he shine, fog-whistle he blow, fog-bell he ling—but damn fog him come just same!”
******
GUNG HO
No. 9, February 18, 1944
Page 1
A BLESSED EVENT (IT’S A GIRL!). —BY CHINN
[art]
“CONGRATULATION, 1ST/SGT CHAN.”
FROM
OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OR 407TH.
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editors, Sgt Fong Lee[,] Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto and Pfc Elwin W. Ong……
Page 2
1st/Sgt Is Papa
Really happy, for once, was 1st/Sgt Edward W. Chan this week. Last Saturday, on the birthday of a great American Abraham Lincoln, the 1st/Sgt also remembered his own, for he was also born on that auspicious date.
But that was not the real reason why he was so happy. Waht [sic] caused his jubilation was that on the same day he receive[d] a long-distance telephone call from California informing him that his wife had given birth to a baby girl that very day.
And that was why 1st/Sgt Chan was so happy.
*****
407th Goes Over CBS Network.
Last Sunday the 407th was introduced to the world over the air waves, via the Columbia Broadcasting System’s on-the-spot “World News Today” program.
Following reports from Algiers and London, the program switched to an improvised hanger studio in the field, where, beside a partly dismantled pursuit plane, Bill Slocum Jr. interviewed two EM of the squadron.
Those interviewed were Cpl Raymond K. Fong and Pfc So Tak, the first American-born, the latter having come to the U. S. From China only in 1942. With Bill Slocum asking the questions, Cpl Fong told of the work of the 407th, and of his own civilian background as a concert baritone. Pfc So Tak mentioned about members of his family who were killed by the Japanese in China.
*****
The Squadron Album Again.
Work on the squadron photograph album has begun. Thus far several scores of snapshots have been contributed by the squadron EM. However, many more pictures are still needed to complete the job.
Some of the new photographs that have come in recently include several taken at the Sheffield Corporation plant when a group of 407th EM visited the factory several weeks ago. Also received were a number of shots of the squadron manuever held near Sidney recently. The latest to come in are two photographs of the CBS radio broadcast held at a field hanger last Sunday in which the story of the 407th was aired over a national hookup.
But we need more pictures of the EM themselves, taken either on the field, at their jobs, or while visiting other cities during their off-duty hours and on week-ends. Waht [sic] is just a newsy snapshot to you today will be the history of the 407th later on, and we want these pictures included in the album. So bring ’em in!
*****
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
(Cont. on Page 6 )*
Page 3
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 properly manager Pfc Elwin 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.
****
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
...Pfc Ngow D. Yee startled Lt. Byrne t’other day with the disclosure he had been issued two right shoes....now they’re looking for the GI with with two left ones.
…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!……
….Of all the handsomely made knives you see the fellows sporting around, the smallest belongs to S/Sgt Duey S. Leong...it’s so small it can actually be used for a toothpick....it’s also sharp enuf to severe [sic] quite a few arteries....
….The item of the week was the broadcast featuring EM of the 407th....but Pfc So Tak’s nervousness before the microphone wasn’t due to worry about his lines....he had a date for that day at about that time, and was worried she’d miss him on the bus coming up to Osborn.
….Cpl George SooHoo took a graceful spill t’other nite on the snow and is nursing a sprained right ankle..s’too bad...and Cpl Elwood Lew is also a snow casualty...but he’s got complication aplenty...believe us, fellas, he itches!!! It seems the zinc oxide or sump’n in the tape is causing it....
...And where was the 1st Sgt [Edward W. Chan] on the nite his new born baby daughter arrived?...he was taking one of his rare and infrequent nite offs when the long distance phone call from California bearing the glad tidings came...maybe from now on he should stay in all the time...whattyuhthink?
....And Dee-troit is still the mecca for the 407th wolfpack on weekend...one Sgt who’s initials are George Woong has been dubbed “Baby TNT”...Hmm...but don’t ask Cpl Eugene MonGoy....he’s still recuperating from the trip....seems he contracted a bit of Rose fever, and is still in a daze...he and Woong both have it bad....
....Speaking of Roses, Sgt Sammy Yee and S/Sgt Donald Louie met one in Chicago this weekend...and Pfc. Stanley Tom is sweet on a ’Frisco Rose.....
Pfc Chris Y. Chen would have us believe he wasn’t drunk when he got that tatoo [sic] job done...says he got the idea from a sailor friend...
….S/Sgt Grey K. Toy goes for a bit of wooing via postal service with a certain U of Mich Co-ed…and they don’t discuss the weather.
....Seen standing on a Dayton street corner waiting for the dates who didn’t come to dinner were Sgt William Toy and Pfc Bot L. Wong......ditto Cpl Paul C. Fong....only the latter got stood up in Osborn......and didja notice Cpl Jean H. Shing running out on the gang t’other PM to keep that very important engagement?...a la Dagwood......
Page 5
CHOP SUEY
….On the subject of boithday, we gotta note here the occasion of Cpl Harry G. King and Pfc Calvin Huie’s joint celebration at the Chungking St Valentines Day....certainly all had a wunnerful time, judging from the hilarity and laffter......
....Most of the strange sounds that memorable evening emanated from the 25 “Humdingers” everyone was trying to coax a tune from....
....Harry is 19 and Calvin has reached the ripe old age of 20....or as Pfc Henry Wong (30) so aptly stated, nest [sic] year Calvin can vote for Roosevelt....The whole affair was keyed to foolishness, from the bibs the two celebrants wore about their necks to the plastic eating utensils they found before them...But they somehow managed to devour their chicken dinner.....
….Among the gifts presented that nite were skipping ropes, paper dollies, rattles, and a pair of monkeys which stole the show....referring of course to the wooden ones....
….Entertainment was furnished by both celebrants and the 26 hosts…just to mention a few hi-lites and ji-jinks [sic]….Cpl Ray Fong sang a few choice arias and melodies….Calvin’s rendition of Chinatown in Chinese brought down the house….And the Red River Valley Trio, consisting of Harry, Calvin, and Pfc Glen [sic] Fuzz Chin struggled thru a few unidentified ditties....
….Cpl William Hoy performed the herculean feat of keeping some 30 young ladies quiet t’other eve in Dayton....It’s true, s’help us....he made an hour-long speech on Chinese customs and traditions to a group of YWCA gals, that’s why..afterwards, tho, the femmes fired questions at him without letup for fifteen minutes...he edged for the door.....but fast........
....To at least half of the Squadron EM, the snow of the past week was sho’ surprise...since many of ’em came from sunny (ahem !) California, they’ve never seen so much snow in so short a space of time before....but everybody seemed to have had their fun out of it, juding [sic] from the snowball battles that were waged daily between the different barracks....
....Those scratches on Pfc Robert Jung’s forehead looked very suspiciously like they might have been put there by feminine claws...Is so?
....He was CQ for the nite...and at 3 ayem in the wintry yawning he went down to the furnace room to add fuel to a slowly dying fire...to make a long story short, he almost didn’t make it...on account he stumbled over the heap of coals in the dark and went sprawling on the ground...O mammy!....Ya ought to see the scars on his hands now.....we won’t mention his name........
....Now we find Sgt Tommy Yee beating a strategic retreat from the theatre of operation (cont on P. 6)
Page 6
CHOP SUEY (Cont from P 5)
Seems he thinks the town’s too crowded with the 407th….so he makes his way to Pittsburgh...Maybe that’s why Sgt Gock K. Wong and Cpl John J. Lee went to Canada...they do say the people there are very very, hospitable....and the Chinese food is of the best...priced reasonably, too.
….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.....
….Of course we all know whose birthday occurs on Feb. 22....but d’you know our Pvt George Washington Wong was also born on the same day?..Is true... He hopes to do a little cherry tree chopping too...in Tokyo.
•••••
The Unlucky 13th (from P. 2).
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.
*******
Oh! For the Good Old Times!
In every soldier’s career there comes a period of trying circumstances, wherein that good old army game known simply as the GI Party plays a prominent role.
It is definitely the bane of a soldier’s life. Ask anyone who has had K. P. on a Friday, or who has had to remove the top layer of a floor with a GI brush. But this little squadron of eager beavers outdid themselves in our last clean up campaign.
Frankly, gentlemen, I’m lost! The old place is not what it used to be, and I’m homesick! I miss the old barracks where I used to spend my off-duty leisure time. (Notice I said off-duty)
It seems like only yesterday when I could enjoy a cigarette without worrying too much about where my ashes might fall. Can’t get used to running down to the latrine for a smoke, or taking off my shoes before entering our little “Bungalow”. Have you tried to get into another guy’s meticulously, disgustingly clean barracks? Well, don’t, unless you have an intra-barracks commonication [sic] from Barracks chief to barracks chief authorizing this movement of troops! Remember the good old days when we could go next door to see Joe and shoot the breeze with impunity?? Ah, me!
But that’s all in the past now, for since the last GI party, it's been found advisable to familiarize one’s self with the times of day when the local latrines are available for conference purposes.
Cpl Eugene F. Szeto
*****
*****
GUNG HO
No. 10, February 25, 1944
Page 1
[cartoon]
JOE’S CAFE BY R CHINN
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editors, Sgt Fong Lee Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto, Pfc Elwin W. Ong
Page 2
One Soldier’s Family.
Millions of Americans this month will be reading a very interesting story in the new (March) issue of Reader’s Digest. It is titled merely “Portrait of an American Family,” and is one of a series of Chronicles of Americanization the RD is featuring.
What makes this story unusually interesting is that it tells of the lives and fortune of a Chinese-American family in Hartford, Conn. You’ll read how a young couple from San Francisco’s teaming Chinatown went East years ago to better their fortune, and how they eventually were the proud patents of 9 children. Of the latter you will read that....
“....George, who has almost finished the work for his Ph.D in organic chemistry at the M.I.T., is attached to the 81st Chemical Battalion. The two oldest daughters, Margaret and Gladys, are trained nurses. Kenneth, 18, is in the Army Air Forces. Harold, 17, is...at the University of Chicago. Alice holds a responsible job in a war industry. May help her father in his business. The two youngest boys, still in high school, have newspaper routes.”
Although the RD story does not mention the fact, the aforementioned Kenneth is none other than Cpl Kenneth Mah of the 407th—Ken to his buddies in the electrical repair section. Yup, gentlemen, the story in this “Portrait of an American Family” is the story of Ken Mah’s own folks back home in Hartford.
It is an intensely interesting tale, and it is both American and Chinese in the way the Mahs have lived their lives. Typically Chinese-American is the way in which Ken’s parents, Goon Mah and Wong Shee, started out. The father born in this country, went to China thirty years ago, married, and brought his wife to San Francisco. There, unable to get ahead, the couple went east to Salem, Mass., where Goon Mah found a job in a restaurant. Later, when the family moved to Boston, Mah became his own restaurant owner, and named the place, approriately [sic] enough, “The Liberty”.
The passing years brought the Mahs many children. Several times, too, the family fortune ebbed and rose. Finally, the family moved to Hartford. The Reader’s digest [sic] story continues:
“Today, Goon Mah owns a thriving little restaurant on Hartford’s Mulberry Street.” Today, also, the Mahs live in “a house of their own—a pleasant, 8-room stucco dwelling Here they live a completely American life.”
One of the most significant parts of this article is this: “The Mahs, though proud of their Chinese background, are prouder still to be Americans, Perhaps that explains why, when the war Bond Authorities sought the most effective representative of Americanism in Hartford, they did not choose a member of some family old in American history. They went to Gladys Mah, and she took time off from the surgical department at the (Hartford0 hospital to tell Connecticut Yankees how important it is to buy bonds...... ”America has meant much to my family,” she said. “It has meant liberty, justice and equality—and the chance for knowledge.”
But read this story in the RD and find out a few things for yourself. It is a tale full of many things for which we are fighting.
Page 3
MEN OF THE 407TH—
MAKE MUSIC? CAN DO!
The 407th EM may never make history, but, by the beard of Confucius, they are determined to make music.
For several months now certain jive-loving squadron EM have been tooting their saxophones and strumming their string instruments individually in the peace and quiet (!) of their respective barracks after the sun goes down. Most of these music-loving souls hailed from San Francisco’s Chinatown, where the strident rhapsodies of old Canton vied with the jazzing of Duke Ellington to make life a wee bit trying to the older generation.
When some of these boys marched off to war and joined the 407th some months ago, their instruments came along with their GI duds. Three members who had played together on the same band in SF Chinatown found themselves side by side again. They yearned mightily to be in the groove once more, but the opportunities were lacking, and certain needed instruments were scarcer that the eggs of an ancient turtle.
But this week the glimmer of a 407th orchestra began to take shape. Ten EM—8 of them Californians—decided that a certain amount of jiving was possible with the material at hand. After some efforts, a set of drums materialized. And already available were saxophones, clarinet, and violins. Plus a ready-made voxcalist [sic] Raymond K. Fong, of Stockton, Calif., who has had radio and stage singing experience. Other members of this aggregation of celestial cacophonist include:
Cpl Wilfred Eng, who played the sax. Once out of high school in Oakland, Calif. he organized and led his own orchestra of eight peices [sic]. His hometown neighbor, Cpl Stanley Chinn, also toots the same instrument.
Pfc Allen K. Pang, violinist, has been going through an appreticeship [sic] in the classics from Seattle[,] Washington to Patterson Field. On the other hand, Cpl William Hing has been tooting on his clarinet right here in the Buckeye state, for he comes from Cleveland, Ohio. His dexterity with the clarinet comes from playing with his high school orchestra.
The rest of the players are San Francisco Chinatownians all, with three of them former members of the Cathay Band, a fifty-men outfit with a 30-year old history behind it. This trio are Pfc Elwin W. Ong, drummber [sic]; Pfc Henry Leong, saxophonist; and Pfc Stanley Tom, tuba tooter and pianist. Ong and Tom have also played with the Cathay orchestra, the young off-shoot of the Cathay Band.
Cpl Albert Fong is another saxophonist. He was a fife player, too, and belonged to the Chinese Drum, Fife, and Bungle [sic] Corps back home.
The remaining two are string instrumentalists, Cpl Arthur T Wong is a steel guitar strummer of no mean ability. Since most native Chinese musical instruments are of the string variety, Wong may have inherited his dexterity.
Last, and without a doubt the least, is ye scribe himself, who strums that old fashioned instrument known as the mandolin. The professionals gaze with utter contempt on this mechanism, but there is something about it which makes it beloved among certain unorthodox musicians. Other instruments come and go, but the mandolin, like faith seems to endure forever. So let the sophisticated rant, but we shall strum our mandolin.
So from now on, if you should hear the strains of “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” it’s the 407th melody celestials tooting away. ....W. H.
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
....Just one week after the 1st/Sgt became the proud father of a baby girl, Capt Wilhite [sic] also became a father....of a baby boy!...When Capt Wilhite was our Engineering Officer here in the 407th he and 1st/Sgt had calculated the times their respective “bundles from Heaven” would arrive....the strange part of the story is that they were correct in deciding on one week’s difference...1st/Sgt Chan’s baby was born on Lincoln’s birthday....Capt Wilhite’s on Washington’s birthday...To Capt and Mrs Wilhite, our sincere congratulations...Congrats also to Cpl Harry Q. Wong...who received word Sunday that he too is a father....a healthy bouncing 9-lb of baby girl....This has certainly been a busy period of ye Stork....
….It seems in the past few weeks a trend to mustaches has cropped out in our midst…the champion of the moment being Sgt Jerry Chew…but on him it looks bad….in fact it looks like an untrimmed hedge on his upper lip….which probably is the main reason Sgt Eugene Yee has shaved his off….one look at Sgt Chew convinced him….S/Sgt Gene Wong’s attempt at it is a little more successful….says all he needs is a few more days…..we’ll give him a few more weeks before passing judgement….But Sgt George Woong is having trouble getting his to grow in the right places….after 12 patient weeks of coaxing and nursing he has exactly 12 strands of manhood….at that rate he ought to have quite a handlebar about 5 years from now….we suggest a change of fertilizer……
….And on t’other hand, we have Cpl Homer Eng and Pfc Glenn Chin….both make use of tweezers to pluck that unsightly lonesome strand that mars their otherwise smooth unlandscaped chins.
....In the Orderly Room we find Cpl James G. Jay running around in circles seeking an interpretation of a certain paragraph in a TM on Administration....it seems that if he read it right, the gents in the Orderly Room have been needlessly pulling extra duty....how he hopes he’s right!...he’s actually starting to like his job already......
....Just for the records and to avert a possible case of mistaken identity, it should be pointed out here in this column that there is only one bonfide [sic] Murphy in this Squadron...the other Joe that signed himself as “Murphy” in the Ward Five column of the station hospital’s weekly paper, has been exposed......He’s a phony, fellas, fact is, he’s none other than Cpl Wing O. [sic] Wong....sometimes, he also answers to Homer....but for Cpl Wong we have a more appropriate pen name....we offer Ah Sick Wong...but serious tho’...it was a pretty nice little column he wrote for his Ward....and everyone is rooting for his speedy recovery..
....So we’re to have an orchestra! At this writing, it looks good.....Cpl William Hoy has rounded up most of the known musicians in the Squadron and they had their first jam session in the day-room t’other day..and those of you who weren’t on hand to enjoy the hot licks really missed sump’n...let’s have some suggestions for a band name.....and a theme song.
Page 5
….The Union Depot’s USO waiting room for soldiers looked like one of our Squadron meeting in barracks two last Friday….almost everyone present was bound for Chicago, Detroit or Cleveland….
….It isn’t news any more when veteran howlers like Sgt Baby TNT Woong and Cpl Stanley Chinn go awolfin’….but it sure is news when S/Sgt Lawrence S. Fong and Sgt Fong Lee take off on a bender to Detroit….these two homebodies seldom go any place atall……must be the propaganda the other EM have been bringing back on this particular town….S/Sgt Fong was non-committal, but Sgt Fong Lee was enthusiastic in declaring that the gals were swell.
….Pvt Edwin Chu was practically aboard the train when he changed his mind....and dashed back out to the ticket office for a refund....it seems he decided he couldn’t afford it...Sgt Mon K. Fong’s week end plans were changed too....but only because he missed the choo-choo...disgustingly, he spent the week-end back on the field........Dunesk!
….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!……..
….Our two buglers do a pretty neat job on harmonizing Reveille these cold mornings…now if they would just swing it just a little bit….we could fall out so-o much faster!….just in case you want the info….our two buglers are Cpl Richard Y. Wong and Pvt John S. Leong….but let’s not do anything too drastic….yet….
….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……..
….Orchids to “Murphy” otherwise known as Sgt William K. Quan, for his slick playing on the basketball courts last week….altho he was sick, he played anyhow…and managed to sink 10 more points to add to his individual high scoring in the league plays…….
….Pfc Calvin Huie sports a durn nice looking pipe around……but he never lights it…fact is…he never puts tobacco in it……says he uses it only to keep from getting too nervous….could be, but it must be durn inconvenient at times…like his synthetic molars..false teeth, to you…Calvin hasn’t tasted a good stesk [sic] in a heckuva long time…
….Izzere any truth in the rumor that Sgt Fulton Yee hasn’t received a single letter from a gal since he’s in the Army? Listen, Sarge, if you want to remedy this, you can do so by joining the “Lonely Hearts Club”….see S/Sgt Lawrence Fong for full particulars and a free brochure…it’ll amaze you!….
(Cont on Page 6)
Page 6
CHOP SUEY (Cont. from Page 5)
….Pfc Alfred G. Wong’s haircut is a sight to behold!…the PX barbar [sic] musta been mad at him or sump’n……
….Apropos of the EM who have been asked to take individual physical fitness tests, consisting of situps pullups and so forht [sic], our squadron Adjutant, 1st Lt. Bowers has this to say:....“Sit up, pull up—or shut up!”......
*****
3 New EM Join 407th.
This week three more new men joined the squadron. All of them transferred here from the 555th Service Squadron at Florida. They are:
Sgt Warren Lee of Bakersfield, Calif. A trained prop man, Lee has been in the Army seventeen months.
Cpl Joseph Pon, of Waterbury, Conn. He has already served 29 months in the army, and is now a trained heavy equipment auto operator.
The third man is Cpl Zach C. Wong, who hails from Los Angeles, Calif. He is an airplane mechanic and has been in the service sixteen months.
In behalf of the squadron, Tung Ho extends greetings to our new buddies.
*****
Basketballers End League Plays
One week ago last Thursday the squadron casaba quintet played the 478th Air Base Sqdn, and came out on the short end of a 33-29 score. Murphy Quan was high point man as usual and turned in 10 digits, making his total in the intra-squadron league up to 140 points.
Then this Tuesday night the team played an outside game against the Chaminade Eagle, one of the best high school quintets of Dayton. Out-played by good teamwork on the part of the opposition, the 407th team lost by a score of 43-22, with Albert Fong turning in 7 points as high scorer.
This Thursday the squadron team played its 15th and last game in the field intra-squadron series against the 836th Guard Sqdn. This final game saw the 407th team on the victorious side, with the score at 27 to 22. Murphy Quan turned in 14 points to send his individual score in the series up to 154. This score puts him at the very top place.
At the end of this series, the team’s standing was 8 games lost, and 7 won. And by next week another league will probably start playing off.
***
No. 10, February 25, 1944
Page 1
[cartoon]
JOE’S CAFE BY R CHINN
[Staff Box]
“GUNG HO” is published by and for the enlisted personnel of the 407th Service Squadron, AC, Patterson Field, Ohio. Editorial Staff: Editor, Cpl William J. Hoy; Chinese Section Contributing Editors, Sgt Fong Lee Pvt Young Q. Ark; Staff Artist, Cpl Yow R. Chinn; Editorial Assistants, Cpl James G. Jay, Cpl Eugene F. Szeto, Pfc Elwin W. Ong
Page 2
One Soldier’s Family.
Millions of Americans this month will be reading a very interesting story in the new (March) issue of Reader’s Digest. It is titled merely “Portrait of an American Family,” and is one of a series of Chronicles of Americanization the RD is featuring.
What makes this story unusually interesting is that it tells of the lives and fortune of a Chinese-American family in Hartford, Conn. You’ll read how a young couple from San Francisco’s teaming Chinatown went East years ago to better their fortune, and how they eventually were the proud patents of 9 children. Of the latter you will read that....
“....George, who has almost finished the work for his Ph.D in organic chemistry at the M.I.T., is attached to the 81st Chemical Battalion. The two oldest daughters, Margaret and Gladys, are trained nurses. Kenneth, 18, is in the Army Air Forces. Harold, 17, is...at the University of Chicago. Alice holds a responsible job in a war industry. May help her father in his business. The two youngest boys, still in high school, have newspaper routes.”
Although the RD story does not mention the fact, the aforementioned Kenneth is none other than Cpl Kenneth Mah of the 407th—Ken to his buddies in the electrical repair section. Yup, gentlemen, the story in this “Portrait of an American Family” is the story of Ken Mah’s own folks back home in Hartford.
It is an intensely interesting tale, and it is both American and Chinese in the way the Mahs have lived their lives. Typically Chinese-American is the way in which Ken’s parents, Goon Mah and Wong Shee, started out. The father born in this country, went to China thirty years ago, married, and brought his wife to San Francisco. There, unable to get ahead, the couple went east to Salem, Mass., where Goon Mah found a job in a restaurant. Later, when the family moved to Boston, Mah became his own restaurant owner, and named the place, approriately [sic] enough, “The Liberty”.
The passing years brought the Mahs many children. Several times, too, the family fortune ebbed and rose. Finally, the family moved to Hartford. The Reader’s digest [sic] story continues:
“Today, Goon Mah owns a thriving little restaurant on Hartford’s Mulberry Street.” Today, also, the Mahs live in “a house of their own—a pleasant, 8-room stucco dwelling Here they live a completely American life.”
One of the most significant parts of this article is this: “The Mahs, though proud of their Chinese background, are prouder still to be Americans, Perhaps that explains why, when the war Bond Authorities sought the most effective representative of Americanism in Hartford, they did not choose a member of some family old in American history. They went to Gladys Mah, and she took time off from the surgical department at the (Hartford0 hospital to tell Connecticut Yankees how important it is to buy bonds...... ”America has meant much to my family,” she said. “It has meant liberty, justice and equality—and the chance for knowledge.”
But read this story in the RD and find out a few things for yourself. It is a tale full of many things for which we are fighting.
Page 3
MEN OF THE 407TH—
MAKE MUSIC? CAN DO!
The 407th EM may never make history, but, by the beard of Confucius, they are determined to make music.
For several months now certain jive-loving squadron EM have been tooting their saxophones and strumming their string instruments individually in the peace and quiet (!) of their respective barracks after the sun goes down. Most of these music-loving souls hailed from San Francisco’s Chinatown, where the strident rhapsodies of old Canton vied with the jazzing of Duke Ellington to make life a wee bit trying to the older generation.
When some of these boys marched off to war and joined the 407th some months ago, their instruments came along with their GI duds. Three members who had played together on the same band in SF Chinatown found themselves side by side again. They yearned mightily to be in the groove once more, but the opportunities were lacking, and certain needed instruments were scarcer that the eggs of an ancient turtle.
But this week the glimmer of a 407th orchestra began to take shape. Ten EM—8 of them Californians—decided that a certain amount of jiving was possible with the material at hand. After some efforts, a set of drums materialized. And already available were saxophones, clarinet, and violins. Plus a ready-made voxcalist [sic] Raymond K. Fong, of Stockton, Calif., who has had radio and stage singing experience. Other members of this aggregation of celestial cacophonist include:
Cpl Wilfred Eng, who played the sax. Once out of high school in Oakland, Calif. he organized and led his own orchestra of eight peices [sic]. His hometown neighbor, Cpl Stanley Chinn, also toots the same instrument.
Pfc Allen K. Pang, violinist, has been going through an appreticeship [sic] in the classics from Seattle[,] Washington to Patterson Field. On the other hand, Cpl William Hing has been tooting on his clarinet right here in the Buckeye state, for he comes from Cleveland, Ohio. His dexterity with the clarinet comes from playing with his high school orchestra.
The rest of the players are San Francisco Chinatownians all, with three of them former members of the Cathay Band, a fifty-men outfit with a 30-year old history behind it. This trio are Pfc Elwin W. Ong, drummber [sic]; Pfc Henry Leong, saxophonist; and Pfc Stanley Tom, tuba tooter and pianist. Ong and Tom have also played with the Cathay orchestra, the young off-shoot of the Cathay Band.
Cpl Albert Fong is another saxophonist. He was a fife player, too, and belonged to the Chinese Drum, Fife, and Bungle [sic] Corps back home.
The remaining two are string instrumentalists, Cpl Arthur T Wong is a steel guitar strummer of no mean ability. Since most native Chinese musical instruments are of the string variety, Wong may have inherited his dexterity.
Last, and without a doubt the least, is ye scribe himself, who strums that old fashioned instrument known as the mandolin. The professionals gaze with utter contempt on this mechanism, but there is something about it which makes it beloved among certain unorthodox musicians. Other instruments come and go, but the mandolin, like faith seems to endure forever. So let the sophisticated rant, but we shall strum our mandolin.
So from now on, if you should hear the strains of “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” it’s the 407th melody celestials tooting away. ....W. H.
Page 4
CHOP SUEY
....Just one week after the 1st/Sgt became the proud father of a baby girl, Capt Wilhite [sic] also became a father....of a baby boy!...When Capt Wilhite was our Engineering Officer here in the 407th he and 1st/Sgt had calculated the times their respective “bundles from Heaven” would arrive....the strange part of the story is that they were correct in deciding on one week’s difference...1st/Sgt Chan’s baby was born on Lincoln’s birthday....Capt Wilhite’s on Washington’s birthday...To Capt and Mrs Wilhite, our sincere congratulations...Congrats also to Cpl Harry Q. Wong...who received word Sunday that he too is a father....a healthy bouncing 9-lb of baby girl....This has certainly been a busy period of ye Stork....
….It seems in the past few weeks a trend to mustaches has cropped out in our midst…the champion of the moment being Sgt Jerry Chew…but on him it looks bad….in fact it looks like an untrimmed hedge on his upper lip….which probably is the main reason Sgt Eugene Yee has shaved his off….one look at Sgt Chew convinced him….S/Sgt Gene Wong’s attempt at it is a little more successful….says all he needs is a few more days…..we’ll give him a few more weeks before passing judgement….But Sgt George Woong is having trouble getting his to grow in the right places….after 12 patient weeks of coaxing and nursing he has exactly 12 strands of manhood….at that rate he ought to have quite a handlebar about 5 years from now….we suggest a change of fertilizer……
….And on t’other hand, we have Cpl Homer Eng and Pfc Glenn Chin….both make use of tweezers to pluck that unsightly lonesome strand that mars their otherwise smooth unlandscaped chins.
....In the Orderly Room we find Cpl James G. Jay running around in circles seeking an interpretation of a certain paragraph in a TM on Administration....it seems that if he read it right, the gents in the Orderly Room have been needlessly pulling extra duty....how he hopes he’s right!...he’s actually starting to like his job already......
....Just for the records and to avert a possible case of mistaken identity, it should be pointed out here in this column that there is only one bonfide [sic] Murphy in this Squadron...the other Joe that signed himself as “Murphy” in the Ward Five column of the station hospital’s weekly paper, has been exposed......He’s a phony, fellas, fact is, he’s none other than Cpl Wing O. [sic] Wong....sometimes, he also answers to Homer....but for Cpl Wong we have a more appropriate pen name....we offer Ah Sick Wong...but serious tho’...it was a pretty nice little column he wrote for his Ward....and everyone is rooting for his speedy recovery..
....So we’re to have an orchestra! At this writing, it looks good.....Cpl William Hoy has rounded up most of the known musicians in the Squadron and they had their first jam session in the day-room t’other day..and those of you who weren’t on hand to enjoy the hot licks really missed sump’n...let’s have some suggestions for a band name.....and a theme song.
Page 5
….The Union Depot’s USO waiting room for soldiers looked like one of our Squadron meeting in barracks two last Friday….almost everyone present was bound for Chicago, Detroit or Cleveland….
….It isn’t news any more when veteran howlers like Sgt Baby TNT Woong and Cpl Stanley Chinn go awolfin’….but it sure is news when S/Sgt Lawrence S. Fong and Sgt Fong Lee take off on a bender to Detroit….these two homebodies seldom go any place atall……must be the propaganda the other EM have been bringing back on this particular town….S/Sgt Fong was non-committal, but Sgt Fong Lee was enthusiastic in declaring that the gals were swell.
….Pvt Edwin Chu was practically aboard the train when he changed his mind....and dashed back out to the ticket office for a refund....it seems he decided he couldn’t afford it...Sgt Mon K. Fong’s week end plans were changed too....but only because he missed the choo-choo...disgustingly, he spent the week-end back on the field........Dunesk!
….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!……..
….Our two buglers do a pretty neat job on harmonizing Reveille these cold mornings…now if they would just swing it just a little bit….we could fall out so-o much faster!….just in case you want the info….our two buglers are Cpl Richard Y. Wong and Pvt John S. Leong….but let’s not do anything too drastic….yet….
….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……..
….Orchids to “Murphy” otherwise known as Sgt William K. Quan, for his slick playing on the basketball courts last week….altho he was sick, he played anyhow…and managed to sink 10 more points to add to his individual high scoring in the league plays…….
….Pfc Calvin Huie sports a durn nice looking pipe around……but he never lights it…fact is…he never puts tobacco in it……says he uses it only to keep from getting too nervous….could be, but it must be durn inconvenient at times…like his synthetic molars..false teeth, to you…Calvin hasn’t tasted a good stesk [sic] in a heckuva long time…
….Izzere any truth in the rumor that Sgt Fulton Yee hasn’t received a single letter from a gal since he’s in the Army? Listen, Sarge, if you want to remedy this, you can do so by joining the “Lonely Hearts Club”….see S/Sgt Lawrence Fong for full particulars and a free brochure…it’ll amaze you!….
(Cont on Page 6)
Page 6
CHOP SUEY (Cont. from Page 5)
….Pfc Alfred G. Wong’s haircut is a sight to behold!…the PX barbar [sic] musta been mad at him or sump’n……
….Apropos of the EM who have been asked to take individual physical fitness tests, consisting of situps pullups and so forht [sic], our squadron Adjutant, 1st Lt. Bowers has this to say:....“Sit up, pull up—or shut up!”......
*****
3 New EM Join 407th.
This week three more new men joined the squadron. All of them transferred here from the 555th Service Squadron at Florida. They are:
Sgt Warren Lee of Bakersfield, Calif. A trained prop man, Lee has been in the Army seventeen months.
Cpl Joseph Pon, of Waterbury, Conn. He has already served 29 months in the army, and is now a trained heavy equipment auto operator.
The third man is Cpl Zach C. Wong, who hails from Los Angeles, Calif. He is an airplane mechanic and has been in the service sixteen months.
In behalf of the squadron, Tung Ho extends greetings to our new buddies.
*****
Basketballers End League Plays
One week ago last Thursday the squadron casaba quintet played the 478th Air Base Sqdn, and came out on the short end of a 33-29 score. Murphy Quan was high point man as usual and turned in 10 digits, making his total in the intra-squadron league up to 140 points.
Then this Tuesday night the team played an outside game against the Chaminade Eagle, one of the best high school quintets of Dayton. Out-played by good teamwork on the part of the opposition, the 407th team lost by a score of 43-22, with Albert Fong turning in 7 points as high scorer.
This Thursday the squadron team played its 15th and last game in the field intra-squadron series against the 836th Guard Sqdn. This final game saw the 407th team on the victorious side, with the score at 27 to 22. Murphy Quan turned in 14 points to send his individual score in the series up to 154. This score puts him at the very top place.
At the end of this series, the team’s standing was 8 games lost, and 7 won. And by next week another league will probably start playing off.
***
(Next post Group 33: Gung Ho 11–14, 20, 22, 23)
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