World War II Honoree

Gordon P. Chung-Hoon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honored By

Raymond K. Wong

RECIPIENT OF THE NAVY CROSS AND SILVER STAR FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AS COMMANDING OFFICER FOR USS SIGSBEE DD-502, MAY 1944 TO OCTOBER 1945. IN THE SPRING OF 1945, THE USS SIGSBEE ASSISTED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF 20 ENEMY PLANES WHILE SCREENING A CARRIER STRIKE FORCE OFF THE JAPANESE ISLAND OF KYUSHU. ON APRIL 14, 1945 WHILE ON RADAR PICKET STATION OFF OKINAWA, A KAMIKAZE CRASHED INTO USS SIGSBEE, REDUCING HER STARBOARD ENGINE TO FIVE KNOTS AND KNOCKING OUT THE SHIP'S PORT ENGINE AND STEERING CONTROL. DESPITE THE DAMAGE, THEN COMMANDER CHUNG HOON VALIANTLY KEPT HIS ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES DELIVERING 'PROLONGED AND EFFECTIVE FIRE' AGAINST THE CONTINUING ENEMY AIR ATTACK WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DIRECTING THE DAMAGE CONTROL EFFORTS THAT ALLOWED USS SIGSBEE TO MAKE PORT UNDER HER OWN POWER.