World War II Honoree

Walter Bing Wong

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oakland, California

Honored By

Ron Chan

Relationship

Friend

AFTER GRADUATING FROM OAKLAND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1944, WAS DRAFTED AND JOINED THE SEABEES SERVING WITH THE U.S. NAVY CONSTRUCTION BATTALION MAINTENANCE UNIT 544. BASIC TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED AT CAMP PEARY IN VIRGINIA. WAS THEN SHIPPED TO GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI WHERE THE BATTALION WAS ASSEMBLED FOR TRANSPORT TO THE FAR EAST. THE TROOP CONVOY, WITH A WATCHFUL EYE FOR ENEMY SUBMARINES, WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL DESTINED FOR BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED A YEAR. SPENT THE FOLLOWING YEAR BASED IN SAMAR, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WHERE SEABEES BUILT HOSPITALS AND AIRFIELDS PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. USED HIS SKILLS AS A SIGN PAINTER, DRAFTSMAN AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO CREATE SIGNAGE FOR THE NAVY BASE HEADQUARTERS. IN 1946, AFTER TWO YEARS OVERSEAS AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR, IT WAS A MEMORABLE MOMENT SAILING SAFELY THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE RETURNING TO SAN FRANCISCO. IN 1946, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PAINTER 3RD CLASS FROM CAMP SHOEMAKER IN PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, PROUD TO HAVE SERVED HIS COUNTRY.