This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Michael Kohan (Mikey), ATCS
to remember
Chung-Hoon, Gordon Pai'ea, RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Honolulu, HI
Last Address Honolulu, HI
Date of Passing Jul 24, 1979
Location of Interment National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (VA) - Honolulu, Hawaii
Wall/Plot Coordinates M 454A
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
RADM Chung-Hoon was the first Asian-American to be appointed to and graduate from the US Naval Academy. When he was promoted to Rear Admiral upon his retirement, he became the first Asian-American flag officer of the US Navy.
After his Navy service, Gordon Chucng-Hoon served as the director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (1/1961-6/1963). He then worked as a realtor.
Other Comments:
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chung-Hoon, commissioned in 2004, is named for him.
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Sigsbee (DD-502)
General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0534 (1945)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Gordon Paiea Chung-Hoon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. SIGSBEE (DD-502), a unit of an Advanced Picket Group, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 14 April 1945. Although his ship suffered major damage when struck by an enemy plane and all power was lost, Commander Chung-Hoon coolly carried out defensive maneuvers and directed his anti-aircraft batteries in delivering prolonged and effective fire against the continued heavy enemy air attack. Afterwards, he supervised damage-control procedure which resulted in his ship being made sea-worthy for a safe return to port under its own restored power. Commander Chung-Hoon's gallant fighting spirit, courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
CLASS - PORTLAND
Displacement 9,950 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 3" (oa) x 66' 1" x 24' (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 8 x 5"/25, 8 x 0.5" 4 Aircraft.
Armor, 5" Belt, 2 1/2 Turrets, 2 1/2" Deck, 1 1/4 Conning Tower.
Machinery, 107,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.7 Knots, Crew 621. Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 31 MAR 1930 at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, NJ
Launched 07 NOV 1931
Commissioned 15 NOV 1932 Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 30 JUL 1945 by Japanese submarine I-58
USS Indianapolis (CL/CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She was named for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.
She was the flagship of Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in battles across the Central Pacific. Her sinking led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy. On 30 July 1945, after delivering parts for Little Boy, the first atomic bomb used in combat, to the United States air base at Tinian, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.
The remaining 900 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks while floating with few lifeboats and almost no food or water. The Navy learned of the sinking when survivors were spotted four days later by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. Only 317 survived.
