Hong, Oscar

Title: Hong, Oscar
Performer: Oscar Hong
Interviewer: William Vollano
Description: Oscar Hong enlisted in the Army in 1943, at the age of 19. A friend told him that the Army was looking for interpreters, while Oscar was in New York City. He was sent to Miami for his basic training, and then to Springfield, Illinois, for his Signal Corp training. From there he went to Greely, Colorado and eventually to Burma. Oscar's job was to be an interpreter, primarily for the American Services, in the Flying Tigers group. Although he did not fly on any missions, he described the many bombing raids by the Japanese. He said it was boring in between the raids. After the end of the War, he was discharged. Oscar and his family built a very successful restaurant business in the Detroit area. After his wife died, he sold the business and retired. He eventually moved into his daughter's home, but is now living in a retirement complex, in Ann Arbor. Oscar's decorations include a Good Conduct Medal and a China/Burma/India Theater Medal.
Date Span: 1943-1945; Dates of Service
Subject: Enlisted; United States Army Air Forces/Corps; 1157th Signal Service; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; Technician Four
Publisher: Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Collection Location: 2/25; https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.54053
Spatial Coverage: Second World War - Pacific Theater