John C. Young
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Chew Young (; June 16, 1912 – October 27, 1987), a
Chinese-American Chinese Americans are Americans of Chinese ancestry. Chinese Americans constitute a subgroup of East Asian Americans which also constitute a subgroup of Asian Americans. Many Chinese Americans have ancestors from mainland China, Hong Kong ...
businessman and community leader, was born in San Jose, California. A key figure in the development of
Chinatown, San Francisco The Chinatown (), centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, is the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside Asia. It is also the oldest and largest of the four nota ...
, he was one of the original board members of the
Chinese Historical Society of America The Chinese Historical Society of America ( zh, s=wikt:美国华人, 美国华人wikt:历史, 历史wikt:学会, 学会, t=美國華人歷史學會, p=Měiguó Huárén Lìshǐ Xuéhuì, j=Mei5gwok3 Waa4jan4 Lik6si2 Hok6wui6; abbreviated CHSA) ...
, and a decorated American World War II army veteran of the
China Burma India Theater China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was ...
. He was celebrated as one of the 20 individuals from San Francisco history "who was heroic in stature and who contributed significantly to the building of the San Francisco we know today" as part of the '' Called to Rise'' monument by Thomas Marsh in the
Financial District A financial district is usually a central area in a city where financial services firms such as banks, insurance companies, and other related finance corporations have their headquarters offices. In major cities, financial districts often host ...
. The monument's inscription describes Young as "an Engineer from Stanford University hodevoted himself to the improvement of San Francisco's Chinatown and helped found the annual Chinese New Years Parade."


Early and personal life

John C. Young was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Young Soong Quong. John's father came to California as a farm laborer in 1881, at the age of 11. John was born in 1912 and grew up in San Jose Chinatown; he attended public schools in San Jose. After graduating with a degree in petroleum engineering from
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
in 1937, he married Mary Lee Young (Chinese: 李心如
Pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...
: ''Li Ruxin''. December 1, 1908 – January 14, 2002), a San Francisco born Chinese American, and they had three children: Janey Young Cheu,
Connie Young Yu Connie Young Yu (born June 19, 1941) () is a Chinese American writer, activist, historian, and lecturer. She has written and contributed to many articles and books, notably including ''Profiles in Excellence: Peninsula Chinese Americans'', ''C ...
, and Alfred John Young.


Military career

Commissioned in the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
at the outbreak of World War II, Young served in the China Burma India Theater—initially to organize the
airdrop An airdrop is a type of airlift in which items including weapons, equipment, humanitarian aid or leaflets are delivered by military or civilian aircraft without their landing. Developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible tr ...
of supplies to troops and to Dr.
Gordon Seagrave Gordon Stifler Seagrave (18 March 1897 – 28 March 1965) was a Burmese-born American missionary, physician and author. Life and career Born in Rangoon, he was the son of American Baptist missionaries Rev. Albert Ernest Seagrave and Alice Vin ...
, "the Burma Surgeon"; and then as a member of the
liaison Liaison or Liaisons may refer to: General usage * Affair, an unfaithful sexual relationship * Collaboration * Co-operation * Liaison, an egg-based thickening used in cooking Arts and entertainment * Liaisons (''Desperate Housewives''), a 2007 ...
group under General
Joseph Stilwell Joseph Warren "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell (19 March 1883 – 12 October 1946) was a United States Army general who served in the China Burma India theater during World War II. Stilwell was appointed as Chief of Staff for Chiang Kai-shek, the Chine ...
. Young spent more than two years along the
Burma Road The Burma Road () was a road linking Burma (now known as Myanmar) with southwest China. Its terminals were Lashio, Burma, in the south and Kunming, China, the capital of Yunnan province in the north. It was built in 1937–1938 while Burm ...
, training and advising Chinese troops in ordnance activities and participated in the
Salween The Salween is a Southeast Asian river, about long, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau south into the Andaman Sea. The Salween flows primarily within southwest China and eastern Myanmar, with a short section forming the border of Myanmar and Tha ...
campaign. At the
Battle of Mount Song The Battle of Mount Song (), also known as the , in 1944 was part of a larger campaign in southwest China during the Second World War. Chinese Nationalist forces aimed to retake the Burma Road. Background The Japanese Army in Southern Yu ...
(Songshan Mountain), he and other U.S. Army engineers (Peter S. Hopkins and
Carlos Spaht Carlos Gustave Spaht, I (August 2, 1906 – April 29, 2001), was a Louisiana judge best remembered for having lost the Democratic gubernatorial runoff election in January 1952 to fellow Judge Robert F. Kennon of Minden, the seat of Webster Pa ...
), helped design and implement the strategy of tunneling and placing
TNT Troponin T (shortened TnT or TropT) is a part of the troponin complex, which are proteins integral to the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles. They are expressed in skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Troponin T binds to tropomyosin and helps ...
charges that destroyed the core of that Japanese stronghold. After the road was opened, he helped equip the Chinese armies with new American weapons. "John Young was awarded one of China's highest decorations, the Grand
Order of the Cloud and Banner The Order of the Cloud and Banner () also known as the Order of the Resplendent Banner is a military award of the Republic of China. It was instituted on June 15, 1935 and is awarded in nine grades for contributions to national security. The insig ...
, for his aid in opening the man-made, 1,000-mile lifeline. For his service as a U.S. Army Combat Liaison Officer in World War II, he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. (Military Record and Report of Separation, Certificate of Service,
National Personnel Records Center The National Personnel Records Center(s) (NPRC) is an agency of the National Archives and Records Administration, created in 1966. It is part of the United States National Archives National Archives facilities#Federal Records Centers, federal recor ...
, 29 Dec 45.)
"After graduating in engineering from
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
in 1937, John Young became active as a businessman and consultant in San Francisco. Commissioned in the United States Army at the outbreak of World War II, Young served in the China Burma India Theater as a liaison officer between Chinese and American Troops. Leaving the service with the rank of a major, Young returned to San Francisco to run his own manufacturing business and to serve on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. For more than thirty years, Young devoted himself to the improvement of
San Francisco's Chinatown The Chinatown (), centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, is the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside Asia. It is also the oldest and largest of the four notabl ...
. Among other things, he helped found the annual Chinese New Year's Parade (and the
Miss Chinatown USA The Miss Chinatown USA pageant, based on Chinese communities within the U.S., greets delegates around the country. The pageant has been an annual Lunar New Year event since 1958. The winners of this pageant represent the Chinese community and a ...
Pageant), worked for low-cost federal housing in Chinatown, and worked with the city government to upgrade the Chinatown infrastructure. Rising to the rank of
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in the
United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed ...
, Young played an important role in the Chinese-American Veterans' affairs, including the establishment of a memorial to Chinese veterans of World War II placed in St. Mary's Square."
As a commander of the
American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
Post No. 384 (Cathay Post), Young helped to establish the San Francisco memorial to the fallen Chinese American Veterans of World War I and World War II, and along with his former commanding officer, General
Albert Wedemeyer Albert Coady Wedemeyer (9 July 1896 – 19 December 1989) was a United States Army general who served in Asia during World War II from October 1943 to the end of the war in 1945. Previously, he was an important member of the War Planning Board ...
, helped to preside over its dedication. During the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
, Young was recalled to active duty and served as the chief of the Inspection Division of the San Francisco Ordnance District from 1951 to 1953. He retired as a reserve officer in June 1972 with the rank of full
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
.


Wing Nien

John C. Young and his brother-in-law, George Hall "....set up the first factory in the United States that manufactured
soy sauce Soy sauce (sometimes called soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of China, Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermentation (food), fermented paste of soybeans, roasted cereal, grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or ''A ...
(Wing Nien Brand) using the old Chinese fermentation process." They organized the U.S. Enterprise Corporation which handled property development, import, and exporting. Young and Hall also were part owners with
Johnny Kan Johnny Kan (1906–1972) was a Chinese American restaurateur in Chinatown, San Francisco, ca 1950–1970. He was the owner of Johnny Kan's restaurant, which opened in 1953, and published a book on Cantonese cuisine, ''Eight Immortal Flavors'', whi ...
in Kan's Restaurant, as well as
Hakone Gardens Hakone Gardens is an traditional Japanese garden in Saratoga, California, United States. A recipient of the Save America's Treasures Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it is recognized as one of the oldest Japanese-style ...
,
Saratoga, California Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. Located in Silicon Valley, in the southern Bay Area, it had a population of 31,051 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Saratoga is known for its wineries, restaurant ...
. After George Hall's death in 1966, John C. Young became president of the U.S. Enterprise Corporation and headed Wing Nien Soy Sauce Co. until his retirement in 1977.


Legacy

Col. Young and his wife Mary donated their extensive collection of Chinese Imperial
Robes A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. Unlike garments described as capes or cloaks, robes usually have sleeves. The English word ''robe'' derives from Middle English ''robe'' ("garment"), borrowed from Old French ''robe'' ("booty, spoils ...
and
Chinese jade Chinese jade refers to the jade mined or carved in China from the Neolithic onward. It is the primary hardstone of Chinese sculpture. Although deep and bright green jadeite is better known in Europe, for most of China's history, jade has c ...
to the Stanford University
Cantor Center for Visual Arts A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...
and to the
Tacoma Art Museum The Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) is an art museum in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It focuses primarily on the art and artists from the Pacific Northwest and broader western region of the U.S. Founded in 1935, the museum has strong roots in the ...
. Shortly after Young's death, Mary funded the building of a museum in China near Young's father's ancestral village in
Doumen District Doumen District () is a district of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province ) means "wide" or "vast", and has been associated with the region since the creation of Guang Prefecture in AD 226. The name "''Guang''" ultimately came from Guangxin ( zh, labels=n ...
,
Zhuhai Zhuhai; Yale romanization of Cantonese, Yale: ''Jyūhói''; Chinese postal romanization, also known as Chuhai is a prefecture-level city located on the west bank of the Pearl River (China), Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern ...
, Guangdong, China. The museum bears Young's Chinese name: The ''Zhaozhen'' Museum.


See also

*
Al Young (dragster driver) Alfred John Young (April 28, 1946 - December 11, 2022) was a former World Champion Drag Racer and National Hot Rod Association Hall of Famer who competed in professional Bracket racing, and the heads-up categories from Super Street and Super Gas to ...
*
Carlos Spaht Carlos Gustave Spaht, I (August 2, 1906 – April 29, 2001), was a Louisiana judge best remembered for having lost the Democratic gubernatorial runoff election in January 1952 to fellow Judge Robert F. Kennon of Minden, the seat of Webster Pa ...
*
Connie Young Yu Connie Young Yu (born June 19, 1941) () is a Chinese American writer, activist, historian, and lecturer. She has written and contributed to many articles and books, notably including ''Profiles in Excellence: Peninsula Chinese Americans'', ''C ...


References


Further reading

* * * * * Young, John C., Military Record and Report of Separation, Certificate of Service, National Personnel Records Center, 29 Dec 45. *


External links


Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. Connie Young Yu
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Young, John C 1912 births 1987 deaths United States Army officers American military personnel of Chinese descent Stanford University alumni Businesspeople from San Jose, California Military personnel from California