Dai Ho Chun - Army Air Force
2LT Dai Ho Chun received his commission from the University of Hawaii ROTC program. He was called to active duty in April 1942 and assigned to the 18th Fighter Control Squadron stationed at Wheeler Army Air Field, Oahu, Hawaii. Dai Ho proved to be one of the best officers in the squadron so he was promoted quickly. In October 1944, Dai Ho was promoted to Major with assignment as Squadron CO of the 18th Fighter Control Squadron, a rare assignment considering he was Chinese American. Dai Ho remained in the Air Force Reserve following WWII and was promoted to Lt. Col in March 1954.
Following WWII, Dai Ho became a life long educator in Hawaii’s public schools and the University of Hawaii. As a professor at the University of Hawaii, Dai Ho was instrumental in promoting international education that lead to the formation of the East West Center. Dai ho served the East West Center for 14 years.
Robert Wai - Army
Robert McBride Hite Wai (“Bob” as he was known) was drafted in January 1941 during his final semester at UCLA. He immediately returned to Hawaii and worked as a pay master for the Army Corps of Engineers. After his tenure with the Army Corps, Bob officially entered the Army in April 1943, was assigned to the 24th Division, and shipped off for training in the jungles of Good Enough Islands, just off of the coast of Australia. Following jungle training, Bob went right into the battles of Dutch New Guinea and Leyte, Mindoro and Mindanao in the Philippines. During those fierce battles, he learned that his older brother, Capt. Francis B. Wai, was killed in the battle of Leyte (Captain Wai received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery). Later, in September 1945, Bob went to Shikoku, Japan, as part of the occupation force. After 26 months of combat, that involved four bitter South Pacific campaigns and the occupation of Japan, Bob was honorably discharged as Master Sergeant in November 1945. Bob earned 3 Bronze Stars for the Asian Pacific battles, 1 Bronze Star for the Philippines conflicts, Good Conduct Medal, and WWII Victory Medal.
Bob was an outstanding athlete, along with brothers Francis, Conkling, and Lambert. He was a college friend of Jackie Robinson, as they played on the same football and baseball teams at UCLA. He married Lily Padeken and has two sons, Robert Jr. and Van, nine grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren.