VFW Chung Mei Post 8358 life member Mr. Robert Fong, 94, of Sacramento, California has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the United States Army.
Robert Fong is receiving this award for his combat actions in the Battle of Luzon in the Philippine
Islands from 11 April 1945 to 5 May 1945 during World War II.
The Bronze Star Medal will be presented to Mr. Fong by Rear Admiral (RET) Jonathan Yuen of the United States Navy on the
west steps of the California State Capitol building on Sunday, September 13th,
2020 at 9:30 AM.
Robert is a U.S. Army combat veteran where he attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC) during WWII. Private Fong was assigned at the time to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division as an infantryman. He was deployed to the Asian Pacific Theatre where he participated in the Battle of Luzon, Philippines. The Japanese Army had been intercepting all communications in the area to include "walkie talkie" communications. To overcome this problem, the command would send hand carried communications and orders to a Forward Operating Post using soldiers they called "Runners”. Robert was selected by his command to become a "runner” due to his 5’3” size. He would dress in olive drab plain looking clothes and be sent out each morning to the Forward Operating Post and to various other locations throughout each day. These various places were in enemy held territory and each time Private Fong would return unharmed much to the surprise of his command. Robert stated that "each time I would return from the Forward Operating Base, they couldn’t believe I made it”. This continued daily until the end of the war in the Asian Pacific Theatre. His previous medals awarded include the Philippine Liberation Ribbon W/1 bronze star, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal W/1 bronze star, WWII Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
