Chung-Hoon attended the
United States Naval Academy and graduated in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American graduate of the academy. While a student he gained national prominence as the football team's halfback and punter, and in 1934 starred on the team that broke an 11-year winless streak against the
Army team. In 1958
Sports Illustrated's Silver Anniversary All-American issue featured Chung-Hoon as one of its 1933 football stars. As of January 1937 he was serving as an ensign aboard the destroyer . He was a
lieutenant (junior grade) on as of January 1939.
World War II Chung-Hoon served on the battleship as a
lieutenant, but was in
Honolulu on a weekend pass during the
attack on Pearl Harbor. Chung-Hoon heard the attack from Honolulu and attempted to return to his ship but was delayed by roadblocks and traffic jams. By the time he reached the
Arizona the ship had already exploded and sunk. After the sinking of
Arizona, Chung-Hoon served as a naval liaison officer with
coastal artillery before becoming
executive officer on a destroyer in 1942, working convoy details in the Atlantic. He also served on board the cruiser . From May 1944 to October 1945 Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer . In the spring of 1945,
Sigsbee assisted in the destruction of 20 enemy planes while screening an
aircraft carrier strike force off the
Japanese island of
Kyūshū. On April 14, 1945, while on radar picket station off
Okinawa, a
kamikaze crashed into
Sigsbee, reducing her
starboard engine to and knocking out the ship's
port engine and steering control. Despite the damage, then
Commander Chung-Hoon kept his antiaircraft batteries delivering "prolonged and effective fire" against the continuing Japanese air attack while simultaneously directing the damage control efforts that allowed
Sigsbee to make port under her own power. The next day Chung-Hoon led a
burial at sea for the dead. One crewmate said of Chung-Hoon during the burial, "I often remember that the only man tough enough not to duck, was also the only man tender enough to cry." From August 16, 1950, to March 7, 1952, Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer during the
Korean War. Under Chung-Hoon's command the destroyer operated as part of the
7th Fleet, patrolling off the coast of Korea and taking part in gun bombardments. He was promoted to the rank of
captain on 1 July 1953. He served as the Commanding Officer of Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific from March to June of 1954, where he directed the training and certification of Hawaii based ships. Chung-Hoon served as captain of the
guided missile testing ship between July 1956 and August 1957. He was subsequently transferred to the
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., his last post. Chung-Hoon retired in October 1959 and was promoted to
rear admiral upon retirement, making him the first
Asian American flag officer of the United States Navy. ==Later life and legacy==