Hoover Ginn's Obituary
Hoover Ginn – SEMPER FI
Hoover Ginn, (Gok Hung), loving father and husband passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 26, 2014 at the age of 81. Hoover was born on October 18, 1932 in Oakland, CA, the third of six children of Ginn Yee How and Yee Fong King. He grew up in Oakland, in a Chinese immigrant family where he worked hard doing menial work such as shelling shrimp, shining shoes, bussing tables, washing dishes and helping in the family grocery stores on 6th street and East 25th street.
Hoover graduated from Oakland Technical High and enlisted in the United States Marine Corp Reserve in 1949 and proudly served his country in the Korean War from January 1951-January 1952. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and served as a Scout & Observer and Basic Intelligence Man. He was in four combat campaigns from March 6, 1951 to January 29, 1952. (First UN Counter Offensive, Chinese Communist Forces, UN Summer Fall Offensive and the Second Korean Winter Offensive) He was known as a member of the “minefield 5” and was wounded in action on September 16, 1951, struck twice by an enemy mine explosion. Hospitalized for 2 months at Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan, he retrained and returned to Korea for active duty for a final combat campaign. As a result of service to his country, Corporal Hoover Ginn received the following decorations and citations: National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal w/4 Bronze Service****, Purple Heart medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Korean Medal, ROK Korean War Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/1*, Navy Unit Commendation, Occupation Medal and United Nations Ribbon.
Hoover worked in sales for over 40 years, mostly at Sun Life of Canada where he served the Chinese community, often translating and transporting clients to appointments and services. He lived life to the fullest, always welcomed everybody and enjoyed food, socializing and community service. Hoover was an avid fisherman and involved with Chinese service organizations such as The Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) and was a past president and founding director of The Wa Sung Service Club, in Oakland Chinatown. Later in life he was very active in many U.S. Marine Associations including the Golden Gate Chapter, the Chinatown VFW, detachment 942 Military order of the Devil Dogs and was past president of the Northern California 1st Marine Division Association (1991-92). Hoover loved to cook whether he was cooking for hundreds of people or for small intimate family gatherings. He enjoyed traveling, including recent visits to Korea, Hawaii and Mexico. Most important in his life was his family: his children, his grandchildren and his wife Amy.
Hoover is survived by his family: children Bruce (Grace), Robin and Lisa; grandchildren Brandon, Lauren, Jason, Austin and Gavin and his first wife Marilyn. Hoover is also survived by his second wife Amy Ginn (Ying Hao Peng) and her children: Angela Huang, Zhi Biao (Bill) Huang, daughter in law Heidi Yip, and granddaughter Jackqueline. In addition, Hoover is survived by his sisters, Easter Goldstein (Norman Goldstein), Elsie Dep, brother Henry Gin (Fawn Gin) and brother in law Donald Cheu (Jennie Wong) and many nephews and nieces. Hoover was predeceased by brother Howard, and sister Lily Cheu.
Family and friends are invited to attend services with military honors on Saturday, June 7 at 10am. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611. The burial will follow shortly thereafter at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. A celebration of life luncheon will be held at 2pm at Buffet Fortuna, 800 Broadway Street, Oakland Chinatown. At 3pm, Young Fong of The Wa Sung Community Service Club will speak of Hoover’s civic involvement and welcome retrospective comments from family and friends at this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations in Hoover’s memory:
The Korean War Memorial Foundation
c/o Colonel John R. Stevens
1806 Belles Street #6B
The Presidio
San Francisco, CA 94129
Hoover never wanted the Korean War to be the “forgotten war” and was trying to raise funds to support this memorial.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chinatown Post 4618
351 22nd Avenue #3
San Francisco, CA 94121
Hoover was very active with this organization that hosts many events including an annual event in Oakland Chinatown feeding the community.
1st Marine Division Association (designate scholarships)
403 N. Freeman Street
Oceanside, CA 92054
The Wa Sung Community Service Club (designate scholarships)
P. O. Box 1561
Oakland, CA 94604
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