Ernest K. H. Eng collection

Collection

Identifier: 2016.006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

-This is a digital collection. MOCA digitizes it from the Captain Ernest K. H. Eng's photo album.

-Digital copies of Captain Ernest K. H. Eng's photo album; including images of his tour in China with the mission of General George Catlett Marshall, and other political figures of China such as Zhou, Enlai and Chiang, Kai-shek during the war from September 1945 to June 1948, his wedding pictures in China in 1946, and his family photos after returning to America from China, a total of 40 pages (no images on the last page), as well as notes and newspaper clippings on album pages, some loosing images, and an urgent incoming radio message document etc.

-Digital copies of 3 letters with 2 envelopes from General Marshall to Major Ernest Eng in 1953 and 1955 respectively

-Digital copies of a film premiere program brochure including 2 page inserts: We Served with Pride: the Chinese American Experience in WWII

September 02, 1945, after eight years departed from China, Ernest K. H. Eng, sailed from Boston on the USS (United States Ship) General Scott, a transport manned by the U.S. Coast Guard, to India. During the trip, he was with members of the Chinese Group at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. It was a twenty-eight day trip which took them through the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. And then he left India to Kunming. On October 13, 1945, he was assigned to Chungking (Chongqing), China, as aide-de-camp to General Paul W. Caraway, Commanding General of the Chungking (Chongqing) Liaison Group. November 1945, the Chungking Liaison Group was inactivitated and he was assigned to the office of the Theater Commander in Shanghai. On December 22nd he was assigned to General Marshall's staff. In the summer of 1946, General Marshall went to Kuling (Lushan or Mount Lu) eight times in total for the negotiation between Nationalist Party and Communist Party of China, because Chiang Kat-shek had his summer headquarters at Kuling. Eng. Ernest K. H. was responible for General Marshall's headquarters in Kuling. In February 1947, negotiations between the Nationalists and Communists broke and General Mrashall returned to the United States. Eng. Ernest K. H. was transferred to the American Embassy in Nanking (Nanjing) where the Embassy Executive Office was activitated to carry on some of the functions formally performed by General Marshall's staff. On September 28, 1946, Eng. Ernest K. H. got married with Yen. Anita B. Y. at Saint John Episcopal Church in Nanjing. General Marshall gave his bride away and honored them with a reception at his place in Nanjing. Their first chide was born in Nanjing on July 15, 1947. They named him George Yen Eng. In June, 1948, Ernest finished his mission in China and came back the United States with his family. After he came back, Ernest Eng was assign to Army Language School in Monterety California. His second son, Steven Yen Eng, was born in Presidio Monterey, California, on April 18, 1950. June 15, 1950, Korean War started and Ernest Eng arrived in the Far East Command and assigned to G2, Headquarters, FEC, APO #500 with duty station in Tokyo, Japan, on August 14, 1950. And then he went to North Korea and serve as an interpreter in the Chinese POW Stockade at Hamhung on November 2, 1950. As a member of an inspection team, in November 1951, he made his first trip to Southern Japan. On February 11, 1952, Eng, Ernest K. H.'s wife, Yen. Anita B. Y. and their two sons, George Yen Eng and Steven Yen Engon visited him in Japan. During the time, his third son was born on 14 April 1953, at US Army Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. His name is Michael Yen Eng. After Ernest K. H. Eng finished his mission in Japan and came back to the States before 1955. Before long, Ernest K. H. Eng had another mission in Germany and he went and served there from 1956 to 1960. His family also went with him. During the time, he was also honored by the local community. After he finished the mission in Germany and came back the States in 1960, the album shows that Ernest Eng always spent the time with his family.

Dates

Creation: 1945-1962

Language of Materials

Most of the materials are in English, some are in Chinese.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is unrestricted and open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

For reference use only; not for reproduction, distribution, or deposit in another collection. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Director of Collections. If publishing, cite: Ernest K. H. Eng Collection, Museum of Chinese in America.

Biographical / Historical

Col. Ernest K. H. Eng was born in Norfolk, VA in 1920 and died June 29, 2010. He was a long time resident of Atlanta. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anita Eng; sons, George Y. Eng, Steve Y. Eng (Liz), Michael Y. Eng; grandchildren, Christina Eng, Derick Eng, George D. Eng; and sisters, Nancy Mah, Chirley Lam, both of Virginia Beach, VA. Interment services will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2 to 5 o'clock at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and also served in the Korean Conflict. He attended OCS in 1943 and attained the rank of Lt. Col. Before retiring in 1963. During his distinguished military career, he served as an Aidede-Camp to several General Officers, most notably Gen. George C. Marshall, when he was the ranking U.S. military representative in the negotiations between the Nationalist and Communist Chinese after WWII. Mr. Eng was a guest at the White House and was honored in 1999 by President William Clinton. He was also one of the subjects interviewed in the documentary, "We Served with Pride", which honored the contributions of all Asian-American military veterans of WWII. A resident of Atlanta since 1974, Ernest Eng has always served his family and the community with pride and will be forever missed for his generosity, positive attitudes and constant smiles.

Extent

410 photograph (N/A) ; The physical album: 14" x 11" x 2"

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged into 2 series alphabetically: [1]photo album; [2]documents.

General

Item level catalog can be found on PastPerfect.

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