~ Sent to us by Evelyne Mousted.
“Here is my dad, David Wing Yin Leong in his Willys MB during World War II in Germany. This is a tribute to the passing of a legend who was the definition of an American dream chaser. During 1940, he escaped Canton China during the Japanese bombing and invasion to come to America. Shortly after arrival, he became one of the few Chinese Americans to join forces during World War II and participated in the invasion of Normandy during D-Day. He was part of the Engineer Special Brigade unit, which was part of the 4th wave of the invasion of Omaha Beach. They were one of 3 specialized brigades that landed in Normandy. His job was to clear the beaches of mines and to destroy bunkers with charges, clearing the path for forces to take hold during the invasion.
After the war, he continued his difficult road to gaining his status as a true American by way of his restaurant in Missouri. Troubling times, including the bombing of his restaurant Leong’s Teahouse, did not deter him from his American dream. Fast forward through decades of hardships, altercations with disgruntled Americans and new menu ideas, David made it. He created the food dish that put Springfield Missouri on the map, cashew chicken. Since then, he has been not only an American war hero but also an inspiration for an entire community and beyond. He came out of retirement to start his new restaurant, Leong’s Asian Diner, in Springfield, Missouri. He was seen working daily up until he passed in July of 2020 at the age of 99. This is truly the story of a man who chased the American dream and did more than catch it. He earned it.”
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Evelyne Mousted
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Yes a true American hero thank god for all the men and women who served
Like your dad he earned everything nothing handed to him .
Thank you to your dad for his service and all our armed forces.
God bless America still the best country in the world even with all our problems!
Yes a true American hero thank god for all the men and women who served
Like your dad he earned everything nothing handed to him .
Thank you to your dad for his service and all our armed forces.
God bless America still the best country in the world even with all our problems!
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing.
Great Story True American! Thanks for sharing
Great Story True American! Thanks for sharing
That is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it. As I was reading, I was hoping that you had also found that Jeep from the picture. Maybe someone in the world has it?
That is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it. As I was reading, I was hoping that you had also found that Jeep from the picture. Maybe someone in the world has it?
Great story ! May he now rest in peace at the age of nearly 100 !
gr. Theo
Great story ! May he now rest in peace at the age of nearly 100 !
gr. Theo
Outstanding!
Outstanding!
This was the way America was made. By immigrants who were true to their beliefs, proud of their new country, and were very hard working. Serving as your father did is the shows the world the kind of true hero he was. I wish he wasn’t treated as he was upon his return, this also shows the kind of grit he had. I only wish I could have sat with him in his restaurant and had the kind of conversation with him that only veteran’s have. Farewell, Hero. I’ll meet you on the battlefield some day!
This was the way America was made. By immigrants who were true to their beliefs, proud of their new country, and were very hard working. Serving as your father did is the shows the world the kind of true hero he was. I wish he wasn’t treated as he was upon his return, this also shows the kind of grit he had. I only wish I could have sat with him in his restaurant and had the kind of conversation with him that only veteran’s have. Farewell, Hero. I’ll meet you on the battlefield some day!
Great story. Too bad many Americans still give Asian Americans and others who do not look like “white Caucasian” a hard time.
Great story. Too bad many Americans still give Asian Americans and others who do not look like “white Caucasian” a hard time.
Your Father was certainly a very brave and great man, to go through so many hardships, and sadly the mistreatment, but he did not give up.
Your being proud of his strength and perseverance, and giving us his story is appreciated, makes us realize what hardships he endured to become an American. Much more than most.
May he rest in peace, knowing he will not ever be forgotten!
Thank you for telling us his story, and for your photos .
A wonderful Father and true patriotic hero he most certainly was!
Your Father was certainly a very brave and great man, to go through so many hardships, and sadly the mistreatment, but he did not give up.
Your being proud of his strength and perseverance, and giving us his story is appreciated, makes us realize what hardships he endured to become an American. Much more than most.
May he rest in peace, knowing he will not ever be forgotten!
Thank you for telling us his story, and for your photos .
A wonderful Father and true patriotic hero he most certainly was!
Cudos to you for passing his story on. He was a true American, in the best sense of the word. We could be a great nation, if people could be kind to each other.
Cudos to you for passing his story on. He was a true American, in the best sense of the word. We could be a great nation, if people could be kind to each other.
Thank you for sharing the story of your father. I grew up in Hawai`i hearing War stories from many Asian American veterans. Growing up in a plantation community meant we were all neighbors and friends. I was one Caucasian kid among many Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, …. kids and we all got along and had great fun together. There were even a few Jeeps among us as we got old enough to drive. Some of them were our fathers: 1942 MB, 1944 M38, 1953 M38-A1, … among them. I still have many of these childhood friends, sadly however few of those jeeps survived. Thank you for the inspiring story of perseverance and patriotism.
Aloha, Eric Andersen
Thank you for sharing the story of your father. I grew up in Hawai`i hearing War stories from many Asian American veterans. Growing up in a plantation community meant we were all neighbors and friends. I was one Caucasian kid among many Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, …. kids and we all got along and had great fun together. There were even a few Jeeps among us as we got old enough to drive. Some of them were our fathers: 1942 MB, 1944 M38, 1953 M38-A1, … among them. I still have many of these childhood friends, sadly however few of those jeeps survived. Thank you for the inspiring story of perseverance and patriotism.
Aloha, Eric Andersen
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your father. May he rest in peace.
Like others, I wish I could have meet and talk with him, as it sounds like he led a very interesting life. My dad served in WWII also, he was in the Navy and fought in the Pacific theater. But it always saddens me when I hear that we have lost another American hero no matter where or when they severed.
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your father. May he rest in peace.
Like others, I wish I could have meet and talk with him, as it sounds like he led a very interesting life. My dad served in WWII also, he was in the Navy and fought in the Pacific theater. But it always saddens me when I hear that we have lost another American hero no matter where or when they severed.
I am proud of David’s WWII accomplishments and that he shared his recipe of Springfield or Cashew Chicken. I have enjoyed it at both of his restaurants. I visited with him at his last restaurant shortly before he passed away.
I am proud of David’s WWII accomplishments and that he shared his recipe of Springfield or Cashew Chicken. I have enjoyed it at both of his restaurants. I visited with him at his last restaurant shortly before he passed away.
Another true hero that helped save us in WW2. We need to thank these women of WW2 and all the other wars.
Another true hero that helped save us in WW2. We need to thank these women of WW2 and all the other wars.
That is the American dream! sounds like a great man and father. I also had an uncle on the same beach at the same time, with the 88th inft. the Blue Devils. those men got it done. Thanks for sharing. Awesome Jeep pic.
That is the American dream! sounds like a great man and father. I also had an uncle on the same beach at the same time, with the 88th inft. the Blue Devils. those men got it done. Thanks for sharing. Awesome Jeep pic.
Wow what a truly inspiring story , May his creator place him on a throne close to his side , this is the sorta guy gods treasure should they need help ,RIP David Wing Yin Leong
Wow what a truly inspiring story , May his creator place him on a throne close to his side , this is the sorta guy gods treasure should they need help ,RIP David Wing Yin Leong
I had a dear friend here in Florida with a similar story (Mar Fee “Yee” Moon). He ran his restaurant for 60 years and passed at age 92. Our favorite topic was his love of wrestling (and my poking fun at it). I do miss him so. Your story brought back many fine memories from my 1st taste of his cooking back in 1981. God speed Mr. Leong….
I had a dear friend here in Florida with a similar story (Mar Fee “Yee” Moon). He ran his restaurant for 60 years and passed at age 92. Our favorite topic was his love of wrestling (and my poking fun at it). I do miss him so. Your story brought back many fine memories from my 1st taste of his cooking back in 1981. God speed Mr. Leong….
Salute to an American Hero, He rest in peace, thank you for his service and dedication to the community and to the great USA.
Joe Blas, Guam, Vietnam Veteran
CJ2A Owner, Jeep 1
Salute to an American Hero, He rest in peace, thank you for his service and dedication to the community and to the great USA.
Joe Blas, Guam, Vietnam Veteran
CJ2A Owner, Jeep 1
This is what America is. Your father left a legacy that is impossible to duplicate for your family. His D Day adventure was something few combat enginners/ sappers and miners lived to tell the tale. Fortunate to servive and move on in the country he kept free and to those in Europe who owe him thier freedom as well. Rare courage and patriotism should inspire all of us. Gone but not forgotten!
This is what America is. Your father left a legacy that is impossible to duplicate for your family. His D Day adventure was something few combat enginners/ sappers and miners lived to tell the tale. Fortunate to servive and move on in the country he kept free and to those in Europe who owe him thier freedom as well. Rare courage and patriotism should inspire all of us. Gone but not forgotten!
what a man such fortitude great country’s are built by such people . RIP David
what a man such fortitude great country’s are built by such people . RIP David
Thank you for sharing this wonderful, heartwarming story – it rekindled my faith in the true American Dream!
Wow, what a true American! Your dad was everything being American stood for and I thank him for his service.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful, heartwarming story – it rekindled my faith in the true American Dream!
Wow, what a true American! Your dad was everything being American stood for and I thank him for his service.
What a great story!!! Thank you for sharing this with us!!
May we all be worthy of his service, sacrifice and example!!
God Bless!!!
What a great story!!! Thank you for sharing this with us!!
May we all be worthy of his service, sacrifice and example!!
God Bless!!!
Thank you for his service and may he rest in peace. He was a true well deserved American citizen. We need more pro like him. Thank you
Thank you for his service and may he rest in peace. He was a true well deserved American citizen. We need more pro like him. Thank you
Great story. Thanks for sharing. We need to seek out more stories of extraordinary hero’s like your Dad’s and avoid the negative.
Great story. Thanks for sharing. We need to seek out more stories of extraordinary hero’s like your Dad’s and avoid the negative.
What a true hero and a great example to all of us. Thanks for sharing.
What a true hero and a great example to all of us. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful story. Mr. Leong was the embodiment of the American dream.
What a wonderful story. Mr. Leong was the embodiment of the American dream.