MING CHANG

CHANG MING ERH CHANG Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) Passed away on October 3, 2017 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born in Shanghai, China on April 20, 1932, son of the late Chief Petty Officer Yu Ching Chang, USN (Retired) and the late Seiin (May) Chang. RADM Chang was married to his wife of 61 years, the former Charlotte Yu-Jen Chung of Washington, DC. RADM Chang's son, Daniel and his wife, Paula have two children, Jacob (Eliza) and Tara. Daniel graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (1979), and retired as a CDR, USN. Their son Jacob followed in the Navy footsteps, receiving his commission in the Navy. Upon his retirement from the Navy, Daniel worked at Northrop Grumman Corp and retired as a Vice President Program Management. RADM Chang's daughter, Donalda Chang Gibson currently lives in Leesburg, VA with her husband, Bill (CDR, USN Retired), and their two children, Geoffrey and Grace. She served 10 years as an officer in the Navy, attaining the rank of LCDR. Donalda currently works as an executive for Navy Federal Credit Union. RADM Chang and his wife also had another son, the late Donald Charles Chang. RADM Chang graduated from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA in 1955 with a BS in Physics and a minor in mathematics. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. RADM Chang served in the U.S Navy for 34 years retiring in 1990. He attained the rank of Rear Admiral in 1980 and was the first naturalized citizen of Asian descent to achieve the rank for Flag Officer in the U.S. Navy. His career included increasingly important assignments in the Navy's cruiser and destroyer commands. Some of the major sea assignments included Executive Officer USS Hollister (DD 788); Commanding Officer USS Rathburne (DE 1057); Commanding Officer USS Reeves (CG-24); Chief of Staff, Carrier Group THREE; Chief of Staff, Commander THIRD Fleet; and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO. His shore tours included service in Vietnam with Naval Forces Vietnam/Naval Advisory Group/Military Assistance Command, Naval Support Activity Saigon, and Senior Advisor, Amphibious Task Force 211. Other shore tours included Deputy Commander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command. He finished his distinguished career as the Naval Inspector General. After retirement, he became Vice President and Corporate Director for the Pacific Region at Raytheon; Vice Chairman Board of Directors, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute; and Founding Chairman Board of Directors, Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies (APAICS). RADM Chang was awarded the following decorations: Legion of Merit two awards; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Air Medal with Numeral "3" Combat Action Ribbon; Navy Unit Commendation awarded U.S. Naval Forces; Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded USS RATHBURNE (DE 1057); Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean); National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba) with two Bronze Stars (Taiwan and Korea); Federal Republic of Germany Cross of Merit First Class of the Order of Merit; Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star; Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color); Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Spanish Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit w/white ribbon. He was awarded the following civilian awards: Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge's George Washington Honor Medal for Excellence in Public Communication; Chinese Scientists Association of Southern California Award; Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award; Organization of Chinese Americans Outstanding Leadership Award, and the USPAAC Excellence 2000 Public Service Award RADM Chang had the following political appointments: Member of the Presidential Advisory Board for the World War II Memorial and Chairman of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point Advisory Board He also served as Emeritus on the William and Mary Foundation Board; was a Member of the William and Mary Board of Trustees, and was a Member of the William and Mary Order of the White Jacket. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wang YMCA of Chinatown in Boston, MA. Funeral services with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery Old Post Chapel on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society or Wang YMCA of Chinatown, 8 Oak St West Boston, MA 02116.Funeral services with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery Old Post Chapel on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society or Wang YMCA of Chinatown, 8 Oak St West Boston, MA 02116.