Commander Bok Pon
On July 21, Commander Bok Pon passed away due to a deteriorating liver caused by Hepatitis B.
Three years ago, Commander Pon was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Even with this prior knowledge, Pon did not stop helping people and continued his duties at American Legion Post #384, known as Cathay Post.
Three years later, an MRI scan showed that his liver was badly damaged and his time was very limited. After hearing this news, Pon became more determined to finish his mission and flew to Washington, D.C. to finalize his duties.
One of Pon’s greatest accomplishments is his work at Cathay Post. Near the end of the 1990s, Cathey Post, like most of the other legion posts, was slowly dying out. In 2002, Bok Pon decided to revive Cathay Way. He was determined to bring in new members and raise money to improve the organization.
Cathay Way is currently known as a friendly community center. After Pon’s hard work, Cathay Way has a trust fund to pay full tuition for veterans who attend the San Francisco City College. Pon also helped fight for a museum that recognizes Chinese American soldiers.
Along with these accomplishments, Pon is also known as the first Asian American to be part of the California Republican Party Executive Committee. He was also a vital supporter for the construction of Chinatown in San Francisco.
Pon helped raise awareness of the Hepatitis B virus, which infects one in 10 Asian Americans in the Chinese community.
Pon was a determined solider who served his country. He fought to protect the United States and its values. Later, he put endless efforts to help his fellow veterans.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. ♦