[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E25]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING ALLEN CHIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 11, 2021

  Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Allen Chin, who passed away on November 18, 2013 at the age of 91. A 
proud Chinese Immigrant, Allen was a member of the Greatest Generation, 
and valiantly served our country in WWII to protect our freedom and 
American values at home and abroad. Allen's life embodied the highest 
ideals of our nation, and his remarkable courage are forever etched in 
our nation's history. For his service and sacrifice, Allen was 
posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his service 
during World War II.
  At age 15, Allen left his family in Guangdong, China and emigrated to 
San Francisco, California with a sponsorship from his uncle. When WWII 
broke out, Allen answered the call of duty and joined the U.S. Army. 
Allen was sent to serve in the Pacific Theater and became a machinist 
who helped train Chinese allied troops. His service instilled in him a 
deeply-held patriotism, which he would later inspire in future 
generations.
  Upon returning home to California, Allen became an American citizen 
and sponsored his family in China to come to the United States. Allen's 
first civilian career was owning and operating the Sonoma House grocery 
store--a place where all in the neighborhood convened and shopped. He 
met and married his wife Lillian who he called the ``Pretty girl from 
Shanghai'' and they began a long life together.
  Allen and his wife raised their daughter Arlene and settled down 
permanently in Arizona to forge a new path filled with adventure. Allen 
was a devoted father and active member of the Tempe community. He 
opened and sold a successful Chinese restaurant, worked as a machinist 
in the semiconductor industry, and pursued perhaps his greatest 
passion: ballroom dance. A man of dignity and honor, Allen's spirit 
lives on with his daughter Arlene, who has followed in his footsteps 
and continued his legacy of service. She has served Tempe proudly 
becoming its first Asian-American city councilmember.
  We all owe a debt of gratitude to Allen for his selfless commitment 
and sacrifice. I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation for all he 
has done to make our community, our state, and our country a better 
place. In this spirit of gratitude and remembrance, I humbly rise to 
honor his life and legacy, which will continue to be felt for 
generations to come.
  I thank Allen, and wish him Godspeed.

                          ____________________