Frederick G. Wong
U.S. Army Retired
EWU ROTC Class of 1964
Silver Star
Brigadier General Frederick G. Wong was born January 4, 1942 in Puunene on the Hawaiian island of Maui. He earned a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Education from the then named Eastern Washington State College (EWSC) in 1964 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant as a Distinguished Military Graduate through the university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from Eastern in 1973. His military education includes completion of the Signal Officer Basic Course, Fort Gordon Georgia; the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning, Georgia; and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
Cadet Fred Wong receiving an award as the top shooter of the ROTC Rifle Team in 1963 from the then Eastern Washington State College Professor of Military Science Colonel Erwin Nilsson
Cadet Fred Wong was the 1963 Man of the Year at Eastern.
Brigadier General Wong’s early assignments include duty as a Platoon Leader at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the Dominican Republic; and the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a Company Commander at Fort Polk, Louisiana; and as a Battalion Logistics Officer, Battalion Intelligence Officer, and Rifle Company Commander with the 25th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. General Wong also served as an ROTC Instructor at Eastern prior to serving in Europe with Headquarters VII Corps, Stuttgart, West Germany; followed by duty as the Deputy G1 Berlin Brigade. From 1977 to 1979 he served on the Third ROTC Region Staff and in 1980 as the Executive Officer with 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, Fort Riley, Kansas. He then served on the Army Staff on the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, and from 1985 to 1987 as Chief, Colonels Assignments Branch, U.S. Army Military Personnel Center.
Brigadier General Wong while serving as a company commander in Vietnam.
Brigadier General Wong served two tours with the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry and the 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division. In addition he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G1 and the Division Chief of Staff.
Brigadier General Wong served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC). He then became the Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii. He next served as Assistant Division Commander, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). His final assignment was as Director, Officer Personnel Management, U.S. Total Army Personnel Command. He retired from the Army 1995. In 2000, he was appointed chief of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service. In 2004, he became chief of Human Intelligence Support Services. He retired from government service in September 2009, after 40 years of service to his nation.
Brigadier General Wong’s awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with “V” device and three oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Air Crewman’s Badge, and Parachutists Badge.
Brigadier General Wong is married to the former Vicky Tamura of Kilauea on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. They have a daughter Lori and a son Jon. He is currently retired in Tennessee.
2016 Eastern Washington University Exceptional Military Service Award Winner
You can see the rest of the members of our EWU Military Science Hall of Fame at the below link:
Fred, You always bring good memories back to me from our Eastern days. WAY TO GO.
Tom Talkington
When Fred Wong was my brigade commander, he had an endearing habit. He addressed his officers as “brother.” Many years later I followed his example by adopting the same habit.