Wilbur Carl Sze | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1915-01-19)January 19, 1915 |
| Died | December 15, 2009(2009-12-15) (aged 94) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1943–Unknown |
Wilbur Carl Sze (January 19, 1915 – December 15, 2009) was the firstChinese-American to be commissioned as anofficer in theUnited States Marine Corps.[1]
Wilbur Sze was born on January 15, 1915, in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Dr. Phillip Sze, a Chinese medical practitioner. His uncle wasAlfred Sao-ke Sze, a prominent Chinese diplomat in the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s.[2] From 1920 to 1931 Wilbur lived inShanghai,Republic of China. Upon returning to the United States, where he did not read, write, or speak English, he was enrolled in theStaunton Military Academy inStaunton, Virginia. In 1934, he transferred toCentral High School in Washington, D.C., and later graduated in 1936. He next attendedGeorge Washington University where he studiedelectrical engineering. In 1937, theEmpire of Japaninvaded China which cut off the money he was receiving to attend school. Undeterred, he began working and attending classes at night. After eight years, he was able to attain his electrical engineering degree, graduating February 22, 1944.[3]
On December 15, 1943, Second Lieutenant Wilbur Carl Sze became the first Chinese-American officer commissioned in theMarine Corps.[4][5] In early August 1944, Lt Sze accompanied LtGen Robert Khe-Shang-Lim, Chief of the Supervising and Planning Committee of theRepublic of China Army, on a tour ofMarine Corps Base Camp LeJeune,North Carolina.[6] From November 30, 1944, until January 29, 1945, Sze trained at and graduated from the Military Intelligence Training Center atCamp Ritchie, Maryland, placing him among the diverse ranks of theRitchie Boys, a group of intelligence officers and enlisted men credited with obtaining much of the actionable intelligence on the Western Front.
Following the war, First Lieutenant Sze served as the aide-de-camp for Major GeneralKeller E. Rockey, then Commanding General of theIII Amphibious Corps while inTientsin, China.[5]
Sze was married to Mariana Yung-Kwa, the daughter of the former Chinese Consul in Washington D.C.[3]
On December 15, 1943, Wilbur Carl Sze was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and the first Chinese-American officer in the U.S. Marine Corps