Oscar Antonio Chong M.

Oscar Antonio Chong M., 67, of Tampa, FL passed away on Friday, July 3, 2015 at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL.  He was born in Panama City, Republic of Panama.

He served his country in the US Army and retired after having served over twenty (20) years.  During his time in the service of the country, he received the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters (“OLC”); Joint Service Commendation with an OLC; Army Commendation medal with OLC; Army Good Conduct Medal (6 Awards); National Defense Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Number 3; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon with Number 2; and the Expert Badge Rifle, M-16.  After his retirement from the US Army, he went to work for the Veterans Administration at the Regional Office.

Oscar was very proud of his Panamanian heritage and liked spending time with family and friends in Panama; he liked to travel.  He was also a proud veteran, who made friends easily and would strike up a conversation with anyone. He was a huge soccer fan, a big fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and supported all of the local sports teams.  Oscar was very grateful he had his son and daughter to help him these past fifteen years with his health problems.  He loved his Siberian Husky, Neo.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Collins; his son, Oscar A. Chong, Jr.; daughter, Carmen Elisa Chong; his sister, Rosemary Chong; and his niece, Rose Monique Chong.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 7, 2015, at 3:00pm at the the Parroquia Santisima Trinidad in Betania, Panama, Republic of Panama. Oscar will be interred with his parents.