Young Chang Ha

Captain Young Chang Ha (U.S. Navy-Retired) passed away peacefully in Charlotte, NC on August 12, 2023 at the age of 87. Young Chang was born on December 3, 1935 in Yong Chon, North Korea. He and his family fled to South Korea in April 1948 because of the persecution of Christians by the communist regime. Two years later, the Korean War broke out and Chaplain Ha and his family were again forced to flee from Seoul to Pusan with millions of other war refugees. In spite of the war, Chaplain Ha continued his schooling, eventually returning to Seoul and graduating from Yong San High School in 1954.

After the war, he found peace and fellowship in celebrating God with his dear friends of the Pilgrim Choir at the 8th Army South Post Chapel in Yong San, Seoul. He attended college for two years and then enlisted in the South Korean Army in 1956. After fulfilling his two year military obligation, Chaplain Ha came to America on a student visa. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Theology from Northwest Christian College in 1965, a Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University in 1968, and a Doctor of Ministry from Claremont School of Theology in 1973.

After his ordination in 1968, Reverend Ha pastored at First Christian Church in Madeira, California until 1971. While attending Claremont School of Theology, he was recruited by the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) in 1973. Chaplain Ha proudly served 24 ½ years in the U.S. Navy, during which he spent time at various duty stations including Marines, submarines, surface ships, Air Stations, Naval Training Commands, and overseas in Okinawa and mainland Japan. Chaplain Ha became the first Korean-American Navy Chaplain, and the first Korean-American to achieve the rank of Captain in the Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy. He retired from active duty in December 1997. Chaplain Ha was eternally grateful to God for the opportunity to become an American and to serve the sailors, Marines and their families in the United States and overseas, in times of war and peace.

Chaplain Ha is preceded in death by his devoted wife of 54 years, Bonnie May Ha. He is survived by daughter Christine Ha and her wife Holly Fanning of Mint Hill, NC and daughter Kathleen Dryden and her husband Paul Dryden and grandchildren, Eric and Lily Dryden of Charlotte, North Carolina. Young Chang and Bonnie were active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlotte and Chaplain Ha also served as an associate member and Chaplain of the Korean War Veterans Association (Chapter 265) in Mint Hill.

A memorial service and reception will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 101 Colville Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 16, 2023. A burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.