Jesse Disarms Knife-Wielding Worker at Factory Gate

Overview

During Jesse Chan’s tenure as Purchasing Manager and Board Member at Eastern Textile Factory (1957-1968), a worker came to the factory gate with a knife, intending to stab someone after Jesse had refused his request for a loan against future salary. Office staff called Jesse to handle the crisis. Jesse calmly went to the gate, confronted the armed worker, and simply said “Give me the knife.” The worker complied, surrendering the weapon without violence. Betty Chan’s assessment: “Daddy’s really brave. He is over brave.”

The Loan Request (Days Before)

Worker’s Financial Desperation

Worker approached Jesse requesting loan against future salary
Common practice in Filipino workplace culture (employer as bank)
Worker likely facing family emergency or debt crisis
Came to Purchasing Manager (Jesse) as authority figure

Jesse’s Refusal

Why Jesse said no:

Against company policy (likely)
Would set precedent for other workers
Could be manipulation or habitual borrowing
Jesse responsible for company finances, not personal loans
Possibly worker had history of not repaying

Worker’s reaction:

Angry at refusal
Felt humiliated or desperate
Began planning retaliation
Obtained knife
Returned to factory days later

The Knife Incident (Unknown Date)

Arrival at Factory Gate

Worker returned with weapon:

Came to factory gate (entrance/security checkpoint)
Carrying knife visibly (security noticed)
Stated intention to stab someone
Unclear if target was Jesse specifically or “anyone in management”
Creating crisis at workplace entrance

Factory response:

Security staff recognized danger
Could not disarm worker safely
Worker agitated and threatening
Called Jesse’s office for help

Office Calls Jesse

Critical moment:

Office staff called Jesse
Informed him: worker at gate with knife
Jesse was the one worker asked for loan from
Jesse most likely to defuse situation (or become victim)
Jesse could have called police or security
Instead, Jesse decided to go himself

Jesse’s Confrontation

Walking to the gate:

Jesse left office
Walked to factory entrance
Approached armed, agitated worker
No weapon, no backup, no protection
Just Jesse and his words

The conversation:

Jesse talked to the worker
Exact words unknown (but Jesse spoke calmly)
Established connection/rapport
Reminded worker of their relationship
Possibly acknowledged worker’s desperation
Did not threaten or escalate

The request:

Jesse simply said: “Give me the knife”
Direct, calm, authoritative
Not a negotiation
Not a threat
Command from respected authority figure

The surrender:

Worker gave Jesse the knife
No struggle
No violence
Crisis defused in minutes
Everyone safe

Betty’s Commentary

”Daddy’s Really Brave”

From Betty’s narrative:

“Daddy’s really brave. He is over brave.”

What “over brave” means:

Filipino English phrase = “excessively brave” or “too brave”
Admiration mixed with worry
Pride in husband’s courage
Concern for his safety
Recognition he takes risks others wouldn’t

Betty’s perspective:

Wife watching husband confront armed worker
Fear he could be stabbed
Amazement at his fearlessness
Pattern she recognized throughout marriage

Why It Worked

Jesse’s Relationship with Workers

Respected authority figure:

Purchasing Manager (not distant executive)
Bought supplies workers needed
Interacted with workers regularly
Known personally throughout factory
Fair reputation despite refusing loan

Cultural Context: Respect for Authority

Filipino workplace culture (1950s-1960s):

Hierarchical respect (managers respected by workers)
Utang na loob (debt of gratitude - Jesse provided jobs)
Hiya (shame - worker ashamed of threatening Jesse)
Personal relationships matter more than abstract rules

Jesse’s Courage

What made it work:

Calmness in face of danger (no panic)
Direct confrontation (didn’t hide or flee)
Personal connection (talked to worker as human)
Authority presence (commanded respect)
No aggression (didn’t threaten or attack)
Simple request (“Give me the knife” - not “put it down”)

Worker’s Choice

Why worker surrendered:

Respect for Jesse personally
Shame at threatening someone he knew
Recognition of wrongdoing
Jesse’s calm broke through anger
Face-saving (Jesse didn’t humiliate him publicly)
Cultural programming (respect authority)

Aftermath

Immediate Consequences

For worker:

Surrendered knife peacefully
Likely fired or disciplined (unknown)
Avoided criminal charges (possibly)
Face saved by Jesse’s discretion

For Jesse:

Hero to office staff and witnesses
Reputation for bravery enhanced
Authority reinforced among workers
No physical harm

For factory:

Crisis resolved without violence
No police involvement needed
Operations continued normally
Security procedures possibly reviewed

Long-term Impact

On Jesse’s reputation:

Known as brave and effective leader
Workers knew he would face problems directly
Management recognized his crisis management skills
Story told throughout factory

On Betty:

Pride and worry about husband’s courage
“Over brave” became part of family narrative
Recognized pattern of Jesse confronting danger
Prepared her for future brave acts

Pattern of Bravery

Common Threads

Jesse’s bravery characteristics:

Immediate action (no hesitation)
Physical courage (faces danger directly)
Calm under pressure (doesn’t panic)
Protective instinct (saves others)
“Over brave” (takes risks others avoid)

Betty’s Perspective Throughout

Betty consistently characterizes Jesse as:

Brave (admiration)
“Over” brave (concern)
Protective of family and others
Quick to act in crisis
Sometimes reckless in courage

Workplace Context

Eastern Textile Factory Scale

Why this was significant:

Factory employed 2,000 workers
Jesse was Purchasing Manager (known to all workers)
Served on Board of Directors (senior leadership)
Worker came to gate (public setting with witnesses)
Crisis could have shut down operations

Management-Worker Relations

This incident reveals:

Workers approached management for personal financial help
Some tension between management and workers
But also underlying respect (worker surrendered knife)
Jesse’s reputation among workers was strong
Personal relationships bridged class/role divide

Filipino Business Culture

1950s-1960s Philippines:

Paternalistic business model (employer cares for workers)
Personal relationships matter in workplace
Face-to-face conflict resolution preferred
Respect for authority strong cultural value
Shame/honor dynamics affect behavior

Leadership Lessons

Crisis Management

What Jesse did right:

Responded personally (didn’t delegate to security)
Remained calm (didn’t escalate with emotion)
Established connection (talked to worker first)
Clear command (“Give me the knife” - direct, simple)
Respected worker’s humanity (didn’t humiliate publicly)

Conflict Resolution

Jesse’s approach:

Face-to-face (personal presence matters)
Calm voice (reduces tension)
Acknowledgment (recognized worker’s feelings)
Authority (commanded respect)
Face-saving (allowed worker to surrender with dignity)

Risk Taking

“Over brave” leadership:

Sometimes leaders must take personal risk
Physical presence builds trust and respect
But also creates vulnerability
Betty’s worry was justified (could have been stabbed)
Worked in this case, but not guaranteed strategy

Connection to WWII Survival

Pattern Established in Wartime

Jesse’s WWII experiences shaped this courage:

During Japanese occupation:

Befriended Japanese colonel (dangerous gambit)
Negotiated for family’s survival (high stakes)
Remained calm under occupation
Built relationships across enemy lines
Took calculated risks that paid off

Factory knife incident similar:

Confronted dangerous situation directly
Used personal relationship to defuse threat
Remained calm facing violence
Calculated risk paid off
Courage from wartime experience

Comparison to Other Family Members

Jesse’s “Over Brave” Style

Different from:

Betty’s faith-based courage (“By the Grace of God” - relies on divine protection)
Florence’s professional courage (medical career in male-dominated field - systemic bravery)
Jesse’s courage is physical, immediate, personal (confronts danger directly)

Influence on Children

Rose, Meg, Louis, Michelle grew up with:

Father who confronts danger
Mother who prays through crisis
Both models of courage (different styles)
Stories of parents surviving WWII
Expectation to be brave in own ways

Betty’s Worry and Pride

”Over Brave”

Betty’s phrase captures:

Pride: My husband is brave
Worry: My husband is too brave
Exasperation: Why must he risk himself?
Admiration: But that’s who he is
Love: I wouldn’t change him

Living with a Hero

Betty’s experience:

Married to man who runs toward danger
Constant worry about his safety
Pride in his courage
Stories to tell children and grandchildren
“Over brave” becomes family identity

Unanswered Questions

Legacy

Family Story

This incident became:

Part of Jesse’s legend (brave Lolo)
Betty’s proof he was “over brave”
Example taught to children (courage in crisis)
Story told to grandchildren (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha)
Model of conflict resolution

Jesse’s Character

The knife incident reveals:

Physical courage (faces armed threat)
Moral courage (refuses improper loan)
Crisis management (defuses violence)
Relationship building (worker respects him enough to surrender)
Leadership (takes personal responsibility)

Connection to Later Life

This courage pattern continued:

1968: Risk of moving family to Taiwan (entrepreneurial courage)
1990: Risk of moving family to US (immigrant courage)
Later: Saving Kaitlyn from drowning (grandfather courage)
Later: Chasing thieves (community courage)

“Over brave” throughout life.

The knife incident at Eastern Textile Factory demonstrates Jesse Chan’s extraordinary courage and crisis management abilities - confronting an armed, angry worker and peacefully disarming him through calm authority and personal connection. Betty’s assessment “Daddy’s really brave. He is over brave” captures both admiration and concern for her husband’s fearless character, a pattern that would repeat throughout his life.

Loui Family

Explorer