An Asian American official asks if his military scars are ‘patriot enough’

Lee Wong, 69, says he came to America at the age of 18 and had been an American citizen longer than most of his subordinates. Wong retired from the military after 20 years of active service

“There are ignorant people who will come to me and say I don’t look like American or patriotic,” Wong said during a meeting of the West Chester Township Board of Trustees on March 23. “Now that gets my goat.”

“Here’s my testimony,” he said, pointing to his scars. “Now is it enough to be zealous for the country?”

Wong has lived in West Chester Township, near Cincinnati, for almost 20 years. He is the president of the board of trustees and held the Senate seat last year. He knocked on thousands of doors during his campaigns and said the community was strong and diverse.

But he said the situation against Asia had only gotten worse in the last few years for him and other members of the public, describing them as hard-working Americans.

Video of his speech has spread. Wong said he was surprised by the rumors and that his friends in California had seen the video online.

Wong told CNN he had been paying attention to his scars and was uncomfortable taking off his shirt – even at sea or in the lake – and decided to show off his scars when it was hot right now.

The scars come from many surgeries he underwent while serving in the Armed Forces to treat infections he received during his military training in South Carolina.

“There are ignorant people who will come to me and say I don’t look like American or patriotic,” Wong said during a meeting of the West Chester Township Board of Trustees on March 23. “Now that gets my goat.”

“Here’s my testimony,” he said, pointing to his scars. “Now is it enough to be zealous for the country?”

Wong has lived in West Chester Township, near Cincinnati, for almost 20 years. He is the president of the board of trustees and held the Senate seat last year. He knocked on thousands of doors during his campaigns and said the community was strong and diverse.

But he said the situation against Asia had only gotten worse in the last few years for him and other members of the public, describing them as hard-working Americans.

Video of his speech has spread. Wong said he was surprised by the rumors and that his friends in California had seen the video online.

Wong told CNN he had been paying attention to his scars and was uncomfortable taking off his shirt – even at sea or in the lake – and decided to show off his scars when it was hot right now.

The scars come from many surgeries he underwent while serving in the Armed Forces to treat infections he received during his military training in South Carolina.