{"id":10299,"date":"2011-09-13T04:09:30","date_gmt":"2011-09-13T04:09:30","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-09-13T04:09:23","modified_gmt":"2011-09-13T04:09:23","slug":"Fang-Wong-to-head-of-American-Legion-veterans-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=10299","title":{"rendered":"Fang Wong to head of American Legion veterans association"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fang Wong left Hong Kong as a kid to live and toil in a Harlem Laundromat 50 years ago, he never dreamed he’d become the most important veterans’ advocate in the United States.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But on Sept. 1, the Chinese immigrant was elected National Commander of the American Legion, a mutual aid organization 2.4 million-vets strong.<\/p>\n

“I feel humble and honored,” said Wong, 63, a gray-haired Vietnam vet with an easy smile. “I really don’t feel different. I’m still me – I want to do my utmost to help however I can.”<\/p>\n

During the Vietnam War, that meant working undercover for the Army as a Chinese language expert. Later, in New York, it meant helping Chinatown recover from the upheaval of 9\/11.<\/p>\n

Now that Wong is the legion’s first-ever Asian-American National Commander<\/strong>, it means lobbying President Obama to create jobs for soldiers returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

“The unemployment rate for returning veterans is 28%,” he said. “We need the government sector and the private sector to understand that when you hire a veteran you get a very good employee.”<\/p>\n

Born in Canton, China, in 1948 – one year before the Communist Party took power there – Wong moved with his mother and brother to Hong Kong.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They immigrated to New York in 1960 to join Wong’s father, who was running a Laundromat on W. 148th St.<\/p>\n

Read More on Mr. Wong!Source<\/a>
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