Chinese American military vets honored

Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News

Madison Heights -- Andrew Wong served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and has been on a mission ever since to honor other Metro Detroit Chinese Americans who served this country.

That goal becomes reality on Wednesday, Veterans Day, with the unveiling of a plaque he designed honoring Chinese-American veterans for their patriotism and service.

"We want to address the under-recognized Chinese American veterans' service to our country, and to counter the perception that Chinese are sojourners who do not seek to set down roots," said Wong, 85, who was born in New York City and resides in Beverly Hills. "And we want to provide a public display at an appropriate place and setting."

The setting is the Chinese Community Center in Madison Heights. The unveiling of the plaque, engraved with the names of nearly 150 Chinese American veterans, from Michigan and Greater Toledo, Ohio, begins at noon Wednesday.

Wong was drafted out of high school and served abroad in the Army Signal Corps in the early 1940s. After his tour of duty, he moved to Michigan, raised a family and joined the mostly Chinese American AMVET Post 85.

Thomas Lee, 79, of Warren also is one of the 30 members of Post 85. Born in Detroit, he enlisted after graduation from Cass Technical High School. He served in the military from 1947 to 1953, a time that included the Korean War "for five years, nine months and 19 days," he said. "I served on the battleship Missouri, and was in charge of the room that directed the guns."

He said it's about time Chinese Americans received their due recognition for military service.

"I think it's important the people realize that Chinese Americans didn't just lay around and didn't do anything," he said. "And it's not just in the wars from long ago. The newer generations also serve this country."

Lee's son, Stuart Lee, 39, served in Desert Storm aboard an aircraft carrier as an electronics engineer.