Republican lawmakers who were wounded in combat gathered on the first day of the new Congress for a group photo and to highlight their military service, saying they are “All American.”
Rep. Brian Mast (Fla.) shared a photo with freshmen lawmakers Reps. Dan Crenshaw (Texas) and Jim Baird (Ind.) on the day of their swearing-in ceremony.
“5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American,” Mast wrote in his tweet welcoming the two new members.
Mast, 36, is a U.S. Army veteran who lost the lower part of his legs during an explosion in Afghanistan while working as a bomb technician.
Former President Obama invited Mast as a guest to his 2011 State of the Union address, where he sat in the front row with former first lady Michelle Obama.
{mosads}Baird, 73, served in the Army during the Vietnam War and lost his left arm.
Crenshaw, 34, is a former Navy SEAL who wears an eye patch ever since he was wounded in 2012 while serving in Afghanistan. He explained in a video last month that he is “very self-conscious” about the glass eye he has, which is why he wears a patch.
Crenshaw made national headlines in November after “Saturday Night Live” cast member Pete Davidson mocked him and his eye patch during a sketch.
Crenshaw later appeared on the show as Davidson made a public apology, calling him a “war hero.”
The freshmen class that was sworn in on Thursday includes 22 new members who worked for the CIA or served in the military.