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435:, where they would spend the rest of the war. Lee was beaten very badly numerous times during his captivity, as the Japanese largely focused on him due to his size and leadership role. On one occasion, a Japanese soldier kicked his teeth out. Lit cigarettes were also put out on his ears in several incidents.
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docks and were scheduled to be evacuated by ship just two days later. Unfortunately, the detachment of
Marines were surrounded by an overwhelming Japanese force. Lee and the Marines were preparing to make a final stand when they received orders to surrender. Every single Marine still in China
442:. Lee and several other Marines killed some of the remaining Japanese guards and captured the camp, holding it until their liberation by American troops in September 1945. Lee and the other Marines from the embassy were the longest held American prisoners of war during World War II.
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were leading a patrol of 40 Nicaraguans when they were ambushed by nearly 150 rebels. Lee was shot in the head and lost consciousness while Puller led the patrol in a counterattack against the rebels. After about 15 minutes, Lee regained consciousness and manned a
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with destructive effect against the enemy. After defeating the enemy ambush, Lee and Puller withdrew their force back to their base over 100 miles away. Lee was awarded his third Navy Cross for his actions, Puller was awarded his second Navy Cross.
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rebels. Throughout the year of 1930, he led
Guardia patrols into action against rebels in nine engagements. Lee's patrols were often outnumbered, but succeeded in routing the bandits in every battle. Gunnery Sergeant Lee was awarded his first two
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for the next four years, before retiring as a colonel on July 1, 1950. Lee decided to retire after the death of his first wife, Helen. He later tried to return to the
Marines as the United States became involved in the
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and became the
Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the fleet. Lee also became well known as an expert marksman with nearly every weapon he fired.
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Lee and the other prisoners then got on another train which took them north, before ultimately getting on another ferry which took them to
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First
Lieutenant Lewis "Chesty" Puller (center left) with Lee (center right) and two Nicaraguan soldiers in 1931
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a few men who accidentally touched it. In
December 1942, Lee and most of the other POWs were transferred to
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Lee reenlisted in the
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In May 1945, Lee and the other prisoners were transported by train 100 miles to
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before he left the
Marines upon returning to the United States in August 1919.
192:(November 12, 1900 – December 27, 1998) was a highly decorated officer in the
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and the United States declared war the next day, officially entering into
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In August 1939, Chief Marine Gunner Lee reported to the U.S. Embassy in
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In August 1945, many of the Japanese guards fled the camp after the
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did little to protect them from the elements during the winter. An
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soldiers and led them into combat against the leftist
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United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
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United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I
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277:In early 1927, Gunnery Sergeant Lee was sent to
645:American military personnel of the Banana Wars
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675:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
297:In September 1932, Lee and First Lieutenant
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611:"WWII Casualties: Virginia"
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194:United States Marine Corps
112:United States Marine Corps
91:Quantico National Cemetery
593:"Appendix A: Marine POWs"
525:Veterans Legacy Education
478:on December 27, 1998, in
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518:"Colonel William A. Lee"
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62:Ward Hill, Massachusetts
474:William A. Lee died of
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356:Imperial Japanese Navy
347:were relocated to the
359:attacked Pearl Harbor
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118:Years of service
450:Lee was promoted to
156:Battle of Agua Carta
324:Chief Marine Gunner
460:lieutenant colonel
320:Quantico, Virginia
294:during this time.
161:Battle of El Sauce
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452:second lieutenant
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138:Battles/wars
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640:1998 deaths
635:1900 births
564:Logan Nye.
367:Qinhuangdao
349:Philippines
316:5th Marines
273:Banana Wars
249:World War I
206:Banana Wars
204:during the
146:Banana Wars
142:World War I
41:Nickname(s)
629:Categories
486:References
469:Korean War
287:Sandinista
176:Navy Cross
98:Allegiance
55:1900-11-12
407:Jiangwang
304:Lewis Gun
279:Nicaragua
123:1921–1950
121:1918–1919
44:"Ironman"
433:Hokkaido
395:barracks
391:Shanghai
262:Arkansas
253:corporal
106:Service/
597:ibiblio
414:Nanjing
389:, near
341:Beiping
212:during
198:colonel
132:Colonel
476:cancer
384:Wusong
172:Awards
108:branch
86:Buried
81:, U.S.
64:, U.S.
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230:Army
128:Rank
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