Posted on 03/12/2014 8:51:13 AM PDT by Theoria
His bravery against numerically superior Chinese army troops at the Chosin Reservoir was the subject of a Smithsonian Channel documentary.
Like many Americans of his generation, Kurt Chew-Een Lee was eager to fight in World War II. He left college at age 18 to enlist in the Marine Corps.
Beyond a deeply felt patriotism, Lee had a personal motive: "I wanted to dispel the notion about the Chinese being meek, bland and obsequious," he told The Times in 2010.
Rather than a combat billet, he was assigned as a language instructor in San Diego. He was deeply disappointed but decided to remain in the Marine Corps after the war.
Then came the war in Korea and Lee got his chance to fight: as an infantry platoon leader in the brutal, frigid battle against numerically superior Chinese army troops at the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950.
"I was never afraid," Lee said. "Perhaps the Chinese are all fatalists. I never expected to survive the war."
Lee's bravery and resourcefulness brought him the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and an enduring place among Marine heroes.
"His fighting style was ferocious and his leadership was inspirational," said Joe Owen, who fought beside Lee.
Lee died March 3 at his home in Washington, D.C., apparently of a heart attack, his niece Lori Lee said. He was 88.
Kurt Chew-Een Lee was born Jan. 21, 1926, in San Francisco, the first of seven children. The family moved to the Sacramento area, where Lee's father, an immigrant, was a farm produce distributor and prominent in the Chinese community. Lee attended Sacramento City College before enlisting.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
RIP Marine.
I just saw a program about the Chosin breakout featuring Mr. Lee.
I hope he gets his wish. Semper Fi.
Semper Fi, Marine. Go and guard the streets of Heaven.
Americans can only hope that our culture continues to produce such men.
The sad part is that some of the articles noting his passing focus on him being the first “Asian” officer and “smashing stereotypes.” This man was a hero, period. They need to stop with all the PC nonsense when they honor men like him.
I gotta hand it to this guy - it's bad enough he's seen giving orders, and therefore has a target on his back - he actually makes it easier for snipers gunning for him by wearing an orange vest.
He marched 500 Marines out of the Chosin Reservoir trap to safety through uncharted hilly woodlands in the dead of night during a blizzard through heavily fortified Nork and Chinese positions and did not lose a single man.
He deserves the CMO.
RIP.
Write your Congressmember with the suggestion.
bump
Thanks for the comments and thanks for your service too.
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