Kurt Chew-Een Lee

Led his Marines against overwhelming enemy attacks in Korea.

Kurt Chew-Een Lee was born in San Francisco on 21 January 1926 and grew up in Sacramento in a Chinese immigrant family. A successful Sacramento High School student and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps member, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1944. He trained in Japanese and became a sergeant before receiving his commission in April 1946. His early overseas assignments included Guam, the Philippines and China.

In September 1950, First Lieutenant Lee deployed to Korea with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. During fighting near Sudong on 2–3 November, he exposed himself to enemy fire to locate Chinese positions and direct his machine-gun platoon. Although wounded, he advanced and helped drive the attackers back, earning the Navy Cross. After evacuation, he returned to his unit while still injured. During the Chosin Reservoir fighting, Lee led his rifle platoon through extreme cold and enemy resistance in the battalion’s relief of the isolated Fox Company at Toktong Pass. His leadership during 27 November–8 December earned the Silver Star. Serious wounds on 8 December ended his Korean combat service.

Lee continued his Marine career as an instructor and intelligence officer. Promoted to major in 1963, he headed the Platoon Tactics Instruction Group at The Basic School, training future senior leaders including Charles Krulak and John Sheehan. He served in Vietnam in 1965–66 as division combat intelligence officer with the 3d Marine Division, then retired in 1968 after twenty-four years of service.

In civilian life, Lee worked for New York Life Insurance Company and later the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He married twice and eventually settled in Arlington, Virginia. He continued sharing his experiences through veterans’ interviews and documentaries, and received the American Veterans Center’s Raymond G. Davis Award in 2012. Lee died on 3 March 2014, aged eighty-eight.

Official Navy Cross citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Kurt Chew-Een Lee (MCSN: 0-48880), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of a Machine-Gun Platoon of Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea, on 2 and 3 November 1950. Immediately taking countermeasures when a numerically superior enemy force fiercely attacked his platoon and overran its left flank during the defense of strategic terrain commanding approaches to the main supply route south of Sudong, first Lieutenant Lee boldly exposed himself to intense hostile automatic weapons, grenade and sniper small-arms fire to carry out a personal reconnaissance, well in advance of his own lines, in order to re-deploy the machine-gun posts within the defensive perimeter. Momentarily forced back by extremely heavy opposition, he quickly reorganized his unit and, instructing his men to cover his approach, bravely moved up an enemy held slope in a deliberate attempt to draw fire and thereby disclose hostile troop positions. Despite serious wounds sustained as he pushed forward, First Lieutenant Lee charged directly into the face of the enemy fire and, by his dauntless fighting spirit and resourcefulness, served to inspire other members of his platoon to heroic efforts in pressing a determined counterattack and driving the hostile forces from the sector. His outstanding courage, brilliant leadership and unswerving devotion to duty were contributing factors in the success achieved by his company and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Lee and the United States Naval Service.