William W. Lee
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Marines
Photo, William Lee self-portrait: “Joe Blow: This is one of the first pictures I took with my Mercury II. The developer did a bad job on it, though. Notice all the spots in the picture.” ------
William W. Lee served in World War II and in the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from September 18 1945, until September 22, 1949.
He signed up to for the Marine Corps on September 23, 1949. During the Korean War, he handled secret intelligence in service to General Graves Erskine. He was discharged on September 22, 1952.
He served on the USS Canberra (CA-70) and the USS Atlanta (CL-104). His rank was Staff Sergeant.
Mr. Lee was awarded the: World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal and the U.S. Marines Reserve Medal
He was born in 1927 in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Oscar and Mary Lee. He graduated from high school in 1945.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I got lymph in my right arm on the ocean. The captain of the USS Atlanta brought the ship to San Diego while I was covered with ice. The San Diego Naval Hospital saved my arm. While there, a sailor passed a card, which was signed by all 100 patients. It said, ‘We the patients of Ward 10-3 wish to say we are all in love with our nurse.’ She dropped her name and phone number in my drawer. I cannot understand why she married a doctor when she could have married a PFC in the Marines.’”
