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Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry) William F. Lee, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Cheveuges, France, 7 November 1918. While his battalion was engaged with the enemy on the heights near Sedan Major Lee left his advance command post, went forward in the face of heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, where he personally supervised the successful reduction of enemy machine-gun positions and strong points. Later in the engagement, when his battalion was under a heavy frontal and flanking fire of machine guns, rifles, and direct artillery fire from high ground, he again left his advance command post, and with the utmost disregard for his personal safety advanced into the assault waves, traversed them, encouraging his men, and assisted the company officers in bringing such effective fire upon the enemy as to enable the battalion to advance upon their objective in the minimum time and with the least possible loss of life. His gallant and courageous conduct was an inspiration to his command in in a large measure responsible for the success of the 28th Infantry in the operations against Sedan.

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    15th Infantry Regiment

    Action Date:

    July 29, 1937
    Decorations U.S. Army 1862 – 1926, Supplement 2 (1939)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Major (Infantry) William F. Lee, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy displayed at East Station, Tientsin, China, 29 July 1937. In conjunction with the movement of the 3d Battalion, 15 Infantry, from Camp Burrowes, Chinwangtao, China, to American Barracks, Tientsin, China, a freight car carrying machine guns, ammunition, and other valuable United State Government property arrived in the railroad freight yard at East Station, Tientsin, China, at the time Chinese and Japanese troops were engaged in a battle for possession of that station. A guard of enlisted men which was posted in the freight care was isolated and cut off from all outside communications. Major Lee led in person a detachment which removed the guard and property from the freight car to the American compound. During this operation, Major Lee and the detachment of which he was in command were subjected to sporadic rifle, machine-gun, and infantry mortar fire, and were exposed to bombs from airplanes engaged in the bombing of nearby buildings. By his heroic conduct in face of danger Major Lee aided materially in preventing the possible loss of human life and the destruction of Government property.