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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession and devotion to duty while Second in Command of a Guardia patrol from 20 September to 1 October 1932. This patrol of two officers and forty men penetrated one hundred miles north and east of Jinotega City, Department of Jinotega, Nicaragua, into isolated, mountainous bandit territory with no means of communication and no base nearer than Jinotega City. On 26 September 1932, the patrol was ambushed northeast of Kilande Mountain by an insurgent group of over one hundred and fifty, armed with not less than seven automatic weapons, grenades, bombs, various classes of small arms, and plentifully supplied with ammunition. Gunnery Sergeant Lee was wounded twice and became unconscious in the early stages of combat. After a period of from fifteen to twenty minutes he recovered consciousness, and in spite of his weakened condition, with disregard of his personal safety, he moved the Lewis Machine Gun to a better fire position, used it with destructive effect, resumed his duties as Second in Command, and went forward in the final attack on the enemy position. The additional fire power of the Lewis Machine Gun from its new position as well as the leadership and example set by Gunnery Sergeant Lee were largely instrumental in gaining a signal victory over the enemy.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Gunnery Sergeant

    Division:

    Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua

    Action Date:

    March 20 – August 19, 1930
    Authority – USMC CommuniquŽ: 0240-3-118214 (17 November 1930)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as second in command of Nicaraguan National guard Patrols. Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee, U.S.M.C., participated in six successive engagements against superior numbers of armed bandit forces; namely, at Monte Cristo on 20 March 1930, at Buena Vista on 27 March 1930, at Los Cedros on 6 June 1930, at Moncotal on 22 July 1930, at Guapinol on 25 July 1930, and at Malacate on 19 August 1930, with the result that the enemy in each engagement was completely routed with total losses of ten killed and many wounded. By his loyalty and obedience in carrying out intelligently and forcefully the plans and instructions of his superiors without thought of his own personal safety, by extreme physical exertion, suffering many hardships, Sergeant Lee assisted in surmounting all obstacles in inflicting six successive and severe defeats upon organized bandit forces in the Republic of Nicaragua.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Gunnery Sergeant

    Division:

    Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua

    Action Date:

    December 11 – 20, 1930
    Authority – USMC CommuniquŽ: 118214 (18 April 1931)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession while in command of a Guardia patrol from 11 December to 20 December 1930. Gunnery Sergeant Lee displayed great courage and skill as a leader conducting his patrol through hostile country, defeating the bandits in three successive contacts; San Juan, 12 December 1930; Sierra Moreno, 15 December 1930; and Embocaderos, 20 December 1930; twice successfully attacking superior numbers. By their persistence and indomitable courage and skillful leadership of Sergeant Lee, the Guardia broke the morale of the bandits forcing the dispersal of the bandit groups and the abandonment of a foray into the coffee districts south of the Tuma River.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Chief Marine Gunner

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (China)

    Action Date:

    December 8, 1941 – September 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 1947

    Chief Marine Gunner William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, was captured by the Japanese at Chinwangtao, China on 8 December 1941, and was held as a Prisoner of War until returned to U.S. Military control at the end of the war.