Lee was the son of William "Willie" Augusta Foster and Lizzie Bell Matthews. Identified siblings were: Connie Opal Matthews-Ham, Roy Glyn, Jessie Willene, and Bobby Gene. In 1930, the family resided in Big Hill, Osage County, Oklahoma (1930 Census).
Lee served with Battery A of the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). His cenotaph headstone was applied for by his mother Lizzie Foster of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lee's cenotaph was erected in the Santa Fe National Cemetery (Headstone Application).
The 200th Coast Artillery was in the Philippines when Imperial Japanese began their invasion on 8 Dec 1941. After the artillery was destroyed by aerial attacks, the 200th resorted to fighting as Infantry. They were among American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula when compelled to surrender on 9 Apr 1942. Lee survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was killed with the sinking of the "Hell Ship" Shinyo Maru by a torpedo from the American submarine USS Paddle. The Shinyo Maru was transporting POWs through Sinangan Bay, Mindinao to Manila. Hell ships were unmarked as POW carriers. POWs that weren't killed by the torpedo attack were killed by Japanese patrol boats, although some were recaptured if they managed to reach shore.
Among Lee's military awards are: the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Amercan Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Lee served with Battery A of the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). His cenotaph headstone was applied for by his mother Lizzie Foster of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lee's cenotaph was erected in the Santa Fe National Cemetery (Headstone Application).
The 200th Coast Artillery was in the Philippines when Imperial Japanese began their invasion on 8 Dec 1941. After the artillery was destroyed by aerial attacks, the 200th resorted to fighting as Infantry. They were among American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula when compelled to surrender on 9 Apr 1942. Lee survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was killed with the sinking of the "Hell Ship" Shinyo Maru by a torpedo from the American submarine USS Paddle. The Shinyo Maru was transporting POWs through Sinangan Bay, Mindinao to Manila. Hell ships were unmarked as POW carriers. POWs that weren't killed by the torpedo attack were killed by Japanese patrol boats, although some were recaptured if they managed to reach shore.
Among Lee's military awards are: the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Amercan Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Lee was the son of William "Willie" Augusta Foster and Lizzie Bell Matthews. Identified siblings were: Connie Opal Matthews-Ham, Roy Glyn, Jessie Willene, and Bobby Gene. In 1930, the family resided in Big Hill, Osage County, Oklahoma (1930 Census).
Lee served with Battery A of the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). His cenotaph headstone was applied for by his mother Lizzie Foster of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lee's cenotaph was erected in the Santa Fe National Cemetery (Headstone Application).
The 200th Coast Artillery was in the Philippines when Imperial Japanese began their invasion on 8 Dec 1941. After the artillery was destroyed by aerial attacks, the 200th resorted to fighting as Infantry. They were among American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula when compelled to surrender on 9 Apr 1942. Lee survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was killed with the sinking of the "Hell Ship" Shinyo Maru by a torpedo from the American submarine USS Paddle. The Shinyo Maru was transporting POWs through Sinangan Bay, Mindinao to Manila. Hell ships were unmarked as POW carriers. POWs that weren't killed by the torpedo attack were killed by Japanese patrol boats, although some were recaptured if they managed to reach shore.
Among Lee's military awards are: the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Amercan Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Lee served with Battery A of the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). His cenotaph headstone was applied for by his mother Lizzie Foster of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lee's cenotaph was erected in the Santa Fe National Cemetery (Headstone Application).
The 200th Coast Artillery was in the Philippines when Imperial Japanese began their invasion on 8 Dec 1941. After the artillery was destroyed by aerial attacks, the 200th resorted to fighting as Infantry. They were among American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula when compelled to surrender on 9 Apr 1942. Lee survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was killed with the sinking of the "Hell Ship" Shinyo Maru by a torpedo from the American submarine USS Paddle. The Shinyo Maru was transporting POWs through Sinangan Bay, Mindinao to Manila. Hell ships were unmarked as POW carriers. POWs that weren't killed by the torpedo attack were killed by Japanese patrol boats, although some were recaptured if they managed to reach shore.
Among Lee's military awards are: the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Amercan Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New Mexico.
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