Lee was the son of William "Willie" Augusta Foster and Lizzie Bell Matthews. Identified siblings were: Connie Opal, Roy Glyn, Jessie Willene, and Bobby Gene. In 1930, the family resided in Big Hill, Osage County, Oklahoma (1930 Census).
On 14 Mar 1941, Lee A. Foster (B: 1918, Oklahoma), a resident of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; enlisted as a Private in Santa Fe. He was described as single, 5 feet 8 inches, 154 pounds, and a carpenter (WWII Enlistments).
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 (Headstone Application). Another cenotaph for Lee was erected in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
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.
(Info provided by truchasnm #47143330)
On 14 Mar 1941, Lee A. Foster (B: 1918, Oklahoma), a resident of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; enlisted as a Private in Santa Fe. He was described as single, 5 feet 8 inches, 154 pounds, and a carpenter (WWII Enlistments).
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 (Headstone Application). Another cenotaph for Lee was erected in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
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.
(Info provided by truchasnm #47143330)
Lee was the son of William "Willie" Augusta Foster and Lizzie Bell Matthews. Identified siblings were: Connie Opal, Roy Glyn, Jessie Willene, and Bobby Gene. In 1930, the family resided in Big Hill, Osage County, Oklahoma (1930 Census).
On 14 Mar 1941, Lee A. Foster (B: 1918, Oklahoma), a resident of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; enlisted as a Private in Santa Fe. He was described as single, 5 feet 8 inches, 154 pounds, and a carpenter (WWII Enlistments).
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 (Headstone Application). Another cenotaph for Lee was erected in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
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.
(Info provided by truchasnm #47143330)
On 14 Mar 1941, Lee A. Foster (B: 1918, Oklahoma), a resident of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; enlisted as a Private in Santa Fe. He was described as single, 5 feet 8 inches, 154 pounds, and a carpenter (WWII Enlistments).
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 (Headstone Application). Another cenotaph for Lee was erected in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
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.
(Info provided by truchasnm #47143330)
Inscription
PFC BTRY A
200 COAST ARTY (AA)
WORLD WAR II
PURPLE HEART
