United States Marine. Reciepient of the Navy Cross with two gold stars (Three Awards), and the Purple Heart medal for wounds sustained in action against hostile forces in Nicaragua with Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. Col. Bill "Iron Man" Lee began his Marine Corps carrer in 1918 as an enlisted man in France during the First World War. In 1926, he was one of a group of Marines who were dispatched to safeguard United States property and citizens in Nicaragua. During this time, Col. Lee gained a reputation as a crack shot and skilled knife fighter. It was also during this time he earned the nick name "Iron Man". On top of all that, Col. Lee, while a Gunnery Sergeant, became the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Fleet. During World War II, the Col. received a message from superiors telling he and his fellow Marines to offer no resistance to the Japanese forces that had them surrounded. Col. Lee stated in interviews that he and 200 other Marines in north China were "herded like animals into boats and trains" and went on to explain that they "were taken to a mountainside stockade in Japan, where we were beaten, burned with cigarettes and starved.'' Col. Lee was held by the Japanese as a Prisoner of War for the next forty four months suffering severe beatings which include having his front teeth knocked out by the butt of a Japanese rifle. He retired as a Colonel in 1950 after a 32-year career with the Marine Corps. Col. Lee will always be remembered as one of the "Old Breed" that fought in the World War I, the Banana Wars, and World War II.
United States Marine. Reciepient of the Navy Cross with two gold stars (Three Awards), and the Purple Heart medal for wounds sustained in action against hostile forces in Nicaragua with Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. Col. Bill "Iron Man" Lee began his Marine Corps carrer in 1918 as an enlisted man in France during the First World War. In 1926, he was one of a group of Marines who were dispatched to safeguard United States property and citizens in Nicaragua. During this time, Col. Lee gained a reputation as a crack shot and skilled knife fighter. It was also during this time he earned the nick name "Iron Man". On top of all that, Col. Lee, while a Gunnery Sergeant, became the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Fleet. During World War II, the Col. received a message from superiors telling he and his fellow Marines to offer no resistance to the Japanese forces that had them surrounded. Col. Lee stated in interviews that he and 200 other Marines in north China were "herded like animals into boats and trains" and went on to explain that they "were taken to a mountainside stockade in Japan, where we were beaten, burned with cigarettes and starved.'' Col. Lee was held by the Japanese as a Prisoner of War for the next forty four months suffering severe beatings which include having his front teeth knocked out by the butt of a Japanese rifle. He retired as a Colonel in 1950 after a 32-year career with the Marine Corps. Col. Lee will always be remembered as one of the "Old Breed" that fought in the World War I, the Banana Wars, and World War II.
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