Lee Carson

Lee Carson Reeves (1921/1922? – 1973) was an American journalist. In World War II, she served as a war correspondent covering front line combat in the European theater from 1943 to 1946. She received the International News Service Medal of Honor in 1945 and the National Headliners Club Award for outstanding achievement. According to British journalist and author, Ben Macintyre, Carson "was one of the finest war reporters of the twentieth century: resourceful, resilient, witty and astonishingly brave." She also contributed articles to Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal and Harper’s Bazaar. Carson was said to use this toward her advantage; but never let that distract from her job. Upon her return, Carson was able to cable a first hand eyewitness report of the invasion, days before other newsmen (who were still in France). When word circulated around the news desks, angry editors accused Carson of "batting her eyelashes" to get the story.

Continuing her focus on getting the news, she and another female reporter (unofficially) attached themselves as embedded press corp members traveling with the U.S. Army. Surprised G.I.s sometimes confusingly addressed her as "Ma'am/Sir." Unlike her male colleagues, who used standard combat fatigues, she had to create her own uniform. Carson was the first Allied war correspondent to enter Paris after its liberation (partly by insisting she ride in the front seat of an army jeep in the right place at right time for going to the front, while a male Reuters reporter was relegated to the back.)

Carson retired from the International News Service and reporting in 1957.