William Andrew Lee

William Andrew "Ironman" Lee (November 12, 1900 – December 27, 1998) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of colonel. He was the recipient of three Navy Crosses during the Banana Wars, and later became a prisoner of war during World War II.

Early Marine Corps career William Andrew Lee was born in Ward Hill, Massachusetts, on November 12, 1900 to Eda Gustava (née Peterson) and Benjamin Rufus Lee.

On May 22, 1918, Lee attempted to enlist in the Army, but he was turned away because he was only 17. He then went to the Marine recruiting station and was told he would need his father to sign for him. Lee found the first man he saw outside the office and had him pose as his father and sign the paperwork.

Lee reenlisted in the Marines in September 1921 and served with his brother, George Lee, aboard the USS Arkansas for five years. By April 1925, he was promoted to gunnery sergeant and became the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the fleet. Lee also became well known as an expert marksman with nearly every weapon he fired.

In September 1932, Lee and First Lieutenant Chesty Puller were leading a patrol of 40 Nicaraguans when they were ambushed by nearly 150 rebels. Lee was shot in the head and lost consciousness while Puller led the patrol in a counterattack against the rebels. After about 15 minutes, Lee regained consciousness and manned a Lewis Gun with destructive effect against the enemy. After defeating the enemy ambush, Lee and Puller withdrew their force back to their base over 100 miles away. Lee was awarded his third Navy Cross for his actions, Puller was awarded his second Navy Cross.

On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States declared war the next day, officially entering into World War II. On December 8, Lee and 21 other Marines were stockpiling supplies at the Qinhuangdao docks and were scheduled to be evacuated by ship just two days later. Unfortunately, the detachment of Marines were surrounded by an overwhelming Japanese force. Lee and the Marines were preparing to make a final stand when they received orders to surrender. Every single Marine still in China surrendered as a prisoner of war by the Japanese.

Post-World War II Lee was promoted to second lieutenant and arrived in San Francisco, California, on September 22, 1945. By July 1946, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was given command of a rifle range at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for the next four years. In the Spring of 1949, his wife, Helen Winifred (née Lloyd) Lee (the daughter of Marine Gunner Calvin A. Lloyd), died in a fall. He is buried in Quantico National Cemetery.

During his military service he was awarded the following medals: Navy Cross (3) Purple Heart (3) Nicaraguan Medals of Valour(Cruz de Valour) with Palm (2) Prisoner of War medal

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