- According to his obituary published on Oregon Live, during WWII, Lee was assigned to the 680th Technical Services Typographic Company under General George S. Patton.
- His task was to draw maps that “detailed battle lines and determined the plan of action each morning.”
- The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was still in effect in the 1940s, and the people of Chinese descent, at the time, were widely viewed as “unfit to be citizens.”
- His services, during such a challenging period, were recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
- Created by an act of Congress, the project was meant to honor Chinese American veterans that participated in World War II.
- The recognition was deemed as the “highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.”
- The Oregon Military Department released a statement to honor Lee and his accomplishments.
- “Lee volunteered for service on his 18th birthday, leaving behind his college education at OSU,” the statement read. “He was attached to the 680th Technical Services Typographic Company, a group of 120 soldiers responsible for creating and disseminating daily updated battlefield maps for George S. Patton in the European theater.”