Politics

Major Kurt Chew-Een Lee, USMC (ret)

Last week, I had the honor and unique pleasure of meeting Major Kurt Chew-Een Lee. Maj Kurt Chew-Een Lee, USMC (ret) is an ?old school? Marine hero. He is ?larger than life? and is featured in most books about the fight at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. As a platoon commander with Baker 1/7 he was hated by peers and subordinates alike during their training for his stern methods and stiff personality. Once they got into the fight, however, and people witnessed his battle leadership, their opinion reversed. He received the Navy Cross for his actions at the ?Frozen Chosin? and he is now revered by everyone that fought with him or knows his story.

One of the most gripping Major Lee exploits is this: As the 1st Marine Division travels down the steep narrow winding road through the mountains to awaiting ships at Hungnam, Marine companies and battalions leap frog from mountain top to mountain top above the road, clearing it of Chinese that could shoot down on the men below, most of them wounded. This continues day after day, mountain top after mountain top, and the casualties swell. Typically the Marines did not move at night, because of the oppressive cold. Finally they decide to do a night movement. B 1/7 is the lead company and Lee, with the bulk of the 1st MARDIV behind him, and his arm in a sling from previous wounds, navigates through the snow in complete darkness towards Chinese positions. I can’t imagine that pressure. They surprise and kill many communist Chinese.

Major Lee is a Navy Cross Recipient and has had countless books and documentary films written and made about his life and time served in the Korean War, including one recently made by the Smithsonian Museum here in Washington, D.C. He is truly a remarkable man, and it was my humble honor to meet him.

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Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on June 28, 2010 (boomark / email).