A True American Hero – Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee, the first Asian-American U.S. Marine Corps officer Dies at 88
“Certainly, I was never afraid. Perhaps the Chinese are all fatalists. I never expected to survive the war. So I was adamant that my death be honorable, be spectacular.”
–Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee, USMC
What was it like to be a Chinese Man serving in the US Marine Corps, fighting against the Communist Chinese troops during the Korean War? I can only imagine the challenges Major Lee confronted among his own people. Back in the 1940’s we as Americans were perhaps not as culturally sensitive, nor did everyone place diversity–the strength of our nation–as something as important as we do today.
Inside his unit, Lee faced racial slurs like “Chinese laundry” or “The Chinaman.” But the source of his discrimination proved to be crucial in saving the lives of his fellow Marines.
I wonder how I would handle not just the racial slurs, but the distrust and perhaps even suspicion of my colleagues in life and death situations as war. Could the fraternity of his fellow Marines overcome the bigotry of certain individuals with whom he served?
Perhaps the most impressive part of this story is that Lee put his own life on the line for his fellow Marines, and took the very “liability” of his Chinese descent and turned it to an advantage, according to his story told in this CNN article.
Lee’s unit came under sudden attack on November 2, 1950, his company had their first encounter with the Chinese forces. Heavily outnumbered by the Chinese forces and their firepower, Lee’s unit was stuck until the gunfire stopped.
“It was eerie,” said Lee, describing the battle scene to a Smithsonian Channel’s documentary “Uncommon Courage: Breakout at Chosin.” “The Marines didn’t know where the enemy was.”
Lee struck out solo, trying to provoke enemy fire so his men could determine where the Chinese forces were hiding. He went out alone firing sporadic shots to make it seem like the Marines were advancing.
The Chinese began returning fire, exposing their position.
When Lee reached the outpost where the Chinese forces were hiding, he employed a ruse no one in his unit could’ve done.
“Don’t shoot!” he yelled. “I’m Chinese.”
Hearing Chinese confused them and the temporary distraction proved crucial as the Marines launched a counterattack.
Looking back on his war experience, Lee told the Washington Post in 2010, “Certainly, I was never afraid. Perhaps the Chinese are all fatalists. I never expected to survive the war. So I was adamant that my death be honorable, be spectacular.”
He earned a Navy Cross for his actions.
“I have told (Lee) many times, thank God we had him,” said Ronald Burbridge who served as a rifleman in Lee’s unit in the Smithsonian documentary.
Although injured, Lee returned to the battlefield. He led a mission to rescue a company of Marines overwhelmed by Chinese forces. On December 1, Lee guided his Marines in the frigid cold and through rocky hills to rescue them in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir.
He was awarded the Silver Star for his action. His citation read that “he contributed materially to the success of the epic night march of his battalion which resulted in the relief of the isolated Marine unit and the securing of vital ground.”
I wish I had known or at least known of Major Lee before he passed away. But I’m glad to learn of him today and am proud to call him a fellow American.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
–Jesus Christ
Do you know anyone who makes you proud and has earned a place in your heart as Maj. Lee has in mine? I’d love to hear about it. Please share in the comments section below!
Joshua Graham is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, winner of the International Book Award and Forward National Literature Award. His thrillers include DARKROOM, LATENT IMAGE and BEYOND JUSTICE, and TERMINUS. Graham's works have been characterized as thought-provoking page-turners.
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