MILTON ARTHUR LEE (1949 ~ 1968). Medal of Honor Recipient Milton A. Lee was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Lee on February 28, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He lived with his grandmother in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Harlandale High School.

Lee enlisted in the Army in San Antonio. He arrived in Vietnam in January 1968 as a member of Company B, Second Battalion, 502 Infantry, First Brigade, 101 Airborne Division, Airmobile.

On April 26, 1968, Lee was the radio operator of the Third Platoon of his company near Phu Bai in the Thua Thien Province. His platoon was the lead element of the company, and was suddenly attacked by an enemy force in well concealed bunkers. Fifty percent of the platoon became casualties before it could move to a protected area. Lee moved continuously through enemy fire to treat wounded soldiers. As radio operator, it was his responsibility to keep in constant contact with the company commander. Lee relayed precise and clear orders from the commander to the platoon leader to move forward. As the platoon leader advanced, Lee spotted four enemy soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher lying in ambush positions. Lee handed his radio to a nearby soldier and charged the enemy position. He single-handedly killed all four enemy soldiers and captured their weapons. Without hesitating, Lee continued his lone charge and attacked another enemy position. He was seriously wounded during his charge, but continued to crawl forward and provide covering fire while his platoon maneuvered to attack the enemy. After the enemy position was captured, Lee finally succumbed to his wounds. For his courageous actions that day, Lee was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Lee's Medal of Honor was presented to his grandmother, Mrs. Frank B. Campion, by President Richard Nixon on April 7, 1970, at the White House. Lee is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Bibliography: "Above and Beyond: The Medal of Honor in Texas," Capitol Visitors Center, State Preservation Board of Texas. Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association, University of Texas, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/LL/flevy.html, April 26, 2006. "Milton A. Lee," Medal of Honor, http://www.mishalov.com/LeeMilton.html, April 26, 2006.