Daniel W. Lee, Sr.
Captain, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Captain Daniel Warnel Lee, Sr. (23 June 1919 - 22 January 1985) was a U.S. Army officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Daniel W. Lee was born on 23 June 1919 in Alma, GA; he also joined the Army from Alma. On 2 September 1944, he was serving as a Second Lieutenant in Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. On that day at Montreval, France, he single-handedly attacked an enemy mortar position. Despite being seriously wounded in his approach, he successfully killed or drove off all of the German soldiers. Lee survived his wounds and was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.

Place and date: Montreval, France, 2 September 1944.

Citation: 1st Lt. (then 2d Lt. ) Daniel W. Lee was leader of Headquarters Platoon, Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, at Montreval, France, on 2 September 1944, when the Germans mounted a strong counterattack, isolating the town and engaging its outnumbered defenders in a pitched battle. After the fight had raged for hours and our forces had withstood heavy shelling and armor-supported infantry attacks, 2d Lt. Lee organized a patrol to knock out mortars which were inflicting heavy casualties on the beleaguered reconnaissance troops. He led the small group to the edge of the town, sweeping enemy riflemen out of position on a ridge from which he observed 7 Germans manning 2 large mortars near an armored half-track about 100 yards down the reverse slope. Armed with a rifle and grenades, he left his men on the high ground and crawled to within 30 yards of the mortars, where the enemy discovered him and unleashed machine-pistol fire which shattered his right thigh. Scorning retreat, bleeding and suffering intense pain, he dragged himself relentlessly forward. He killed 5 of the enemy with rifle fire and the others fled before he reached their position. Fired on by an armored car, he took cover behind the German half-track and there found a panzerfaust with which to neutralize this threat. Despite his wounds, he inched his way toward the car through withering machinegun fire, maneuvering into range, and blasted the vehicle with a round from the rocket launcher, forcing it to withdraw. Having cleared the slope of hostile troops, he struggle back to his men, where he collapsed from pain and loss of blood. 2d Lt. Lee's outstanding gallantry, willing risk of life, and extreme tenacity of purpose in coming to grips with the enemy, although suffering from grievous wounds, set an example of bravery and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Along with three other recipients, Lee was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in a White House ceremony on 23 January 1946.

Lee reached the rank of Captain and served in the Korean War before leaving the Army.

Death and Burial

Captain Daniel W. Lee, Sr. died on 22 January 1985 at age 65. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in his hometown of Alma, GA.