Private Lien was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy during the battle of Hoengsong near Chanbong-ni, South Korea on 12 February 1951 and died from beriberi while a prisoner at Camp 1, Chon-song, North Korea on 17 June 1951.

Lien was awarded the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.