Corporal Lee was a member of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was severely Wounded in Action by the enemy in South Korea on 25 April 1951 and returned to duty on 3 May 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 24 November 1951.

Lee was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.