The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Benjamin Lee IV, who died in the service of his country on March 17th, 1966 in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Benjamin was 19 years of age. He was from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Benjamin is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 06E, Line 18.
The decorations earned by PFC Benjamin Lee IV include: the Combat Medical Badge, the Bronze Star with V, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
Taken from the Trentonian newspaper Weds. March 23, 1966
Benjamin Lee
PRINCETON- Services for Pfc. Benjamin Lee 4th. 19, who was killed March 17 in Viet Nam, will be held at 2 pm Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church. The Rev. E. Rugby Auer will officiate with interment in Princeton Cemetery under the direction of the Mather Funeral Home. There will be no calling hours.
Born in Glens Falls, NY, he is survived by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. John V. Lee of Oak Ridge, TN; a brother John Jr. at home; his maternal grandparents, the Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Kennery of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. C.L. Matthews of Philadelphia.
Benjamin Lee IV news story from March 21, 1966 Knoxville Journal.
Service Set For OR Viet Victim
Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church here for Pfc. Benjamin Lee IV, 19 who was killed in action in Vietnam last week.
Private Lee was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John V. Lee of 107 West Overlook Drive, and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. He enlisted in the Army a little more than a year ago and had been in Vietnam since January. He was attached to Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry.
Private Lee had written his family that he was deeply appreciative of letters from Oak Ridgers expressing their support of American forces in Vietnam.
"There is a purpose and a reason for what we are doing here," he wrote his Mother. Mrs. Lee said the only thing he ever complained about was the "ankle deep dust."
Private Lee's father is a physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the family has lived here since 1960.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a 21 year old brother, John Lee; and grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Kennedy of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Mrs. C.L. Matthews of Philadelphia, PA.
The grandfather will assist Rev. Mountre H. McIntosh in conducting memorial services at St. Stephens.
The body, now en-route to the U.S. by plane will be taken to Princeton, NJ for interment, members of the family said.
Award of The Bronze Star for Heroism, General Orders Number 3275, USARV
For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed, hostile force. Private First Class Lee distinguished himself by exceptionally various actions on 17 March 1966 while serving as a medic participating in a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Ban Brieng, Republic of Vietnam. At approximately 1400 hours, Private First Class Lee's unit received intense sniper fire from well-concealed positions which wounded two men. With complete disregard for his safety, Private First Class Lee braved the intense hostile fire while advancing to his stricken comrades' position in an attempt to administer first aid. Upon reaching their position, Private First Class Lee was mortally wounded by Viet Cong small arms fire. His heroic actions inspired his comrades to redouble their efforts and overcome the Viet Cong resistance. Private First Class Lee's aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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