Harrison Lee
Bio
Harrison Lee was an infantry man who saw some of the earliest US action in Korea. His intense experiences during the Korean War ultimately turned him against warfare in general. Nonetheless, he sits down and shares with us some of the heroic moments he had during his deployment in that “beautiful” country. Harrison Lee describes how losing his best friend during the war still haunts him, especially how he was forced to leave his friend’s body behind enemy lines. He also describes his “baptism by fire” that left him running for his life from a North Korean machine gun. Finally, Harrison Lee recalls how the war became ‘real’ to him after he was forced to look at a dead comrade by his commanding officer.
Video Clips
When war makes you leave a friend behind
Harrison Lee recalls a story that he never told anyone for a very long time - a story that follows him to this day. During the Battle of Taejon Harrison Lee and his best friend engaged a North Korean machine gun nest setting up along a dirt road. Upon realizing that the machine-gun nest had them outgunned he begs his friend to retreat with him... only to realize his friend was KIA.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CT45WBMmTE&start=1734&end=1947
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/harrison-lee#clip-1
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"Baptism by Fire"
Every front line soldier has a "baptism by fire" story (i.e. first enemy contact story) and here Harrison Lee shares his. He remembers how a peaceful dining experience in Korea turned into his first moment of military combat. He can still remember the intense feeling of fear during those drawn-out moments many years ago.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CT45WBMmTE&start=1273&end=1422
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/harrison-lee#clip-2
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Seeing the face of war
Within the first two nights in Korea, Harrison Lee witnessed the effect of war in a way that made what him and his comrades were getting into real danger. After retrieving a KIA soldier from the front lines the commanding officer at Harrison Lee's post made each soldier look at the body. It was then that Harrison Lee felt the full gravity of his situation in Korea.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CT45WBMmTE&start=1132&end=1237
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/harrison-lee#clip-3
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Photos
Harrison Lee in Uniform
An image of a proud Harrison Lee in uniform.
Discharge Papers
An image of Harrison's Lee discharge papers that includes a lot of biographical information.
