Corporal Fred L. Lee
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
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Fred L. Lee (1921 Texas), a resident of Howard County, Texas, enlisted as a Private (S/N 18014480) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 06 September 1940 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and had been working as a farm hand.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Lee is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
Cpl. Fred Lee was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #4. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 287 (D-D 12820). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Malcolm A. Lee) Corporal Frederick Lawton Lee was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot A, Row 5, Grave 22.
*********************************************************************************************
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. William R. Benson, Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. Source: M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
*********************************************************************************************
Fred L. Lee (1921 Texas), a resident of Howard County, Texas, enlisted as a Private (S/N 18014480) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 06 September 1940 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and had been working as a farm hand.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Lee is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
Cpl. Fred Lee was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #4. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 287 (D-D 12820). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Malcolm A. Lee) Corporal Frederick Lawton Lee was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot A, Row 5, Grave 22.
*********************************************************************************************
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. William R. Benson, Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. Source: M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Corporal Fred L. Lee
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
*********************************************************************************************
Fred L. Lee (1921 Texas), a resident of Howard County, Texas, enlisted as a Private (S/N 18014480) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 06 September 1940 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and had been working as a farm hand.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Lee is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
Cpl. Fred Lee was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #4. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 287 (D-D 12820). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Malcolm A. Lee) Corporal Frederick Lawton Lee was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot A, Row 5, Grave 22.
*********************************************************************************************
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. William R. Benson, Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. Source: M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
*********************************************************************************************
Fred L. Lee (1921 Texas), a resident of Howard County, Texas, enlisted as a Private (S/N 18014480) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 06 September 1940 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and had been working as a farm hand.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Lee is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
Cpl. Fred Lee was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #4. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 287 (D-D 12820). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Malcolm A. Lee) Corporal Frederick Lawton Lee was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot A, Row 5, Grave 22.
*********************************************************************************************
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. William R. Benson, Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. Source: M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Inscription
CPL 59 CA REGT TEXAS
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
Family Members
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