LEE, DANIEL W.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant,
U.S. Army, Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Place and date:
Montreval, France, 2 September 1944. Entered service at: Alma, Ga. Born: 23
June 1919, Alma, Ga. G.O. No: 14, 4 February 1946.
Citation:
1st Lt. (then 2d Lt. ) Daniel W. Lee was leader of Headquarters Platoon, Troop A, 117th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, at Montreval, France, on 2 September 1944,
when the Germans mounted a strong counterattack, isolating the town and engaging its
outnumbered defenders in a pitched battle. After the fight had raged for hours and our
forces had withstood heavy shelling and armor-supported infantry attacks, 2d Lt. Lee
organized a patrol to knock out mortars which were inflicting heavy casualties on the
beleaguered reconnaissance troops. He led the small group to the edge of the town,
sweeping enemy riflemen out of position on a ridge from which he observed 7 Germans
manning 2 large mortars near an armored half-track about 100 yards down the reverse slope.
Armed with a rifle and grenades, he left his men on the high ground and crawled to within
30 yards of the mortars, where the enemy discovered him and unleashed machine-pistol fire
which shattered his right thigh. Scorning retreat, bleeding and suffering intense pain, he
dragged himself relentlessly forward He killed 5 of the enemy with rifle fire and the
others fled before he reached their position. Fired on by an armored car, he took cover
behind the German half-track and there found a panzerfaust with which to neutralize this
threat. Despite his wounds, he inched his way toward the car through withering machinegun
fire, maneuvering into range, and blasted the vehicle with a round from the rocket
launcher, forcing it to withdraw. Having cleared the slope of hostile troops, he struggle
back to his men, where he collapsed from pain and loss of blood. 2d Lt. Lee's outstanding
gallantry, willing risk of life, and extreme tenacity of purpose in coming to grips with
the enemy, although suffering from grievous wounds, set an example of bravery and devotion
to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
