Private First Class
United States Army
Eugene O. Lee, the son of Joseph Harold and Gertrude M. Jones Lee, was born on 9 June 1925.
Eugene attended Burlington (Iowa) High School, however he withdrew on 2 September 1941. He worked as a carpenter’s helper on bridge work for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroad.
He entered the service in September 1943 and was shipped to the Pacific Theater of Operations in March 1944 as an infantryman. In a War Department telegram, Eugene’s parents learned that while in action on Luzon, The Philippine Islands, he was wounded and eventually died from those wounds on 25 April 1945.
Stepping forward and serving their country is a proud tradition with Eugene and his family. Not only did Eugene and his four brothers service their country (Robert, United States Navy during World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War; Delbert, United States Navy; Cecil, United States Air Force during the Korean War; and Paul, United States Army during the Korean War), but also his two brothers-in-law (Arnold McKibben during World War II and John Baldus during World War II).
His parents; two sisters, Norma McKibben and Dorothy Baldus; and four brothers, Robert E., Delbert, Cecil, and Paul survived Eugene.
Private First Class Eugene O. Lee, United States Army, is buried in Burlington’s Memorial Park Cemetery.
Source of information:
1. Des Moines County Iowa Veterans Buried with Markers, compiled by the Des Moines County Genealogical Society, 1984.
2. The Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette, 18 May 1945, page 2.
3. Letter and photo from Paul Lee. Paul is Eugene's brother.
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