Willis Augustus Lee Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr., circa 1942. | |
| Nickname(s) | Ching |
| Born | May 11, 1888 Natlee, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 25, 1945 (aged 57) USS Wyoming (BB-32), off the coast of Maine |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1908–1945 |
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
| Commands | USS Fairfax USS William B. Preston USS Lardner USS Pennsylvania USS Concord USS Washington Battleship Division 6 Battleships Pacific Fleet |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Navy Cross Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit |
Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee Jr. (May 11, 1888 – August 25, 1945) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded the American ships during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 14–15, 1942) and turned back a Japanese invasion force headed for the island. The victory ended Japanese attempts to reinforce their troops on Guadalcanal, and thus marked a turning point in both the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Pacific War.
Lee was also a skilled sport shooter, and won seven medals in the 1920 Olympics shooting events, including five gold medals, tied with teammate Lloyd Spooner for the most anyone had ever received at a single Olympic Games. Their record stood for 60 years. He was the most successful athlete at the 1920 Olympics.[1]
- ^ "Willis Augustus Lee". Olympedia. Retrieved August 31, 2021.