Howard V . Lee Lieutenant Colonel Howard Vincent Lee ( born 1933 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in August 1966 during the Vietnam War . Biography . Howard Lee was born on August 1 , 1933 , in New York City . He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx , New York in 1951 , and from Pace College with a bachelor ' s degree in Business Administration , on June 19 , 1955 . While in his senior year at college , he enlisted as a member of the Platoon Leaders Class in the U . S . Marine Corps Reserve . In September 1955 , he entered the 14th Officer Candidates ' Course , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia , and upon completing the course the following December , was commissioned a Marine Corps Reserve second lieutenant . Lieutenant Lee completed The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , in July 1956 and the Marine Corps Supply School , Marine Corps Base , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , that September . Upon completion of these courses , he was transferred to the Marine Corps Supply Activity , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , for duty as Field Inspection Officer , Field Inspection Section , and later , Officer in Charge , Audit Section . He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1957 , and integrated into the Regular Marine Corps in January 1958 . Detached from the Supply Activity in September 1958 , he was ordered to the West Coast , and served briefly as Troop Handler , 1st Replacement Battalion , Staging Regiment , Marine Corps Base , Camp Pendleton , California , then was assigned duty as a platoon commander with Company F , 2nd Battalion 9th Marines , 3rd Marine Division , serving in this capacity until June 1959 . First Lieutenant Lee next served as the Battalion S - 4 Officer with H & S Company , 3rd Battalion , 3rd Marines , 3rd Marine Division , San Francisco , California . In February 1960 , he was assigned duty as Guard Officer at the Marine Barracks , U . S . Naval Propellant Plant , Indian Head , Maryland . After his promotion to captain on July 1 , 1961 , he was assigned duties as Platoon Commander and , later , Instructor , The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools in Quantico , where he remained until June 1964 . From July 1964 until February 1966 , Capt Lee was stationed at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , serving first as Commanding Officer of Company A , 1st Battalion , then as Battalion S - 3 Officer with H & S Company , 1st Battalion , 2nd Marines , 2nd Marine Division . During the latter period , he served aboard the , and in the Dominican Republic . On October 25 , 1967 , Major Lee was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon Johnson in a ceremony at the White House . He was promoted in July 1972 to lieutenant colonel and retired in 1975 from the Marine Corps . Awards and honors . Lee ' s awards include : Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to MAJOR HOWARD V . LEE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer , Company E , Fourth Marines , Third Marine Division near Cam Lo , Republic of Vietnam , on 8 and 9 August 1966 . A platoon of Major ( then Captain ) Lee ' s company , while on an operation deep in enemy territory , was attacked and surrounded by a large Vietnamese force . Realizing that the unit had suffered numerous casualties , depriving it of effective leadership , and fully aware that the platoon was even then under heavy attack by the enemy , Major Lee took seven men and proceeded by helicopter to reinforce the beleaguered platoon . Major Lee disembarked from the helicopter with two of his men and , braving withering enemy fire , led them into the perimeter , where he fearlessly moved from position to position , directing and encouraging the overtaxed troops . The enemy then launched a massive attack with the full might of their forces . Although painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy grenade in several areas of his body , including his eye , Major Lee continued undauntedly throughout the night to direct the valiant defense , coordinate supporting fires , and apprise higher headquarters of the plight of the platoon . The next morning he collapsed from his wounds and was forced to relinquish command . However , the small band of Marines had held their position and repeatedly fought off many vicious enemy attacks for a grueling six hours until their evacuation was effected the following morning . Major Lee ' s actions saved his men from capture , minimized the loss of lives , and dealt the enemy a severe defeat . His indomitable fighting spirit , superb leadership , and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds , reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service . / S / LYNDON B . JOHNSON