Stars and Stripes, Dec. 14, 1950
WITH THE 1ST MARINE DIV. IN KOREA-A
17 year old Korean orphan, Lee Bveng San, has but one ambition-to
go to the United States and join the Marine Corps. Lee adopted
the 1st Marines at Pusan when he joined a Navy medical
unit attached to the First Provisional Marine Brigade.
WHEN THE UNIT boarded ship for the Inchon landing,
Lee went along. At Inchon, he worked around the station hospital,
doing odd jobs until the division was again ordered to move. Once
again Lee, who speaks English almost as well as an American, stowed
away. His aptitude with English kept him from being discovered
as a stowaway for a while. When it was found out he was not a Marine,
as he claimed, he was turned over into the custody of Maj. Frederick
Simpson, of Oceanside, Calif.
At Wonsan, the major turned Lee over to Lt. Col.
Marvin T. Starr of Pullman, Wash., commanding officer of headquarters
battalion. The colonel, who understands youngsters - he has two
of his own - took Lee under his wing.
AVID STUDENT, Lee studies English whenever he
isn't cleaning house or acting as interpreter for the colonel.
"Lee is a very intelligent boy," Colonel Starr said.
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