His Story: Maj-Gen William Lee
Name: William ‘Bill’ Carey Lee
Rank: Major-General
Unit: 101st Airborne Division
Born March 12 1895 in Dunn, North Carolina, son of Eldridge and Emma Lee. He attended Wake
Forest college and later transfered to North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Bill, as he was known to friends, was a true sportsman and excelled in football and baseball.
In 1915 Bill joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He liked his time in the army
and was commisioned to second lieutenant. He then married his highschool sweetheart, Dava
Johnson. In June 1918 Bill was sent to France, helping the war effort against the German army,
serving as a combat officer leading his men into battle. In November 1918 the armastice was signed
and Bill was sent to Germany for occupational duty. He returned to the United States in the 20’s.
From 1922 until 1926 acted as a training officer in the ROTC at North Carolina State. In his function
as training officer and instructor Bill visited Panama, returned to the US and was then sent to
Europe again. During his time in Europe, he saw how the German army was training with paratroops.
Bill immediately saw the advantage of delivering troops behind enemy lines by parachute. From that
moment on Bill would advocate the use of Airborne troops in the United States army.
By this time Bill was promoted to Major and returned to the United States and worked in the office
of the Chief of Infantry. Bill was mesmerised by the use of Airborne troops and couldn’t stop talking
about it. His supervisor, who couldn’t believe that any soldier would ever jump out of an airplane,
even forbid Bill to talk about the use of Airborne troops. But one day, Bill answered a phonecall and
the man on the other side of the line wanted to know what the office was doing with the
development of Airborne troops. The man on the other side of the line was the aide to Franklin D.
Roosevelt, the president of the United States.
Rank: Major-
Born March 12 1895 in Dunn, North Carolina, son of Eldridge and Emma Lee. He attended Wake
Forest college and later transfered to North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Bill, as he was known to friends, was a true sportsman and excelled in football and baseball.
In 1915 Bill joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He liked his time in the army
and was commisioned to second lieutenant. He then married his highschool sweetheart, Dava
Johnson. In June 1918 Bill was sent to France, helping the war effort against the German army,
serving as a combat officer leading his men into battle. In November 1918 the armastice was signed
and Bill was sent to Germany for occupational duty. He returned to the United States in the 20’s.
From 1922 until 1926 acted as a training officer in the ROTC at North Carolina State. In his function
as training officer and instructor Bill visited Panama, returned to the US and was then sent to
Europe again. During his time in Europe, he saw how the German army was training with paratroops.
Bill immediately saw the advantage of delivering troops behind enemy lines by parachute. From that
moment on Bill would advocate the use of Airborne troops in the United States army.
By this time Bill was promoted to Major and returned to the United States and worked in the office
of the Chief of Infantry. Bill was mesmerised by the use of Airborne troops and couldn’t stop talking
about it. His supervisor, who couldn’t believe that any soldier would ever jump out of an airplane,
even forbid Bill to talk about the use of Airborne troops. But one day, Bill answered a phonecall and
the man on the other side of the line wanted to know what the office was doing with the
development of Airborne troops. The man on the other side of the line was the aide to Franklin D.
Roosevelt, the president of the United States.
Photo: ‘Father of the Airborne’ - William C. Lee
Bill was invited to come to the White House in Washington to talk about his experiences with
seeing the German army train with paratroops. The President shared Bill’s views on using
Airborne troops in battle and ordered him to start exploring the possibilities of a parachute
army immidiately. In June 1940, Bill organised a test platoon. This platoon became a succes
and Bill was made commander of the Provisional Parachute Group at Fort Benning, Georgia.
At the World’s Fair in New York, Bill saw a tower from which customers were dropped by
parachute. He ordered four of these towers and let them be installed at Fort Benning. These
Parachute training towers can still be found at Fort Benning today.
During the summer of 1942 General Dwight Eisenhouwer and Major-General Bill Lee visited
England. The purpose of this visit was to advice the planning officers for the upcoming invasion
of ‘Fortress Europe’, how to use Airborne forces. They finally agreed to create large self-
Airborne divisions, the 82nd and 101st Airborne division. These two divisions were trained
extensively and send to England to prepare for the invasion. In England, Bill made sure his
parachute army was ready for war.
seeing the German army train with paratroops. The President shared Bill’s views on using
Airborne troops in battle and ordered him to start exploring the possibilities of a parachute
army immidiately. In June 1940, Bill organised a test platoon. This platoon became a succes
and Bill was made commander of the Provisional Parachute Group at Fort Benning, Georgia.
At the World’s Fair in New York, Bill saw a tower from which customers were dropped by
parachute. He ordered four of these towers and let them be installed at Fort Benning. These
Parachute training towers can still be found at Fort Benning today.
During the summer of 1942 General Dwight Eisenhouwer and Major-
of ‘Fortress Europe’, how to use Airborne forces. They finally agreed to create large self-
Airborne divisions, the 82nd and 101st Airborne division. These two divisions were trained
extensively and send to England to prepare for the invasion. In England, Bill made sure his
parachute army was ready for war.
Just four months before the invasion of ‘Fortress Europe’, on February 5th, 1944, Bill
suffered from a severe heart attack. This would result in the end of Major-General
Lee’s military career. Bill Lee was sent back to the States. In honor of their beloved
commander, the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, shouted “Bill Lee” when
they jumped from their plane and into combat on D-day.
When Bill got back to the United States, he tried to do other chores within the army.
But, because of a second heart attack in December 1944, Bill retired from military
service and returned to his wife and home in Dunn, North Carolina.
Back home, Bill Lee was involved in Civic affairs for a few years until he died on June
25th, 1948. Because of Bill’s role in creating and evolving the Parachute infantry, Bill
earned the nickname: ‘Father of the Airborne’.
suffered from a severe heart attack. This would result in the end of Major-
commander, the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, shouted “Bill Lee” when
they jumped from their plane and into combat on D-
When Bill got back to the United States, he tried to do other chores within the army.
But, because of a second heart attack in December 1944, Bill retired from military
service and returned to his wife and home in Dunn, North Carolina.
Back home, Bill Lee was involved in Civic affairs for a few years until he died on June
25th, 1948. Because of Bill’s role in creating and evolving the Parachute infantry, Bill
earned the nickname: ‘Father of the Airborne’.
Photo: Major-General Lee (left) inspecting troops of
the 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment when they
were attached to the 101st Airborne Division. Next
to Maj-Gen Lee is Robert G Cole, commander of 3rd
battalion 502 PIR.
were attached to the 101st Airborne Division. Next
to Maj-
Photo and video (right): Winston Churchill during a visit to the US to see the newly created Airborne army.
Major-General William ‘Bill’ Lee shows the capabilities of the Airborne troops.
Major-