Talk:Willis Augustus Lee

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This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as stub, and the rating on other projects was brought up to Stub class. BetacommandBot 16:59, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Battleship USS Washington, only US battleship to sink another battleship during WWII
Author Hornfischer acknowledges that two IJN battlewagons were sunk at Surigao Strait on 24/25 October 1944 during the Leyte Gulf camgaign by other US battleships. It is also noted that more than one US battlewagon was present and shooting; and that US destroyers (and possibly US torpedo boats) had fatally damaged the two IJN battleships long before they came within gun range of the US battle line. In short, the US Battle-line simply administered the Coup de Grace to those two IJN battleships. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.105.32.38 (talk) 03:54, 26 February 2011 (UTC)


 * More recent scholarship makes it reasonably clear that only one IJN Battleship was significantly damaged in the earlier battle and that the South Dakota and Washington engaged an essentially undamaged Battleship. Scholarship also makes it reasonably clear that the South Dakota failed to register any hits before it was disabled, and it failed to effectively re-engage prior to its retreat from the area.  All damage to an undamaged IJN battleship was thus inflicted solely by the Washington, resulting in that IJN battleship's sinking.  Numerous sources in print and in other media strongly support this version these events. 76.74.14.155 (talk) 22:08, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

This is noted simply to distinguish this from the Suriago Strait engagement, which certainly did not (as accurately noted above) involve the sinking of any IJN BBs by the USN Battle Line.

Willis' nickname, how acquired.
"his Chinese-sounding last name, compounded by his fondness for the Far East earned him the moniker"  Paul Stillwell appears to have done this topic a bit more justice than Hornfischer, which is perfectly understandable, as Lee was just one of dozens of persons in Hornfischer's surveys of the PTO in WW2, whereas Paul Stillwell has written (the first) biography dedicated to Willis Lee. In the interests of accuracy, in this case informed by the times in which the man lived and hence of historical value, the article should be updated to reflect the new sources revealing that Lee's facial features were central to his nickname, which was based in ethnic stereotypes normal in the U.S. Navy of that time. 76.74.14.155 (talk) 21:54, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

Olympic medals
it is certainly worth noting that until Mark Spritz in the 1972 Olympics Willis Lee held the U.S. record (solely) of winning the most Gold medals in any Olympics. A teammate won the same number in 1920 (7) but he only won 4 Golds, whereas Lee won 5 Golds. His record would stand for over half a Century. 76.74.14.155 (talk) 22:03, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

Task Group 58.7 fears the night
I've heard that Lee's fast battleships trained only in air defense and hence did poorly in shore bombardment and Lee said that their lack of training in night fighting was his main reason to avoid a night engagement, but is there a good reference for his reasoning?

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1951/february/battle-philippine-sea

Hcobb (talk) 10:19, 2 July 2023 (UTC)