Member Spotlight: August 2026

Veteran You Serve Under Name:  Rueben Delose Lee        

Branch of Service: Army

Years of Service: 1942-1946

Andrew Lee is a Sons of the American Legion member and has been associated with the Farmington and Becker Legion for over 30 years. He has held many officers’ positions such as Sgt. @ Arms, Chaplin, Vice Commander and Commander. He has been active in honor guard, parades, youth outreach as well as a number of fundraising events for veterans and their families. He is made eligible to serve in the SAL by his grandfather’s service in World War Two.

His Grandfather, Rueben Delose Lee served in the Army from 1942-1946 after serving two years in the 698^th CCC Company at Camp Ettrick out of Ettrick, WI. While in basic training, Rueben tested into pilots training and spent 2 years learning how to fly. Due to the selectivity of the air core, Rueben was not selected to continue. He was then transferred to the motor pool and drove trucks in the Pacific theater. He was present at the battle of Okinawa. One of his stories was of watching Kamikaze pilots being shot down by AA guns. He said “it was like watching fireworks”. By the end of the war, Rueben made it to the mainland of Japan.

After WWII, Rueben moved around the country from Wisconsin to Georgia, back again and eventually ended up in Elk River, MN. He got married to Helen Berlin and had 2 sons, Roger & Tom. Rueben held many jobs including welding and bus driving. He was a member of at least the Elk River Legion for many years. Rueben passed away in 2001 from complications of Lung Cancer.

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