Army veteran paratrooper who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan before helping rescue Fox News reporter dead at 50

Maine Veteran Sean Lee, 20‑Year Army Paratrooper, Dies After Battle With Cancer

Maine, Sept. 25 – A 20‑year veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, known for his bravery in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, has died Sunday at the age of 50. Sean Michael Lee, a longtime resident of the state, succumbed to esophageal cancer that doctors say was linked to his exposure to burn pits during his military service.

Lee’s obituary, released by Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services, described him as “a paratrooper to his core.” He earned the respect of friends and colleagues for the “values forged there remained the organizing principles of his life: duty, loyalty, competence under pressure, and an unwavering commitment to the person beside him.”

From the Frontlines to the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid

Lee’s service began in 2003 when he joined the 2‑508 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne. He served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was a member of Bravo Company, half of which earned Purple Hearts during an Afghanistan mission chronicled in Ben Kesling’s book Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment and its Aftermath.

After leaving active duty, Lee turned his skills toward civilian humanitarian efforts. In 2021, as Afghanistan’s government collapsed, he helped evacuate thousands of civilians and Afghan allies in a chaotic withdrawal. He worked with the nonprofit Save Our Allies, which coordinates evacuations of U.S. citizens and Afghan partners.

The following year, Lee traveled to Poland to deliver supplies to Ukrainian front lines amid Russia’s invasion. While there, he was part of the rescue effort that extracted Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who had been critically injured when a vehicle was struck by Russian fire near Kyiv. Hall’s two crew members were killed in that attack, and Lee’s prompt response—he recalled “in about 90 minutes our guys were out the door and on the way”—was instrumental in bringing the reporter to safety.

Lee also aided wounded veterans through The Independence Fund and, in 2024, delivered life‑saving aid to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. He worked in the field under a tent, helping families where local support systems had collapsed.

Most recently, Lee was assigned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under Secretary Doug Collins, where he continued to serve veterans who had left the uniform.

A Life Dedicated to Others

Friends and fellow veterans remember Lee as a man who “put his life on the line more times than anyone can count.” Former mixed‑martial‑arts fighter and Special Forces sniper Tim Kennedy wrote on Instagram: “Sean redefined the word service. He did not just volunteer to put on the uniform and join the 82nd Airborne. He dedicated his entire life to other people. Wherever people needed help, you found Sean.”

Lee’s obituary noted that his legacy could not be measured in years or missions alone but in “people who made it home because he went toward danger,” and in “Afghan families given a chance to begin again,” among others.

Lee’s close friends, Sergeant Michael Verardo and Sergeant Allen Thomas—who had deployed with him to Afghanistan—predeceased him. The obituary described him as “Uncle Sean,” a fiercely protective presence for many children.

Health Consequences of Military Service

The cause of Lee’s cancer has been tied to his exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, a health risk that has led to increased cancer rates among veterans. A 2023 study published in Health Affairs found that veterans exposed to burn pits face a higher incidence of esophageal cancer. Lee’s death adds another name to the growing list of service members whose health has been compromised by wartime environments.

Mourning a Hero

Local authorities and the Maine Department of Veterans’ Services have not yet announced a memorial service. Lee’s family has requested privacy as they grieve the loss of a man who, according to his obituary, “cannot be measured simply in years, deployments, jobs, or missions.”

The Maine News Now will continue to follow updates on the family’s plans and any commemorations. In the wake of this loss, the state’s veteran community mourns the passing of a man whose life exemplified dedication, courage, and self‑lessness.