Oregon’s Hazel Ying Lee broke barriers at home and abroad as the first ever Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military.
A product of Portland’s rich aviation history, Lee flew for the WASP during WWII and became known for her unmatched kindness, wit, humor, skill and tenacity.
Today, the memory of Lee and her WASP comrades faces the threat of erasure under the Trump administration's federal purge and “DEI” ban.
But their legacy and heroism persist.
In English, Lee’s Chinese name “月” (pronounced Ying) translates to “Hero.” This is the story of how she lived up to that title.
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