Army veteran Sean Michael Lee, who helped rescue Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall from Ukraine, has died at 50 after cancer linked to burn pit exposure.
Sean Michael Lee, a decorated Army paratrooper who spent more than two decades serving his country and later helped rescue Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall from Ukraine, has died at age 50.
Lee died Sunday after battling esophageal cancer that his family and obituary attributed to exposure to burn pits during his military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Army veteran Sean Michael Lee dies at 50
Lee served for more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, including multiple combat deployments with the famed 82nd Airborne Division.
His military career included service during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and deployments to Afghanistan as a member of Bravo Company in the 2-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment.
His obituary described him as someone whose identity remained deeply connected to his service even after leaving the military.
Lee continued working with veterans and humanitarian organizations after his military career ended, repeatedly putting himself in dangerous and difficult situations to help others.
Lee helped rescue Fox News’ Benjamin Hall
Lee became widely associated with the 2022 rescue of Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who was critically wounded while covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hall’s vehicle came under attack near Kyiv in March 2022. Fox News journalists Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshinova were killed in the attack, while Hall suffered severe injuries.
At the time, Lee was in Poland helping provide supplies and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He became involved in the operation to extract Hall from the war zone.
Lee later recalled that his team received the call and quickly mobilized for the dangerous mission.
The rescue was one of several examples of Lee continuing his commitment to helping people long after his military service.
He helped evacuate thousands from Afghanistan
Lee’s humanitarian work extended beyond Ukraine.
When Afghanistan’s government collapsed in 2021, Lee worked with Save Our Allies to help coordinate the evacuation of thousands of Afghan allies and other people attempting to escape the country.
The operation came during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, when thousands of people sought evacuation from Kabul and other parts of the country.
Lee’s obituary described the mission as part of a broader pattern in his life: going toward people in danger rather than away from it.
Lee continued helping after Ukraine mission
Lee later worked with The Independence Fund, an organization focused on supporting wounded veterans.
In 2024, he traveled to western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, helping deliver critical supplies to communities affected by the disaster.
According to his obituary, Lee lived out of a tent while working in the region as residents dealt with damaged infrastructure and disrupted support systems.
His humanitarian efforts eventually led him to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he most recently worked under Secretary Doug Collins.
Cancer linked to military burn pit exposure
Lee’s death came after a battle with esophageal cancer that was attributed to exposure to burn pits during his military deployments.
He died Sept. 13, 2026, according to his obituary.
Lee was 50.
His death also highlights a broader concern facing veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service overseas.
Tributes pour in for Sean Lee
Former MMA fighter and Special Forces sniper Tim Kennedy paid tribute to Lee after his death, describing him as a man whose life was defined by service to others.
Lee’s obituary similarly emphasized that his legacy extended beyond his military rank or individual missions.
It described a life measured by people who made it home because Lee went toward danger, wounded veterans he supported and communities he helped after disasters.
Lee is survived by his brother, James Lee, his sister-in-law Adriana and his nephew Jamie, according to his obituary.
A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for Sept. 22, with Lee set to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery alongside fallen comrades.
A life defined by service
Sean Michael Lee’s career took him from combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to humanitarian missions in Afghanistan, Ukraine and the United States.
His role in helping bring Benjamin Hall home from Ukraine became one chapter in a much broader story of service.
For those who knew him, Lee’s legacy was not defined simply by his military record. It was defined by his repeated willingness to step into dangerous situations and help people who needed him most.
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