Sean Michael Lee died at age 50 on September 13, 2026, after toxic burn pits in Iraq caused fatal cancer. The New York Post confirmed the 20-year Army veteran passed away after a lifetime of running toward danger to help others, including rescuing Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall in Ukraine before his service ended in tragedy.
Lee served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Per reports, his cancer resulted directly from exposure to burn pits during those deployments. He spent his civilian years helping people, including evacuating thousands from Afghanistan in 2021.
Just one year later, he was in Poland delivering supplies to the front lines in Ukraine. That is where he became key to extracting Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall after Russian forces attacked Hall’s vehicle. Two members of Hall’s crew died in that attack, but Lee helped get the reporter out.
My heart broke yesterday when I got the call that Sean Lee, a 22 year Army veteran, died from a terrible cancer, the direct result of his exposure to the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sean was a warrior. He joined the Army and the storied 82nd Airborne in 1995 a year after… pic.twitter.com/YfQHoehap2
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 15, 2026
“Sean was the definition of a quiet warrior,” Sarah Verardo told Fox News Digital, noting our family has suffered the loss of one of our own while our nation lost a patriot whose service never ceased. As a founder of The Independence Fund and a close friend of Lee, she emphasized how his commitment extended far beyond his uniform. Her statement reflects the deep personal toll this loss takes on those who knew him best.
Lee didn’t stop serving when he took off his uniform. He worked with The Independence Fund to help wounded veterans and delivered life-saving supplies to Hurricane Helene survivors in 2024. He lived out of a tent in North Carolina while communities there lost their support systems. At the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Doug Collins was the most recent supervisor of Lee.
“Sean spent his life running toward the crisis,” Verardo said. He continued that service through various groups and ultimately the Department of Veterans Affairs. His obituary noted that he never wanted fanfare or credit for his work. He went wherever he was needed most, from evacuating Afghan families to establishing field hospitals in Ukraine.
It’s a hard truth that our heroes often pay the highest price long after the fighting stops. Lee’s body carried the scars of burn pits for decades before the cancer finally took him. His life can’t be measured simply in years or jobs completed.
“It is measured in people who made it home because he went toward danger,” Verardo said. One of the finest men to ever serve this country has been lost. We must remember that the cost of freedom is not just paid on the battlefield. His death marks the final chapter for a man who dedicated his entire life to saving others.
