Clark Lee was born in Oakland, California, but came to East Orange, New Jersey, at an early age. After graduating from Rutgers, where he was distinguished both as one of the most unconventional dressers on the campus and as a third baseman, he went to work for AP's Newark Bureau. His AP duties then took him to Mexico City, Honolulu, Tokyo, and thence to wandering over the Orient. After nearly three years in Shanghai, Lee was on his way home for a vacation, and was in Manila when the invasion of the Philippines began. From the first flash of the news of war, Lee has been at (and all over) the front, having miraculous escapes from enemy action at many points. He was at Lingayen, Bataan, and Corregidor, as well as all points between, and seems to have a knack for turning up where the fighting is hottest.