Career
Major Lasseter and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Captain John "Lil" Cummings are the only all United States Marine Corps aircrew to shoot down a North Vietnam MiG during the Viet Nam War. On 11 September 1972, while piloting his F-4J of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333(VMFA-333) off the deck of the United States Ship America (CV-66) he and his RIO lead a four ship MigCap mission north east of Hanoi and successfully shot down a MiG-21 and damaged a second MiG. On egress their F-4J was hit by a Surface to Air Missile (SAM), forcing the crew to eject feet wet out to sea and were successfully rescued. Lasseter died in 1980 following gall bladder surgery in Florida.
Shamrock 201 a United States Marine Corps F-4J Phantom II, Buno 155526, was flew on 11 September 1972, by Lasseter and Cummings while assigned to VMFA-333.
The squadron was deployed to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) onboard United States Ship America. Lasseter who was the Squadron Executive Officer at the time was participating in a unit West Pac deployment which represented the first time a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron deployed on a West Pac deployment.
Lasseter and Cummings both TOPGUN graduates were leading a four ship sortie to protect an Alpha Strike whose target was 50 miles north east of Hanoi. Each Shamrock MIGCAP Phantom was armed with four American Institute of Management-7 sparrow missiles and four American Institute of Management-9 sidewinder missiles and a 600-gallon centerline fuel tank.
Following a pre-strike MIGCAP inflight refueling mission Lasseter was radio"ed from Red Crown "Bandits, 290, for 61".
There were three (3) confirmed MiG kills credited to United States. Marines during the Vietnam War. The first was on 17 December 1967 in an F-4D against a MiG-17 piloted by Captain Doyle Doctorate. Baker, United States Marine Corps and 1st Lieutenant John Doctorate. Ryan, Junior., United States. Air Force.
The second was on 12 August 1972 in an F-4E against a MiG-21 piloted by Captain Lawrence G. Richard, United States Marine Corps and Lieutenant
Commander Michael J. Ettel, United States. Navy. The final one was on 11 September 1972 in an F-4J against a MiG-21 piloted by Major Lee T. (Bear) Lasseter and Captain John Doctorate. Cummings.
By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Major Lasseter upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service
In 1980, Lasseter under went Gall bladder surgery at the Lake Wales Hospital in Lake Wales, Florida. A criminal investigation and lawsuit followed.
Lasseter is buried at the Lake Wales Cemetery, Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida.