Private First Class Lewis was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On 26 March 1953, he was defending "Outpost Reno". He was listed as Missing in Action when his position was overrun by two Chinese battalions.

Lewis was awarded the Purple Heart with Gold Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.