Lieutenant Junior Grade Mew was the pilot of a F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 122 (783) aboard the carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34). On 22 March 1953, after catapulting from the carrier on a combat mission, his aircraft dove into the ocean exploding upon contact. He was listed as Missing in Action. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Mew was awarded Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Korea War Service Medal.