Corporal Lewis was a member of the 2nd Platoon, Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. He was Killed in Action while clearing an enemy mine field near Saemal, North Korea, on 10 October 1951.

Lewis was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.