Private First Class Lewis was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action by the enemy in North Korea on 3 September 1951 and returned to duty on 26 September 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 6 October 1951.

Lewis was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.