Milton Lewis
Encyclopedia
Milton Lewis was a United States Marine Corps
corporal
who received a posthumous Navy Cross
for his actions in the Battle of Tulagi
during World War II
.
, Florida
. He attended Gainesville High School, where he was a stand-out athlete, leading the swimming
and football
teams. He cut his schooling short in 1938 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 20 February 1939.
After completing training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
at Parris Island
, South Carolina
, he served at various posts in the United States
as well as at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
. Promoted to corporal
on 12 September 1940, he departed for World War II action in the Pacific in June 1942.
During the invasion of the Solomon Islands
, Corporal Lewis was involved in the landings on Tulagi
on 7 August 1942. On the day of the landings, he led his squad
in a determined attack against a Japan
ese machine gun
position which blocked his unit’s advance. Corporal Lewis was mortally wounded during the assault, but his relentless fighting spirit so inspired his men that they wiped out the Japanese emplacement.
Corporal Lewis was the first resident of Alachua County
, Florida, to die in combat in World War II.
, Corporal Lewis was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
destroyer escort
USS Milton Lewis (De-772)
launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Corporal Lewis.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
who received a posthumous Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his actions in the Battle of Tulagi
Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo
The Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo was a land battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, between the forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied ground forces. It took place from 7–9 August 1942 on the Solomon Islands, during the initial Allied landings in the Guadalcanal...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Milton Lewis was born on 8 July 1920 in GainesvilleGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He attended Gainesville High School, where he was a stand-out athlete, leading the swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
teams. He cut his schooling short in 1938 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 20 February 1939.
After completing training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
at Parris Island
Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island is a former census-designated place , currently a portion of Port Royal in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,841 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Parris Island is included within the Beaufort Urban Cluster and the larger...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, he served at various posts in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Promoted to corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
on 12 September 1940, he departed for World War II action in the Pacific in June 1942.
During the invasion of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, Corporal Lewis was involved in the landings on Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
on 7 August 1942. On the day of the landings, he led his squad
Squad
In military terminology, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. In countries following the British Army tradition this organization is referred to as a section...
in a determined attack against a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
position which blocked his unit’s advance. Corporal Lewis was mortally wounded during the assault, but his relentless fighting spirit so inspired his men that they wiped out the Japanese emplacement.
Corporal Lewis was the first resident of Alachua County
Alachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
, Florida, to die in combat in World War II.
Awards
For his extraordinary heroism and unswerving devotion to duty during the Battle of TulagiBattle of Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo
The Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo was a land battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, between the forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied ground forces. It took place from 7–9 August 1942 on the Solomon Islands, during the initial Allied landings in the Guadalcanal...
, Corporal Lewis was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Namesakes
The United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Milton Lewis (De-772)
USS Milton Lewis (DE-772)
USS Milton Lewis , ex-USS Rogers , was a United States Navy proposed during World War II but never completed.Milton Lewis was laid down as USS Rogers by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company at Tampa, Florida, on 23 August 1943...
launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Corporal Lewis.