Milton Lewis

Milton Lewis was born on 8 July 1920 in Gainesville, 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 Japanese 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.

For his extraordinary heroism and unswerving devotion to duty during the Battle of Tulagi, Corporal Lewis was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

The United States Navy destroyer escort USS Milton Lewis (De-772) launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Corporal Lewis.

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Milton Lewis Young Marines

• Milton Lewis at Find a Grave