35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  SP4 William Ewing Lewis    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Bravo Company
1st Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment

Vietnam War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 William Ewing Lewis, who died in the service of his country on July 3rd, 1966 in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Multi-Frag. At the time of his death William was 23 years of age. He was from Wiseman, Arkansas. William is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 08E, Line 125.

The decorations earned by SP4 William Ewing Lewis include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.


William is buried in the Wiseman Cemetery, Wiseman Arkansas

Birth: Mar. 14, 1943
Death: Jul. 3, 1966

Bill was a son of Aubrey Woods Lewis and Verna Fouts. Woods and Verna were farmers and stock raisers. Woods also did highway construction work, and worked in a U. S. Cold Storage plant in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bill graduated from Violet Hill, Arkansas High School in 1961.

Bill Lewis was killed in action while serving with U. S. Armed Forces Infantry in Vietnam at the age of 23 years, 3 months and 17 days.

Specialist Four William Lewis was killed in action, on that fateful day, of 3 July l966, in the Ia Drang Valley (Pleiku Province). He was with the 3rd Platoon, Co B, lst Bn, 35th Inf, 3d Bde Task Force, 25th Inf Div. We were in the same Platoon. At a later date, I met Williams' brother who was a member of my Platoon, at Ft. Benning, Ga. I don't recall his name. He was so much like his brother William. I often think of the coincidence of meeting him. SP4 William Lewis was an outstanding Soldier who gave it all on that day. He will never be forgotten and is sadly missed by me....Alonzo Jones