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PERRY LEWIS
| Lewis arrived in Vietnam 1968 and was assigned to 3rd
Platoon. He was on our August 68 Roster. His present where
abouts is unknown. In the photo above, Medic, SGT Perry A Lewis
& SGT Thomas L Roehm. Perry says, "I came in as a replacement to LZ Sally and hooked up with Alpha Company, 2nd of the 501st and was put in the third platoon in March of 1968." |
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| Medals & Awards: Silver Star Medal National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Ribbon Vietnam Campaign Medal Combat Infantryman Badge Unit Citations |
| SILVER STAR 20 July 1968 SP4 Perry A. Lewis was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 20 July 1968. Specialist Lewis distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner with the Third Platoon, Company A, 2d Battalion, 501st Infantry, during a combat patrol in densely vegetated mountains west of Hue, Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Lewis’ platoon was in the lead position, and, because of the thick vines and dense underbrush, was forced to cut a trail with machetes in its search of reported North Vietnamese Army base camp. Near the top of a slope the lead element came under an intense barrage of automatic weapons fire. The two lead men were shot immediately and, as the rest of the platoon sought cover, several more men were injured on punji states cleverly placed by the enemy in selected positions. Specialist Lewis was pinned down by the enemy fire. However, observing two of his comrades wounded, Specialist Lewis began crawling forward to aid the fallen men. He fire into the thick underbrush where the enemy was hidden. On several occasions the incoming fire was so intense that Specialist Lewis was forced to stop and conceal himself behind the sparse ground cover, but never did he try to return to safety. After several minutes of slow crawling he reached the first wounded man. Seeing that the man was in desperate need of medical attention, Specialist Lewis, with complete disregard for his own safety, began crawling and carrying the injured man to safety. The platoon began to pull back in order to employ helicopter gunships and volunteers were called forward to remove equipment from the front. Specialist Lewis volunteered and began the long crawl toward the forward area. An enemy machine gun was moved to within thirty meters of his position and subjected him and the friendly positions to steady fire. Specialist Lewis and one other man crawled through the heavy fire and destroyed the enemy position before retrieving the platoon’s equipment, which contained valuable ammunition and Claymore mines. Specialist Lewis’ personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. |
| Story by Perry Lewis I had been in the hospital for a while from an injury and had recently returned to my platoon. While I was away, the platoon had received many new replacements as it had taken heavy losses on a recent mission. I was appointed the 3rd squad leader. We had just climbed a tall mountain and we were preparing to set up a perimeter. I was ordered to take my squad back down for reconnaissance. All my men were inexperienced so I took the point and followed a rocky wash back down the mountain flanking the trail we followed up. I did this in case the enemy had set up an ambush somewhere along the trail. About three fourths the way down the rocks became very damp and slippery. I lost my footing, landed on my butt, and slid the rest of the way down. While holding my M-16 high overhead and going off a ten to fifteen foot ledge landing in a big pool of water about chest deep. A 18 and 1/2 foot Burmese Python was coiled up in the bottom waiting for unsuspecting prey coming up to the pool of water for a drink. After our encounter, I figured he would spring up out of the water and snatch any unsuspecting prey. I had never expected to encounter something like this so I do not know who was more surprised the snake or me. He did not like me invading his territory or me standing on him. We immediately went into hand-to-hand, well hand-to -snake combat. I kept using my M-16 to shield his attacks coming up out of the water and loudly blowing and hissing water right in my face, however it did not take long for him to gain the advantage and get a coil around me. My squad had caught up by then and began trying to help me. The snake was just too strong. By the grace of God, I had the presence of mind to jerk my sweat towel from around my neck and wrap it around his eyes blind folding him. He went limp and loosened his coil around me. My men finished loosening his grip and freeing me. We pulled him on out of the pool of water and were amazed at how long he really was and how heavy he was. After talking it over with the platoon leader, I was ordered to bring the snake back up the mountain alive. We lifted him up on our shoulders and made the long climb back up, exhausted however successfully. These pictures were taken just after we made it back up. A chopper flew out and he was hoisted up in a mail sack and taken to the rear area. I don't know what happened to him or where he went or what kind of stories were told about him, however you have the truth from the squad leader whose squad captured him and the pictures to prove it. |
| PHOTOS |
 Burmese Python - Vietnam late 1968 - Left to Right: Roberto Hegler, Harvey Wiggins, Tom Roehm, Perry Lewis holding the head of the snake,????, Henderson and unknown soldier |
 SGT Perry A Lewis holding head of snake. Behind him is SGT Thomas Roehm, Roberto Hegler and other unknown |
 Unknown Soldiers looking at snake. |
 SP4 Edward R. Yost - SP4 Robert R. Rehder - Cool Papa - SP4 Perry Lewis |
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