Vernon Lewis

MG (R) Vern Lewis is one of our oldest living Field Artillery General Officers. At 95 years old, he continues to contribute to the branch he loves. Recently, he sat down to reflect on his career and all the opportunities the Army and the Field Artillery had given him. Please enjoy some wisdom and reflection.

Vernon B. Lewis, Jr. was born on August 18, 1930, in Marshall, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and later earned a commission in 1951 after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley. During his early career he served in the Korean War as a forward observer and in various artillery roles with the 75th Field Artillery Battalion. Over the decades he rose through the ranks, serving in Airborne artillery units, including the 11th Airborne Division and ultimately commanding airborne field-artillery battalions.

During the Vietnam era, Lewis served two combat tours. On his first tour he was a Sector Advisor in Binh Thuan Province. On his second tour, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division. Later he attended the National War College and earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Lewis then held senior leadership positions, including command of the artillery for the 82nd Airborne Division and service as Division Chief of Staff. Promoted to brigadier general and later to major general in June 1975, he was assigned to the Pentagon as Director of Requirements in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. After nearly 29 years of service, General Lewis retired in May 1977.

Following his military service, he became the primary founder and CEO of two internationally known, military-based businesses, Cypress International and MPRI. Overall, Vernon B. Lewis, Jr. exemplified a distinguished U.S. Army Field Artillery and Airborne career — from frontline combat in Korea and Vietnam to high-level strategic planning in the Pentagon — and later transitioned to a successful civilian business career leveraging his military expertise.

A CINDERALLA CAREER

  Now in my 95^th year, as I reflect on my military years as a Field Artillery Officer, I realize how unusual they were, and how Blessed I have been, so I thought perhaps I would share some of it with your Field Artillery Readers.  If I couId have chosen my assignments and leaders, I would not have done anything different from what I had.  To tell the story, I will just use bullets, and hit some of the highlights.

• After one year of college. I joined the Army as a Recruit for one year on my 18^th birthday.
• During that active duty year, I was a cannoneer, gunner, and Chief of Section on a 105mm SP Howitzer.  In my 9^th month,  I was promoted to Sergeant (E5).
• Commissioned in an Infantry Officer Candidate School at Ft Riley in March 1951.  Chose Field Artillery as my branch.
• Am in the Infantry OCS and the Field Artillery Halls of Fame.
• Went to Korean War with a Field Artillery Battalion from Ft. Sill in Nov 1951.  Served as an Air Observer, Forward Observer (with French Foreign Legion), Commo Officer, and Fire Direction Officer.
• Have massed the fire of Batteries from as many as 7 Battalions on a single target of Chinese Communist Forces (several times).
• Over 1,050 days in combat (Korea and Vietnam).  Six decorations for valor (including foreign medals).
• Served in 12 Artillery Units: 14^th Armd FA (Ft Hood), 647^th Armd FA (Texas National Guard), 25^th FA  (Ft Riley), 6^th Armd FA (Ft Sill), 75^th FA (Korea), 560^th FA (Ft Polk), 457^th Abn FA (Ft Campbell and Germany), Hvy Mortar Btry, 1^st Abn Battle Group, 503^rd Infantry (Germany), 3/6^th Armd FA  (Ft Sill), 1/320^th Abn FA (Ft Bragg), 2/77^th FA (Vietnam), 82^nd Abn Div Arty (Ft Bragg).
• Was Chairman of the Artillery Committee at the Infantry School (Ft Benning), Commander of 82^nd Abn Div Arty, and Assistant Commandant of the Field Artillery School.
• Graduated from three Courses at the Field Artillery School (Basic 16 weeks, Battery Officers Course 6 months, Assoc Advance Course 15 weeks).
• Commanded: 3 Batteries for a total of 6+ years, 2 Battalions—one in the 82^nd, and one for a year in the 25^th  Inf Div in Vietnam.
• Served in 7 different Divisions: the 2^nd Armd, 49^th Armd (Tx NG), 10^th Mountain, 11^th Abn, 24^th Inf, 25^th Inf, and 82^nd Abn.
• In the trenches at Frenchman’s Flat in Nevada for the Atomic Weapon (280mm cannon) test in 1953.  Am designated by DA as an Atomic Veteran.
• Crossed both Oceans both ways in Troop Ships; been to Sea in the Atlantic in a Submarine; landed and catapulted off an Aircraft Carrier (Constellation) in the Pacific; been in combat on a Destroyer in the South China Sea; landed on two beaches from amphibious landing craft.
• Been involved in firing about 1,000,000 rounds of cannon artillery and heavy mortars.
• Have made about 170 parachute jumps in 7 states and 3 foreign countries.
• As a Sector Advisor in Vietnam, earned a combat infantry badge and got credit for a year of Infantry Battalion command.
• Fired and adjusted one of the 1^st rounds of Naval Gunfire from a Destroyer onto South Vietnam territory in 1964.
• Got an Article 15 (fined $50) for drinking beer with an enlisted man (in Shorty’s Bar) while a 1^st Lt on maneuvers in Natchez Trace Tennessee.
• As a 1^st Lt, was S-3 (Operations Officer) of a Battalion (560^th FA).
• As a Major, activated, commanded, trained, and successfully tested a new Battalion (1/320 in the 82^nd).
• Was the first ever honorary “Colonel of the Regiment” of the 319^th Abn FA Regiment.
• Spent 5 years in DCSOPS in the Pentagon, first as a Major/Lt Col deploying units to Vietnam, and second as a Major General in the Director of Requirements (new weapons systems) job.
• Got a below the zone promotion to Colonel; and after only one assignment as a Col., at age 42 was selected for Brig. General.  Some year and a half later, was selected for a second Star.  
• Was the youngest General in the Army when I retired at age 46.
• Worked for and was rated or indorsed by the Army’s best and brightest: Generals (John Hennessey, George Blanchard, Shy Meyer, Fritz Kroesen, Bill DePuy, Jack Vessey).

                                                        Vernon B Lewis, Jr   Major General, USA Ret.

Footnote:  This all probably sounds a bit arrogant, but I write it to show what can happen to a young 18 year old pursuing a military career in this Democratic Republic.  The Army taught me how to lead, how to learn, how to deal with stress, how to think positive, how to problem solve, empathy, how to make things happen, and it educated me---and made me an effective Warrior.  And from all this, I became the founder and CEO of two multi-million $$$ businesses and a pro-active Christian.  Talk about being Blessed!!!

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