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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '96
William Warner Lewis, Jr.
No. 15841 Class of 1946
Died 20 December 1994 at Jamestown, North Carolina, aged 69 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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Warner, as he was known to friends and family,
was born 16 August 1925 in High Point, North Carolina. He spent
his formative years there and graduated from High Point Central
High School. A close boyhood friend, Joseph Hayworth, wrote of
their high school days. "He always sought for the answer
to questions of interest to him. He enjoyed Scouting and he and
I spent many happy times hiking and camping. He also was active
in sports, playing football, basketball and golf in high school."
Warner attended High Point College for one year before gaining
his appointment to West Point where he joined the Class of 1946
on 1 July 1943.
Cadet life was relatively uneventful for Warner.
He had no trouble with the Tactical Department and managed to
comfortably get through academics. When graduation rolled around,
he pinned on his bars as a second lieutenant of Infantry.
Following graduation, Warner received basic Infantry
schooling at Fort Benning, Georgia. While there, he took time
off at Christmas to marry Elizabeth Binney at the Cadet Chapel
at West Point on 28 December 1946. From Benning, Warner was assigned
to Japan with the 511 Airborne Infantry. Beth joined him there
in the Spring of 1948. When the 11th Airborne Division rotated
back to Camp Campbell, Kentucky, Warner was in he advance party.
In 1952, he was assigned to the 38th Infantry fighting in Korea.
Lawrence M. Tyndall, who served with Warner, told of his initial
assignment to the 38th. "I was attached to E Company as
a Forward Observer. The company had a command problem and low
morale. A few days later, Warner was assigned as E Company Commander.
He recognized the problems and immediately set about correcting
them. In a few weeks, when E Company went on line, it had become
an efficient unit under good leadership with vastly improved
morale and effectiveness. Once we had settled in, Warner began
looking for ways to improve our effectiveness. He came up with
the idea of a long range, all day recon patrol. It would get
as close as possible to the Chinese lines in darkness, stay all
day, then return after dark the next night. Warner led five volunteers
on the first patrol and it was a success. This points out one
of his greatest assets, his ability to inspire confidence in
those under him. He had the rare talent of bringing out the best
of each of his men. I remember clearly the first time Warner
was wounded. E Company was the fire brigade that tried to take
'Old Baldy' back after K Company was overrun. Warner was hit
in the leg and brought back by two of his men. He insisted that
his men be cared for first, then began to plan another attack.
Knowing Warner as I did, I realized he had no intention of being
evacuated as long as any part of E Company was involved. I just
picked him up, put him in a jeep and told the driver to take
him to the Regimental Aid Station. From the aid station, he went
to a MASH. About two days later, a lieutenant with a cane arrived
back at battalion headquarters. It seems Warner had found a ride
back from the MASH. There was a slight problem, no release from
the hospital, but he couldn't wait or he would have missed his
ride. It seems he had heard something about being sent back to
Japan. He just went the wrong way. Battalion and Regiment didn't
ask questions; he was too valuable to them. William Warner Lewis,
Jr. was one of the finest and best officers I ever had the privilege
of serving with."
Arthur H. Ringler, USMA '45, wrote about Warner's
service during the Korean War: "During the 1952-53 period,
Warner commanded a rifle company in the 2nd Bn, 38th Inf, 2nd
Division. I was the Bn S-3. In my view, Warner was outstanding,
a truly courageous commander who never hesitated to lead by being
out in front of his men. He understood his men and they reacted
positively to his leadership in what were not very favorable
conditions."
For his service with the 38th Infantry in Korea,
Warner earned the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals for
Valor, the Commendation Medal, five Purple Heart Medal for wounds
received and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Returning to the States, Warner went to Fort Bragg,
North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne. This was followed by assignment
as Assistant PMS at Allen Academy at Bryan, Texas. After a tour
with the 9th Infantry, Warner and Beth spent one year at the
Defense Language School in Monterey, California before traveling
to Saudi Arabia. In 1966, Warner was assigned to the Defense
Atomic Support Agency prior to going to Vietnam. He went from
there back to Fort Bragg before being assigned as the Deputy
Commander, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. When FORSCOM Headquarters
was established at Fort McPherson, Georgia, Warner was selected
as Post Commander, a post he held until his retirement as a Colonel
in 1976.
Classmate Harry Smythe wrote about Warner at Fort
McPherson: "I got to know Warner well beginning in 1973
while assigned to Fort McPherson. He always focused on the needs
of others, never on trying to impress others. A Korean War wound
left him with a permanent vision handicap which became more serious
during his final years. He accepted it as a matter of fact and
never complained. By the same token, I never remember hearing
him criticize anyone."
After retirement, Warner became a Small Business
Consultant, helping small business owners with business and financial
problems. Warner died from heart failure after an illness on
20 December 1994. He is survived by his wife, Beth; a son, William
Warner III; and two daughters, Elizabeth and Nancy.
The comments about Warner Lewis from his family
and friends say a great deal about a truly great combat leader,
a warm and generous friend, a loving and caring husband and father,
in short, a good man.
Beth wrote of her husband: "Warner was PATRIOTIC,
honest, loyal, loving, modest and kind.
Art Ringler summed up Warner as a soldier and man:
"Warner was a completely dedicated officer with the highest
sense of honesty and duty. He was equally dedicated to his family.
I can best sum him up by saying he loved West Point, the Army
and his family-we miss!"
Joe Hayworth wrote: "Warner was a fine person.
In his life, we see an example to emulate. In his death, we all
lost a good friend who will long be remembered for the many happy
hours together."
West Point roommate, Bill Cound, wrote of Warner:
"I consider his as close to me as anyone outside my family
and did not realize the depth of this affection until he died
in December of 1994. I have tried unsuccessfully to write about
him a number of times but he was too close. I say this because
it's difficult to explain how I knew him so well and can't seem
to get it down in writing. How did I know him so well when we
spent so little time together except for those three years, fifty
years ago? I suspect it's not unusual that friendships begun
when we were young can be so strong."
To this, the remembrances of his family and friends,
the Class of 1946 can only proudly add, "Well Done, Warner;
Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Beth
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