Year Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown 54-55 FS 6-0 170 Fr * Daytona Beach 55-56 FS 6-0 175 So * Daytona Beach 56-57 FS 6-0 175 Jr * Daytona Beach 57-58 FS 6-0 175 Sr Daytona Beach
| Don Lewis |
Full Name: Don Robert Lewis
Born: January 30, 1936, Cedartown, Ga.
Died: February 9, 1965, Nha Trang, Vietnam
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| FSU Career |
| Swimming & Diving | |
Year Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown 54-55 FS 6-0 170 Fr * Daytona Beach 55-56 FS 6-0 175 So * Daytona Beach 56-57 FS 6-0 175 Jr * Daytona Beach 57-58 FS 6-0 175 Sr Daytona Beach |
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| Comments |
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Don Robert Lewis Obituray. Published by the Daytona Beach Morning Journal on Aug 29, 1965, page 3. His widow, Mary, daughter of Mrs. O. B. Powell, 311 Mobile Ave., accepted the award from Maj. Gen. Gilbert L. Pritchard, commander of the Special Air Warfare Center. Mrs. Lewis, Fort Walton Beach, was accompanied by her two sons, Don Robert, 5, and Mich Capt. Lewis, 29, a 1954 graduate of Mainland High School, was on a reconnaissance mission. Although subject to heavy enemy groundfire, he made repeated low passes over the enemy's position. His plane was struck by the groundfire and
Capt. Lewis sustained chest and head wounds. However, he was able to bring
his plane safely back to his base. He died of his injuries the next day in
an Army hospital in Tha Trang, South Viet Nam. Posted on findagrave.com. Captain Don Robert Lewis, United States Air Force, was killed in action in Vietnam, February 9, 1965. A native of Cedertown, GA, he was raised in Daytona Beach, Florida where he graduated from Mainland High School. He attended Florida State University on a swimming scholarship where he was a varsity swimmer for four years. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Air Force ROTC, and Arnold Air Society. He graduated in January 1959 with a degree from the School of Business and received his commission in the Air Force upon graduation. He attended pilot training at Moultrie, GA and Greenville, MS. As a member of the last advanced pilot training class to be trained in the F-86 at Moody, AFB in Valdosta, GA, he was assigned to the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Lockborne, AFB, OH. In 1964 he attended Vietnamese language school in Washington, DC prior to being assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He was deployed to Ban Me Tuot, South Vietnam in October 1964 where he served as a Forward Air Controller, in support of South Vietnamese ground forces. On a mission on February 8, 1965, he was flying approximately 190 miles NW of Saigon and was wounded by ground fire while supporting ground forces under attack. Severely wounded, he safely landed his aircraft at Ban Me Tuot. Upon landing, he was evacuated to the Eight Field Army Hospital, Nha Trang, Vietnam, where he died from his wounds eighteen hours later. His widow, Mary Powell Lewis, and his two sons, Don Robert Jr., age 4, and Michael Byars, age 2, were presented with decorations posthumously awarded to Captain Lewis at a parade at Hurlburt Field in August of 1965. They were the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart, Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. In 1997, the Captain Don Robert Lewis Air Commando Award was
created at the AFROTC detachment at Florida State University. It is awarded
each spring to the outstanding cadet who displays the outstanding traits of
Captain Lewis, 'Character, Courage, and Sacrifice'. In October of 2000,
Captain Don Robert Lewis heroism was recognized by his peers when he was
selected to the AIR COMMANDO HALL OF FAME by the Air Commando
Association. SILVER STAR CITATION Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War The President of the United States of America,
authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25,
1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain
Don Robert Lewis (AFSN: 0-67417/AO-3095261), United States Air Force, for
gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving
conflict with an armed hostile force as an Advisor-Pilot, 33d Air Base
Squadron, 33d Tactical Group, 13th Air Force, in action over the Republic
of Vietnam on 8 February 1965. On that date, Captain Lewis flew a visual
reconnaissance mission to determine the location, disposition and strength
of unfriendly forces who were engaging the Republic of Vietnam forces. With
complete disregard for his own personal safety, and though subject to
intensive accurate ground fire, Captain Lewis continuously flew his
aircraft at extremely low altitude over the Viet Cong to expose their
positions to the friendly forces. On one low pass, Captain Lewis was
seriously wounded when his aircraft sustained a direct hit in the fuselage.
Demonstrating outstanding airmanship and professionalism, Captain Lewis
successfully completed his mission before landing his crippled aircraft.
Captain Lewis' action are in keeping with the highest traditions of courage
of the American fighting man. By his gallantry and devotion to duty,
Captain Lewis has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States
Air Force. |
| FSU Statistics |
| Swimming & Diving |
Date Opponent/Meet Event Place Results Points
---------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------- ----- -------- ------
1955 Season
01/13/1955 Georgia 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
01/13/1955 Georgia 100-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
01/13/1955 Georgia 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:43.0 1.75
01/31/1955 Southern Methodist 100-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
01/31/1955 Southern Methodist 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:20.4 1.75
02/01/1955 Texas A&M 50-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
02/01/1955 Texas A&M 100-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
02/01/1955 Texas A&M 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:39.2 1.75
02/10/1955 Georgia Tech 300-Yard Medley Relay 1 3:08.7 1.75
02/10/1955 Georgia Tech 440-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
02/12/1955 Southern Intercollegiate 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:38.7 1.50
02/19/1955 Georgia 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:39.4 1.75
1956 Season
01/11/1956 Georgia 100-Yard Freestyle 1T 56.0 4.00
01/11/1956 Georgia 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:50.5 1.25
01/14/1956 Emory 50-Yard Freestyle 1 24.2 5.00
01/27/1956 Southern Methodist 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
01/27/1956 Southern Methodist 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:39.1 1.25
02/06/1956 Vanderbilt 50-Yard Freestyle 1 25.0 5.00
02/11/1956 Georgia Tech 50-Yard Freestyle 1 24.6 5.00
02/11/1956 Georgia Tech 100-Yard Freestyle 1 55.6 5.00
02/11/1956 Georgia Tech 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:42.6 1.25
02/17/1956 Florida 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/17/1956 Florida 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:40.4 1.25
02/21/1956 Miami 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/21/1956 Miami 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:41.8 1.25
02/23/1956 Georgia 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 1.25
02/25/1956 Georgia AAU 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:38.5 1.25
03/10/1956 Florida 50-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
03/17/1956 Florida AAU 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:30.8 1.50
1957 Season
01/10/1957 Georgia 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/01/1957 Kentucky 400-Yard Medley Relay 1 4:20.6 1.75
02/01/1957 Kentucky 100-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/04/1957 Rice 400-Yard Medley Relay 1 4:19.6 1.75
02/06/1957 Texas A&M 50-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
02/06/1957 Texas A&M 400-Yard Freestyle Relay 1 3:40.9 1.75
02/08/1957 Southern Methodist 50-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
02/19/1957 Florida 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/22/1957 Georgia 50-Yard Freestyle 2 3.00
02/25/1957 Miami 400-Yard Medley Relay 1 4:16.4 1.75
02/25/1957 Miami 50-Yard Freestyle 1 25.1 5.00
03/09/1957 Florida 50-Yard Freestyle 3 1.00
1958 Season
02/25/1958 Miami 400-Yard Medley Relay 1 4:08.5 1.75
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Air Force Capt. Don R. Lewis, who died Feb. 9 after a U.S.
aerial strike on North Viet Nam, received posthumously the Silver Star, the
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart Friday at
Hurlburt Field.