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Gay Lewison - Korean War
Gaylord (Gay) Lewison enlisted into the U.S. Army in late 1949. He had just arrived at his first duty station in Okinawa when his regiment was alerted and immediately sent to help defend the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea in July, 1950. His unit, the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, was decimated at the battle of Hadong. The survivors then transferred to the 27th Infantry Regiment, part of the 25th Infantry Division, and Gay served out the rest of his one year tour with that unit, taking part in some of the toughest combat of the war. He made the Army a career, and served during the Vietnam War as well, this time as a Master Sergeant. He retired as a Sergeant Major, serving as a Regular Army advisor to the Illinois Army National Guard.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Ambush at Hai-Dong
Abstract
Interview session 01 (Audio)
Early life, military training and Korean War
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Korean War, plus Vietnam War and advisor duty with IL National Guard
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Private Gay Lewison’s photo taken during Basic Training at Ft. Riley, Kansas in late 1949.
Where:
Ft. Riley, Kansas
When:
Late 1949
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
These newspaper articles on Gay Lewison’s unit, the 27th Infantry Regiment of 25th Infantry Division, appeared in the fall of 1950.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Fall of 1950
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Gay Lewison mailed this postcard home in December 1950, after a tumultuous five months of combat in Korea.
Where:
Unknown
When:
December 1950
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Gay was only able to write a few short lines on the postcard he sent home in December, 1950.
Where:
Korea
When:
December, 1950
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This cartoon appeared in the Army’s newspaper, Stars and Stripes, circa 1951.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1951
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
These two KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation To U.S. Army) were assigned to Gay’s platoon; ‘Harry’ and ‘Dick,’ with Tom’s foot visible in left of photo, circa 1951.
Where:
Korea
When:
Circa 1951
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gay on R
Where:
Tokyo
When:
1951
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gay and Ruth Lewison at Ft. Riley, Kansas, circa 1952.
Where:
Ft. Riley, Kansas
When:
Circa 1952
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo.
Caption
The Lewisons gathered for this family portrait in 1959, while Gay was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. From left to right are Joe, Gail, Linda, Ruth with Billy on her lap, Dean and Gaylord.
Where:
Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri
When:
1959
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Lewison is promoted to Master Sergeant (E-8) in Panama in 1962. COL Olson does the honors, with CPT Bovine watching. When Lewison was a MSG in the 1950s, his pay grade was E-7. The army changed the NCO ranks in 1958.
Where:
Panama
When:
1962
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Pina Range in Panama, circa 1962.
Where:
Panama
When:
Circa 1962
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ruth Lewison pitched for the softball league in Panama, 1962.
Where:
Panama
When:
1962
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Caption
The Advisor Group-Headquarters for the 23rd ARVN Division. Gay is in the back row, center, with glasses. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)
Where:
When:
Circa1962
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The Lewison children gather for a picture in front of Panama’s Bridge of the Americas in in 1963. From left to right are Joe, Dean, Gail with Billy on her lap, and Linda.
Where:
Panama’s Bridge of the Americas
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gay and Ruth at the Bridge of Americans, Panama in 1963. The bridge connects North and South America on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal.
Where:
Panama
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
First Sergeant Lewison stands during a formation in front of the unit of advisors to which he was assigned. Lewison served in the 2nd Corps area of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1966.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1965 to 1966
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo.
Caption
Master Sergeant Lewison is at his desk at Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam during his tour of duty there in 1965.
Where:
Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam
When:
1965
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gay Lewison received the Silver Star for action in South Vietnam in October, 1965. The medal was awarded while he served as an advisor with the Illinois Army National Guard in Springfield, IL after his return from Vietnam. Photo from Springfield State Journal-Register.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
October, 1965
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain