Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 26-Jul-1945
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 20-Aug-1966
Incident date: 26-Feb-1967
Date of casualty: 26-Feb-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Rodger Dale Lewis was passenger in armored personnel carrier on combat operation when vehicle hit a hostile mine.
Five Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident
SP4 Jesse L. Brandon
SGT Johnny Edward Brumley
SP4 Rodger Dale Lewis
SP4 Harry Mathis Jr
PVT Carlos Medina
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR RODGER DALE LEWIS
26 FEBRUARY 1967
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Lewis distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 26 February 1967 while assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Lewis was serving as a machine gunner of an armored cavalry assault vehicle that was part of a relief force attempting to reach another armored cavalry platoon which was under enemy attack. As the relief column made contact with the enemy, Specialist Lewis’ track immediately began to receive intense hostile fire. As the vehicle maneuvered to return the fire, an enemy rocket pierced the cupola fatally wounding the Track Commander and seriously injuring Specialist Lewis. Ignoring his own wounds, Specialist Lewis continued to deliver a rapid and accurate rate of fire on the enemy positions. Seeing the distress of the Track Commander, he left the relative safety of his position in the armored vehicle and, fully exposed, went to his aid. While attempting to pull him from the cupola, Specialist Lewis became the target for enemy snipers. Refusing to seek cover, he persisted in his valiant efforts until the enemy detonated a claymore mine nearby which fatally wounded him. Remaining conscious until the evacuation, Specialist Lewis’ only concern was for his wounded comrade. Specialist Lewis’ rare courage and unwavering devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 455 (25 March 1967)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SPECIALIST FOUR RODGER DALE LEWIS
2 DECEMBER 1966
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Lewis distinguished himself by valorous actions on 2 December 1966 while manning a machine gun in an armed convoy near Suoi Cat. Specialist Lewis engaged Viet Cong forces firing at the convoy from ditches bordering the highway. When the vehicle commander was wounded, he assumed command himself, and began to actively direct the crew’s firing maneuvers. Later, Specialist Lewis personally destroyed an insurgent team that was trying to recover an automatic weapon, and also silenced another weapon that was attempting to cover their action. Through his leadership, a numerically superior force was defeated. 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.
Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam General Orders No. 7014 (23 December 1966)