Stanley Reed Lewter

LHS '68

24 Dec 1947-1 Mar 1968 (aged 20)

Silver Star

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Vietnam War

Service: Army

Rank: Specialist Fourth Class

GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade

General Orders No. 1509 (March 17, 1968)

CITATION:

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 Specialist Fourth Class Stanley Reed Lewter (ASN: RA-12936774), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force. Specialist Fourth Class Lewter distinguished himself while serving as Crew Chief aboard a UH-1D transport helicopter of the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, involved in a combat assault mission. The aircraft in which he was flying was leading a formation of helicopters. As the flight neared the landing zone the order was given to open fire, and Specialist Fourth Class Lewter began to put a large volume of accurate fire upon the enemy. As the flight began the final approach, Specialist Lewter notified the Aircraft Commander that they were receiving heavy enemy fire from his side of the landing zone, and that one of the Vietnamese soldiers had been wounded in the throat. In an attempt to save the life of the soldier he gallantly pulled the wounded man into his compartment, and while still putting down a hail of defensive fire with one hand, he attempted to stop the bleeding from the wound of the Vietnamese soldier with the other, and at the same time informing the Aircraft Commander of the exact location of the enemy. As the aircraft touched down into the landing zone, Specialist Lewter was hit and knocked away from his gun. With complete disregard for his wound he continued to protect the lives of his crew by the vast volume of fire which he continued to fire at the enemy. He was directly responsible for the success of this mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

The Wayback Machine

The Cruel War

by Peter, Paul, and Mary

Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), and Mary Travers (contralto vocals). The group's repertoire included songs written by Yarrow and Stookey, early songs by Bob Dylan, and covers of other folk musicians. They were enormously successful in the early- and mid-1960s, with their debut album topping the charts for weeks, and helped popularize the folk music revival. 

"Peter, Paul and Mary" is the debut studio album by American folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, released in May 1962 on Warner Bros. Records. Released in both mono and stereo on catalog no. 1449, it is one of the rare folk albums to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart in the US, where it remained for over a month. "The Cruel War" was one of the songs on the album.

A Little About This Song…

“The Cruel War” was reportedly sung during the Revolutionary War and was most certainly found on both sides during Civil War times; it was considered a potent protest song during the Vietnam War as well. It’s said that the tune was brought over from the British Isles and adapted in America in the early 1700’s. Its first publishing date was in 1914 as “The Girl Volunteer.”

In the early Sixties I loved the folk music we listened to and sang around campfires. I was blissfully unaware that many of the songs I enjoyed singing were actually protest songs of the Vietnam War. Even though I loved singing them I never identified myself as an anti-war protester and always supported our military actions during that war. Little did I know when I graduated in 1964 I would not only serve during the war, but would actually play a part in planning "Operation Linebacker II" the B-52 bombing campaign which is attributed to bringing an end to our involvement in Vietnam.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, 

And Comments

Floyd Richard "Ricky" Simmons, LHS ‘64, "Lee was not the only school with questionable-looking gym suits for the girls. Here is Vicki's gym suit from Riverdale High School, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, class '64. (Vicki is my first wife who many you met at reunions prior to 2015...she passed in May 2013)."