Page 22 - March Banner 2018_Neat

Page 22 March 2018
...Donald Lee Lewis
continued from cover.
justice to the man or his experiences.
But you, like me, have captured a
glimpse of his life, that he has lived
well.
James Rada, Jr., contributing editor
of The Catoctin Banner newspaper
wrote a cover article in honor of
Veterans Day in the November
2014 issue. This issue was extremely
popular, received many positive
comments and is one of my all-time
favorites:
Remembering Our Nation’s
Veterans
Donald Lewis stood crammed
among a group of friends and
fellow soldiers, trying not to lose
his balance. The landing craft they
were on was pushing toward its
destination on Omaha Beach at
Normandy, France. A strong current
threatened to pull them away from
their destination.
Lewis was a long way from his
hometown of Thurmont, but he,
along with millions of other young
men, had been drafted to serve in the
armed forces during World War II.
Though he had entered the army as
a private, he had risen to the rank of
staff sergeant.
Lewis stood at the front of the
landing craft hanging onto the edge
of the wall. Around him, he could
hear the explosion of artillery and
see the explosions on the water
and beach. Things seemed a mass
of confusion, but it was all part
of the largest seaborne invasion
ever undertaken: the coordinated
D-Day attack on German forces at
Normandy, France. The invasion
involved 156,000 Allied troops.
Amphibious landings along fifty
miles of the Normandy Coast were
supported by naval and air assaults. Only the fact that his helmet had been
Lewis’ job in the invasion seemed
simple. He was to go ashore first and
mark safe paths across the irrigation
ditches that crossed the beach.
However, the landing craft
couldn’t make it to the beach. It
grounded on a sandbar.
Lewis and the other men were still
expected to take the beach, though.
The front ramp of the landing craft
was lowered and Lewis ran into the
water. He suddenly found himself in
water over his head, weighed down by
a heavy backpack.
“I just had to hold my breath and
walk part of the way underwater until
my head was above water,” Lewis
said.
The Germans started firing on the
beach and the landing craft. Lewis
focused on his job and began marking
the paths where troops could cross.
“When I looked back, men were
laying everywhere,” Lewis said.
The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
“Just about Photo courtesy of John Kinnaird He said a stubborn. Lastly, Godfather which
everyone on group of earned him the name, Don-Don and
the boat was people tried his wife, Fi-Fi.” Larry’s wife, Donna,
dead.” to talk him who worked at Lewis’ store, added a
After the into running few adjectives, “Strict, trusting, and
war, when he for governor, kind.”
was invited but he turned Donald’s niece, Sue Ferguson, was
back to them down, his main support in his final years.
Normandy saying, “I’m She was often on hand at Homewood
for the too honest for where Donald lived for several years.
anniversary that.” She made sure he was happy, loved,
of the D-Day and well cared for.
invasion, Thurmont’s Sue shared, “Donald and Freda
Lewis always current mayor, traveled to every state in the union
turned John Kinnaird, in their RV, including going through
down the actively Alaska and to the North Pole. They
invitations. communicates flew to Hawaii. Went from coast to
Now ninety- and updates coast two times to see the Rose Bowl
six years old, Lewis’ Store on the square in Thurmont c. 1965. friends on his parade.
he has never Facebook page. He felt it a privilege to serve his
returned to Upon learning country. He never wanted to talk
Omaha Beach. of Donald’s death, he posted the about the war for a long time. He felt
“I’ve seen all I wanted to,” he said. photo of Lewis’ Store on the square in honored to serve Frederick County
Though amazingly he was not Thurmont (pictured above) and said, as a Count Commissioner and took
wounded during that invasion, he was “Donald was a true gentleman and that position very seriously. He always
later wounded in the leg during an always had the best interest of our gave an honest answer, never “honey
artillery barrage. Lewis remembers community at heart.” Kinnaird also coated.”
laying in a hospital in England invited comments from friends. It was a privilege and honor for
waiting to be taken into surgery. Janet Lewis posted, “He was a him to serve as mayor of his home
“A big, ol’ English nurse comes director at Thurmont Bank, always town. He loved living in Thurmont.
walking up and she pulls back the wanted to give the tellers a raise, he After retiring, he spent his winters in
sheet and looks at the wound,” recalls always tried anyway.” Florida, always ready to go soon after
Lewis. “Then she says to me, ‘Almost George Wilhide posted, “I loved hunting season. But, in the spring, he
got your pride and joy, didn’t they?’” the soda fountain. He had a barrel would say he was ready to be back
Another time, Lewis barely of root beer behind the counter. We home.
escaped being killed. He and other got a frosty mug of that root beer for After selling his property on the
soldiers were up in trees along a road, a nickel. It was so cold it hurt your west end of Thurmont, he was told
waiting to ambush the Germans. teeth, but was soooo good!!!” he could move into a cottage at
However, the Germans were being Art Drager posted, “Very sad Homewood in Frederick, where he
careful that day. news! He was a wonderful man had his name on the list for quite a
“A sniper must have spotted me with always a smile on his face and few years. Just before he was to go,
up there,” Lewis said. “I knew he hit something nice or funny to say! One he came to my house one Saturday
my helmet. I started down that tree of my favorite stories was when he morning, and said, ‘I have to talk to
as fast as I could, grabbing limbs and took Dr. Pargman, Director of Camp you. I can’t move to Homewood, I
dropping.” Airy from 1924-1969 and Merle Eyler want to stay here in Thurmont, this is
When he got to the ground, he fishing...Doc said he wasn’t catching my home.’ I told him about a condo
took off his helmet and saw that there any fish. Finally, Donald told Doc he for sale on Easy Street, he looked
was a hole through the front of it and wasn’t going to catch any fish with through it, and said he’d buy it. He
a matching one through the back of it. the hook caught in his pants! The was so happy there and loved staying
10 cent root beer in frozen mugs in town with the people and place that
sitting high on his head saved his life. was the best a wonderful treat on was so very special to him.”
“People wondered why I didn’t a hot summer day! Mr. Lewis was Our community thanks you, Sue,
bring the helmet home as a souvenir, dedicated to Thurmont, its residents, for taking such good care of your
but I didn’t want anything to do with The Brotherhood of the Jungle Uncle Donald, the community’s
it,” said Lewis. Cock organization, and was a good friend.
Perhaps his most pleasant friend to Camp Airy! My
memory from the war was when first tennis racket was
he was discharged from the Army. purchased at his store.”
He was in line with other soldiers Other sentiments
being discharged after the end of the include those from
war. The soldier at the front of the Donald’s long-time friend,
line would walk up to the officer at Larry Eby. He said, “In
the front of the room, receive his the sixty years I’ve known
discharge papers, salute, and walk Donald Lewis, a lot comes
away. to mind and I could write
“When I got my papers, I let out a a book. However for the
war whoop and woke that place up,” purpose here, I’ll share
Lewis said. single words that define
Once back in Thurmont, Lewis a complex individual. (from left) Lloyd Hoke, Donald Lewis, and Robert Abraham, Sr., are
went to work on the family farm. He Friend, mentor, peace shown in 1974 during the dedication of the Joe Brooks Memorial along
Route #77, west of Thurmont and Big Hunting Creek. These men
married his wife Freda in a double maker, warrior, manager, served on the Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock fishing organization’s
ceremony with a couple they were father figure, generous, committee to erect the monument in honor of Joe brooks, one of
friends with. accountable, forgiving, its founders. It is located near the founding members’ first meeting
Lewis also had a political career... held high standards, place and the stream where a legacy of fly fishing continues.