Earl Gardner was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on October 24, 1967, and was held until his release on March 14, 1973.
Sponsored by:
Earl
Gardner
Lewis
, Jr.
POW (RVN)
September 13, 1940
–
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he served as an educator to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Commander Lewis is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 24, 1967 – March 14, 1973
Lieutenant Commander Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 24, 1967 until his release on March 14, 1973.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in May 1968. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
July 1969 – March 1970
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July 1969 to March 1970. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151)Division:
U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVA-43)Action Date:
October 24, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Naval Flight Officer in Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE (VF-151), embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43). As a radar intercept officer in the wing element of a division of four F-4B aircraft assigned as fighter protection for a major air-wing strike against the heavily defended Phuc Yen airfield near Hanoi, North Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Lewis, in the face of surface-to-air missiles, heavy anti-aircraft fire, and airborne enemy aircraft, assisted his pilot during the critical phase of flight following the SAM attack. As his pilot advised the stricken aircraft pilot of the extensive damage suffered and the danger from the ensuing fire, Lieutenant Commander Lewis kept a vigilant lookout for further surface-to-air missiles and proximate flak bursts, allowing his pilot to concentrate on remaining with the stricken aircraft. Lieutenant Commander Lewis’ exceptional courage, still, and devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 23 – 27, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Earl Gardner Lewis, Jr. (NSN: 0-6830604), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 23 to 27 October 1967. Lieutenant Commander Lewis’ captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander Lewis reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.