On the recordAugust 2, 2011
it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and heroic service of SSG Lex L. Lewis. Staff Sergeant Lewis died on July 15, 2011, when his dismounted patrol received small arms fire in Farah Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Lewis was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 40 years old. Staff Sergeant Lewis was assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO. Friends and family members remember Staff Sergeant Lewis as a soldier who truly loved the Army. His mother Betty said, ``He just liked being a soldier . . . this is what he wanted to do.'' After graduating from high school, Staff Sergeant Lewis joined the Navy and was first stationed in Japan. He joined the Army later, in 1999, and bravely served three combat tours--two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Lewis's commanders and company-mates alike remember him as a soldier who exemplifies the proudest traditions of the U.S. Army. They often came to him for counsel and advice during difficult times. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, and two Army Good Conduct Medals. Mark Twain once said, ``The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.'' Staff Sergeant Lewis's service was in keeping with this sentiment--by selflessly putting country first, he lived life to the fullest.…
