Army Staff Sgt. Lex L. Lewis

Died July 15, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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40, of Rapid City, S.D.; assigned to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died July 15 at Shewan Garrison, Farah province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

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Mother says fallen soldier loved Army life

The Associated Press

RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Fort Carson, Colo., soldier who was killed in Afghanistan wanted to be a soldier from an early age, his South Dakota mother says.

Sgt. Lex Lewis, 40, was killed July 15 when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Farah province, according to the military. Lewis was a cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, part of Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division.

"He absolutely loved the Army, and the Army fit him well. He wanted to serve his country," Betty Lewis, of Rapid City, told the Rapid City Journal on Sunday. "He just liked being a soldier. He played Army when he was a little boy all the time, and this is what he wanted to do."

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued a statement offering his condolences.

"Many brave men and women risk their lives, every day, to protect our freedoms, and we grieve each time one of these heroes makes the ultimate sacrifice," the governor said.

Lewis, a Rapid City native, started his military career in the Navy after high school and was stationed in Japan. He joined the Army in 1999 and was on his third deployment. He served in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2008 and 2009, according to Fort Carson. He had been in Afghanistan for only about a month.

He is survived by his mother; his wife, Molly; and a 6-year-old stepdaughter, Ariel.

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South Dakota soldier killed in Afghanistan laid to rest

The Associated Press

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Army Staff Sergeant Lex Lewis of Rapid City was buried at Black Hills National Cemetery.

The 40-year-old Lewis was killed July 15th when insurgents shot at his unit in Farah Province. The recipient of a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Action Badge, Lewis was a cavalry scout with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

KOTA-TV reports that a group of onlookers and Rapid City firefighters overlooked the funeral procession. Lewis' body was carried from Calvary Lutheran Church to its final resting place at Black Hills National Cemetery on Thursday.

Lewis was in the first month of his third war deployment to the Middle East. His previous two deployments were to Iraq.

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Carson service honors fallen S.D. soldier

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Fort Carson is holding a memorial service for a soldier from South Dakota who was killed in action in Afghanistan.

The service for Staff Sgt. Lex Lewis is scheduled Wednesday at Soldiers' Memorial Chapel on the post near Colorado Springs.

The 40-year-old Lewis was from Rapid City, S.D.

He was killed July 15 when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

Lewis was a cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, part of Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division.

He is survived by his wife, Molly; 6-year-old stepdaughter, Ariel; and his mother, Betty Lewis.

Lewis joined the Navy after high school and joined the Army in 1999. He was on his third deployment.

His decorations include two Army Commendation medals, five Army Achievement medals and two Meritorious Unit citations.