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Recognizing PFC Wilbur Lewis
Sojourner’s Truth Staff
Councilman Tyrone Riley and
Toledo City Council recognized PFC Wilbur Lewis for bravery
and heroism for events that occurred at Fort Bragg, N.C. on
June 6, 1956.
PFC Lewis was involved in a
mass parachute jump as part of a demonstration organized by
the 82nd Airborne division for General Ne Win, Chief of
Staff of the Burmese Armed Forces.
PFC Lewis reacted quickly
when he realized that his buddy Private Charles P. Harper's
chute was prevented from opening and he successfully caught
the shrouds in mid-air and brought them back to earth with
no injury.
PFC Lewis was recommended by
Capt. Curtis Watters, public information officer at Fort
Bragg for the Soldier's Medal for his actions that day.
“What you did is what people dream of doing,” commented
Riley as he praised the former city employee for his
bravery.
Riley’s connection with Lewis goes back decades. As a
college student, Riley worked for a time with the City of
Toledo’s sanitation department and Lewis was his supervisor.
“Because of your actions and consideration of how you
approached me, I was able to graduate college,” Riley told
the former Libbey student and 82nd Airborne
parachutist. |
