Merrill Raymond Lewis Jr

Merrill Raymond Lewis Jr. of Indianola went missing over South Vietnam on July 20, 1966. He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and achieved the rank of Colonel. COL Lewis served in the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron a part of the 7th Air Force. He deployed to Southeast Asia in May 1966. The Iowa pilot flew F-105 Thunderchief jet aircraft. His plane was shot down by anti-aircraft artillery and his plane was not immediately located. COL Lewis was preseumed dead by the Department of Defense in January 1979, although searches continued for remains of the pilot. In 1989 his body was successfully located and repatriated to the United States. He was laid to rest at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA. Lewis was 33 years old when he was shot down over South Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal by the Air Force.