Posted by Ross Lewis on May 21, 2012:

I am 68 years old and still feel like a loving, young kid for my Dad, Charles Lewis. I'm so proud of him! And forever will be! Charlie was sick most of his life. Got TB as a young Army officer while in Hawaii in the early '30s. It pretty much frustrated him all his life. But what remained, for me, are my lasting memories of growing up with Charlie, my red-headed Dad with wrists of steel. Charlie and I "grew up" together. For many years, during my childhood, he did not work at a regular job because of his illness. We spent a lot of time together. The stories are many. To this day I feel an immense pride for Charles Lewis. Alone, with no father and a mother who worked 18 hour days, Charlie, somehow, made it into West Point from the tough streets of Brooklyn in the mid '20s. An amazing accomplishment! There were, of course were lots of stories and lots of jokes: He was the 'Goat' of the class of '30 and he wrestled up there(hence the steel wrists)...but his often favorite tale was how he could rope-climb to the top of the West Point gym and beat everyone else. Ten seconds of arm-wrestling with Charlie clearly authenticated the validity of that story. Most of all I remember Charlie as a no-frills, non-nonsense, few words guy who had a great sense of humor. He was powerfully present all of the time; even with his silence. But most of all, Charlie had a lifelong influence upon me: "Passion!" In the 50's, every year we watched the Army/Navy games on black and white TV. This was no time for humor! The battle was on! Every second of every game was a moment of "War!"I used glance, from the corner of my eye, at Charlie's forward tight jaw, gritting his teeth with a deep throat yell when Army dropped the ball. "FUMBLE-I-TIS"!!! The gripping word echoed through the house! Please Army! Never! Never! Drop The Ball! Never!!!!! I realize, to this day, that "Fumble-I-Tis" is still the mantra which dictates my never-ending passion for Army and those Black and Gold uniforms. The silent passion was an always! To me the streets of Brooklyn were the heroic act of a real warrior! I am deeply moved, daily, to have loved and to always love Charlie for Who He Was and how I have always known: "Never Give Up!" Thank you Dad! You're The Best!

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