United States. A "China Marine" Service Group to George Chester Lewis, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy

Navy Good Conduct Medal (in bronze, engraved "GEORGE CHESTER LEWIS 1945" on the reverse, 32.5 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback); Marine Corps Yangtze Service Medal (in bronze, number impressed "M. No. 5226" on the edge, 33 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback); Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (in bronze, number impressed "M. No. 5103" on the edge, 32.8 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback); and World War II Victory Medal (in bronze, 36.3 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback). Light contact and surface wear, better than very fine. Accompanied by a Navy Department Bureau of Naval Personnel Record of Service (documenting Lewis' service in the USMC and the USMCR, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 202 mm (w) x 264 mm (h)); a United States Marine Corps Discharge Certificate (to 204250 Private First Class George Chester Lewis, USMC, dated December 12, 1929 at San Diego, California, signed by Colonel H. Lay, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 201 mm (w) x 254 mm (h)); a United States Marine Corps Reserve Discharge Certificate (to 204250 Private First Class George Chester Lewis, USMCR, dated December 12, 1933 at San Diego, California, signed by Major George A. Stowell, printed in black ink on a thick white paper stock, 202 mm (w) x 265 mm (h)); a Commission Document (promoting George Chester Lewis to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on August 31, 1946, dated on February 5, 1948 at Washington, D.C., numbered "373890", embossed seal of the Navy Department, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 202 mm (w) x 266 mm (h); a Commission Document (promoting George Chester Lewis to the rank of Lieutenant on July 1, 1953, dated April 25, 1958 at Washington, D.C., numbered "782639" embossed seal of the Navy Department, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 201 mm (w) x 265 mm (h)); a United States Naval Service Discharge Certificate (to 484842 George Chester Lewis, USNR, dated August 30, 1946 at Los Angeles, California, typewritten text in black ink on a browning paper stock, 202 mm (w) x 268 mm (h)); a Navy Department Certificate of Satisfactory Service (to Lieutenant Junior Grade George Chester Lewis, USNR, dated August 13, 1946 at Washington, D.C., numbered "276392" on the reverse, signed by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, gold embossed seal of the Navy Department, text printed in black ink on a thick white paper stock, 203 mm (w) x 253 mm (h)); a Department of the Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel Service Schools Certificate (to 484842/1105 Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George Chester Lewis, USNR, having satisfactorily completed the prescribed course at the United States Naval School, Instructors, Class C-1, Course "D", at the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego, signed by Captain C.E. Phillips, USN, dated February 26, 1954, embossed seal of the Department of the Navy, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 202 mm (w) x 133 mm (h)); a Department of the Navy Certificate of Training (to George Chester Lewis, Badge No. 42, satisfactorily completed the General Law Enforcement course, dated July 24, 1968 at San Diego, California, signed by Security Officer, Lieutenant E.H. Chiburn, USN, printed in black ink on a thick white paper stock, 267 mm (w) x 203 mm (h)); along with various papers from the Navy and Naval Reserve, and a Letter from the Department of the Navy (regarding Lewis' Satisfactory Service). 

 

Footnote: George Chester Lewis was born on September 22, 1907 in East Palestine, Ohio. He was accepted for enlistment at Youngstown, Ohio, officially enlisting for four years' service with the United States Marine Corps on February 9, 1926 at Parris Island, South Carolina, stating his occupation as that of Laborer. He qualified as a Marksman in 1926 and 1929. Lewis served with the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force in China from May 5, 1927 to October 31, 1928, and for his China service, was awarded the Marine Corps Yangtze Service Medal and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. He was promoted to Private First Class on April 8, 1929. Private First Class Lewis, United States Marine Corps was Honorably Discharged at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California on December 12, 1929, upon the expiration of his enlistment period, his character noted as "Excellent", his "service honest and faithful" and was recommended for re-appointment. The day after his discharge, Private First Class Lewis re-enlisted with the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, Class III for four years' service at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, on December 13, 1929. Upon the completion of his service period, he was Honorably Discharged on December 12, 1933 at Chicago, Illinois, his character noted as "Excellent". Lewis was employed with Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego for twenty-nine months, from May 2, 1940 to October 12, 1942, before enlisting for four years' service with the United States Naval Reserve, V-6, at the Naval Training Station in San Diego on October 14, 1942. He was on active duty during the Second World War with the 11th Naval District Shore Patrol in Los Angeles and San Diego. Lewis was Honorably Discharged at NOPSC in Los Angeles on August 30, 1946 and for his Second World War service, was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. As a married man, he took various courses that qualified him in Shore Patrol, the United States Military Police (Naval), Court Investigations and as an Assistant Patrol Officer. After the war, Lewis was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on August 31, 1946. He would see another promotion seven years later, this time to the rank of Lieutenant on July 1, 1953. 484842/1105 George Chester Lewis, United States Naval Reserve satisfactorily completed the prescribed course at the United States Naval School, Instructors, Class C-1, Course "D", at the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego, on February 26, 1954, achieving a mark of 83.4% overall. Lewis was transferred to the Retired Reserve on July 1, 1961 and was also awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal. He later served as a Guard (#5687) at the United States Army Garrison at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 1967 and as a Guard at the Naval Station in San Diego (1968). George Chester Lewis, Badge No. 42, Department of the Navy, satisfactorily completed the General Law Enforcement course, which entailed forty hours from July 16, 1968 to July 20, 1968, at the Law Enforcement Division, Security Department, Naval Station in San Diego. His death date is unknown.