Reuben Benjamin Lewis was born on November 5, 1899 in Waupaca, Wisconsin. In June 1917, five months before his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted into the Company C of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry, a National Guard unit composed of Waupaca men. The youngest man in the company, Lewis became the bugler for the unit as they began training for service in World War I. The Wisconsin National Guard, including the 4th Infantry, became part of the 32nd Infantry Division.
Going overseas in February 1918, Lewis saw action at Alsace (May-July), as well as the Aisne-Marne (July-August), Oisne-Aisne (August-September), and Meuse-Argonne (September-November) offensives. During the last of those actions, Lewis was transferred to the 32nd Division Military Police Company. He remained in Europe during the occupation of Germany, returning home in May 1919. He was given an honorable discharge from the Army that same month.
Lewis married his wartime sweetheart, Mary Johnson, after the war and became a real estate broker, settling in Stevens Point. He also served as a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) for Portage County, and did many home appraisals for veterans. He was very involved with veterans organizations, holding memberships in the American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of World War I of the US, and the Red Arrow Club of Central Wisconsin, among others.
In addition to those national and state groups, the men from Company C, 4th Wisconsin Infantry began holding reunions after the war. Calling their group Company “C,” the men met annually to commemorate their leaving for war in August 1917. Reunions were held in Waupaca, either at the local country club or at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King. A bottle of cognac, acquired by one of the men while still in France, was present at every meeting and was saved until 1986, when only seven members, including Lewis, remained.
Lewis passed away at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, Wisconsin on April 21, 1988.
