LEWIS ELWOOD

By Nicole Burda

My classmates and I filed into the English room which was filled with many unknown faces.  We were each supposed to interview someone who had lived through World War II.  I scanned the room, looking, guessing whom I was to interview.  I wondered which person was Mr. Elwood and what his story was.  Well, I was soon to find out.  We introduced ourselves and headed down to the cafeteria to conduct our much anticipated interview.

Lewis A. Elwood was born and raised in Colville, Washington.  He grew up with a younger brother named John.  Lewis and John had a two-year age difference and were not very much alike.  John had the tendency to abuse alcohol.  Their father was a trained woodsman and taught Lewis the trade of cutting down trees.  Even during High School, Lewis was part of the ROTC.  He attended Washington State College (now know as Washington State University) where he studied physical science for one year.

Lewis was moved around in the military from company to company throughout the war. As Lewis was shipped off to California, his kid brother, John, was assigned to an entirely different outfit.  He served as a lifeguard because he was a very good swimmer, helping people from their landing craft in the water to the beach.  While John was lifeguarding, Lewis was assigned to Fort Ord in California.  There he disassembled all the pool tables in all of the recreation rooms at the fort which was being converted and prepared for the war.

Lewis highly enjoyed his next assignment.  He rode and strolled along the beautiful beaches of California, from Monterey to Salinas.  Lewis, along with a sergeant, looked for entertainment sources for the new troops that were being shipped to the fort.

“But then one day I made a smart remark which got me transferred to the Military Police that led to all kinds of fun,” Lewis commented sarcastically.  The Military Police were training for overseas duty, so Lewis had to spend hours marching around old roads that were part of Fort Ord.

As part of the Military Police, Lewis was sent on a train across the country to New Jersey, on to a liner back through the Panama Canal, and then to his final destination, Australia.  Once reaching Australia, they docked and marched three miles to bunk in the middle of a racetrack where they nearly froze.  Lewis and his company then moved to some huts in Brisbane.  Here he guarded a stockade of prisoners.  There were many different uses for the prisoners from gathering garbage to working outside.

One of Lewis' fond wartime memories is of the time when he got to stand guard outside General Douglas MacArthur's office. 

After years of working to make our country a better place, Lewis A. Elwood returned to his home state, Washington, on a steamer, but not before the steamer broke down and wallowed in the ocean for a day and a half.

Lewis now resides in Albion, Washington.

I asked him, “Why did you decide to live in Albion?”

Lewis responded with a chuckle, “Ask Mrs. Elwood.”

Lewis really enjoys living in Albion. “It’s a nice, small town, and a good distance away from the city,” said Lewis.  The commute from his home to his school was just the right distance.  Lewis completed his schooling at Washington State College. He received his bachelors degree in Physical Science.

Lewis met his wife, Win, in German class. They took a liking to each other and decided to get married.  Their German teacher was very fond of Lewis and Win and supported their decision.  Lewis and Win have four daughters and one son, all living in Washington.

“I have lived the life of Riley,” Lewis says very contentedly.  Lewis chose to take an early retirement and has lived off his pension.  Someday he would like to return to Australia to visit old friends and the beautiful countryside.

A word of advice from Lewis to everyone, “Let me tell you.  Don't get into the alcohol business.  It spoils your life.” Lewis is eighty years old but moves like someone half his age.  He has not let alcohol control his life.  Listen to Lewis’ advice.  He is very wise through his many years of experience.