US Marine Corps General. A highly decorated veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, he served as the Assistant Commandant of the US Marine Corps from 1968 until 1971. Nicknamed "Lew" or "Silent Lew,' his parents were farmers. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Colorado National Guard. In 1936 he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Colorado State University at Fort Collins where he excelled in sports. Upon graduation he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery Reserve but resigned that commission to accept an appointment as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Marine Corps in July 1936. After completing the Marine Basic Officer School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment in San Diego, California as a machine gun platoon leader. In August 1937 he was sent to China where he participated in the defense of the International Settlement of Shanghai. In June 1939 he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Guam, Mariana Islands and promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant. In June 1941 he returned to the US and was assigned as a company commander in the Office Candidates' Class, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia. He was promoted to the rank of captain in December 1941 and early in 1942, after the US entry into World War II, he volunteered to join the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, and in April of that year he arrived with the battalion on the Pacific Island of Samoa. Following the US entry into World War II in December 1941, he commanded Company A, 1st Raider Battalion, on the assault on Tulagi Island in the British Solomon Islands and following this action, he joined the 5th Marines on Guadalcanal where he took part in combat as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and was promoted to the rank of major in September 1942. Three months later, he was spot promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel for distinguished leadership and gallantry in action during the Guadalcanal campaign. In December 1943, he led the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, in the assault at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, and shortly thereafter was assigned as Regimental Executive Officer. In the middle of this campaign, he was ordered to take over command of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, during the intense battle for Aogiri Ridge, which was named "Walt Ridge" in his honor. In February 1944 he returned to the US for treatment of combat wounds and malaria and three months later he returned to the Pacific Theater and in September, he landed with the Marine force on Peleliu. On the first day of the battle, he was again ordered to take command of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines after the battalion's commanding officer and executive officer became casualties. In November 1944 he returned to the US and assumed duty at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, as Chief of the Marine Officer Candidates' School Tactics Section. Following the war, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California and served with the 3rd Marine Brigade, and the 1st Marine Division. In May 1949 he became a battalion commander with the Special Training Regiment at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. In November 1951 he was promoted to the rank of colonel and a year later he participated in combat in the Korean War with the 1st Marine Division until August 1953. He returned to the US and became the Director, Advanced Base Problem Section, Marine Corps Educational Center at the Marine Corps Schools Quantico through May 1954, followed by duty as Commanding Officer, Officers' Basic School, until August 1956. In June 1957 he was assigned to Washington DC where he became the Assistant Director of Personnel until August 1959. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division. In September 1962 he again returned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, serving as Director of the Marine Corps Landing Force Development Center there until May 1965, when he was promoted to the rank of major general and sent to Vietnam and assumed command of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force and 3rd Marine Division. In March 1966 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and remained in Vietnam as Commanding General, 3rd Marine Amphibious Force, and Senior Advisor, 1st Corps and 1st Corps Coordinator. The following year, he returned to the US and served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower)/Director of Personnel, at Headquarters Marine Corps until December 1968. He was then designated the Assistant Commandant of the US Marine Corps. In June 1969, while in this position, he was promoted to the rank of general and became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps to attain that rank. He retired in this position in February 1971 with 35 years of continuous active military service. Among his military and foreign decorations and awards include the Navy Cross (with gold star), the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with gold star), the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (with combat 'V' device), the Bronze Star (with combat 'V' device), the Purple Heart (with gold star), the Navy Presidential Unit Citation (with two bronze stars), the Navy Unit Commendation (with bronze star), the China Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal (with base clasp), the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with four bronze stars), the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp), the National Defense Service Medal (with bronze star), the Korean Service Medal (with two bronze stars), the Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze stars), the Order of Military Merit, Eulji Medal (with silver star), the Order of Military Merit, Chungmu Medal, the Order of National Security Merit (Korea), Gugseon Medal, the Order of the Cloud and Banner, with Grand Cordon, the Choung My Medal, the National Order of Vietnam, Commander Medal, the National Order of Vietnam, Officer Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with two palms), the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (with palm and frame), the United Nations Service Medal (Korea), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with 1960-1973 device). After his military retirement, he served as Director of the US Marines Youth Foundation. He later served as the senior military member of President Gerald Ford's clemency board and was an advisor to the Department of Defense on weapons development and combat training. Additionally, he wrote three books, "Strange War, Strange Strategy" (1970), "America Faces Defeat" (1972), and "The Eleventh Hour" (1979). He died at the age of 76.