Lewis J. Mcconnell

Colonel Lewis J. McConnell was a graduate of Officer Candidate School class number 12, 25 November 1953, and was initially assigned as Commander of the 153rd transportation Detachment, Fort Belvoir, Virginia and from there was assigned as Aviation Officer with the U.S. Army Arctic Test Center, Fort Churchill, Canada. | Upon promotion to Captain, he was assigned as an Aviation Maintenance Staff Officer with the Military District of Washington, D.C. He held that position until June of 1962 when he was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served there as Service Platoon Leader, Aviation Company Commander and Division Aviation Officer. | In September 1965, Major McConnell returned to Fort Benning as a Commander of a Medium Helicopter Company. From 1966 to 1972, Lieutenant Colonel McConnell alternately served as Company Commander, Executive Officer and Battalion Commander in Vietnam and a Test Pilot Course at Fort Eustis, Virginia. | In 1972, Colonel McConnell was assigned to the Department of the Army in Washington where he served until June of 1976. He served with Combat Aviation Groups in Germany until August of 1979. Since that time, Colonel McConnell has served as Commander of U.S. Army Aviation Engineering, Edwards Air Force Base, California. | Colonel McConnell has attended the Ordnance Basic Course, Aviation Tactics Course, Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, Helicopter Pilot Training, the Transportation Officers Career Course, Instrument Training Course, Command and General Staff College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Installation Management Course. | His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army General Staff Identification Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.