James Bryan Lewis, Jr.
1924-1971
Photo shared by Vickie Graves Jones
James Bryan Lewis, Jr. was born October 20, 1924 in Jenny Lind, Sebastian Co., Ar. to
James Bryan Sr. & Leona Adeline Chesney Lewis. No marriage information is
found.
Except for a military cemetery marker and photo nothing more has been found for him. The
marker says he was a Tec 4 serving with the 32 Malaria Surv Det. This is what they did during
the war: "Malaria among troops in the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) in World War 2
affected the military effort to the degree that special units were formed to combat it.
These malaria survey detachments (MSDs) and malaria control detachments (MCDs) were
self-contained and so could move quickly to wherever their services were needed.
In SWPA by 25 September 1944 there were 32 MSDs and 65 MCDs. Tables of organization
called for 11 enlisted men in MSDs and MCDs, two officers in MSDs and one in MCDs.
Detachments served throughout the SWPA. Detailed records of the 31st MSD show that
in addition to antimalarial efforts it worked at control of scrub typhus, dengue and
venereal disease, at reduction of rat populations and in experimental work involving
DDT and schistosomiasis. Specific locations of the 31st MSD were New Guinea (3 sites),
Morotai, Leyte, Mindoro, Okinawa and Japan. The detachment served overseas for 21 months.
Experience in combating malaria in SWPA in World War 2 points to the need for better and
continuous training of both medical and line officers in malaria prevention and control."
James Bryan Lewis, Jr. passed away August 9, 1971. His burial was in the Jenny Lind Cemetery at
Jenny Lind, Sebastian Co., Ar.
Biography shared by Vickie Graves Jones
from Fighting Men of Arkansas
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