A new headstone of World War II veteran, Arthur Lewis, stands tall after U.S. Army Soldiers the 377th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), installed the upgraded grave identifier at the New European Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Oct. 5, 2021. Lewis died in 1959 while at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Due to the nature and location of his death, the U.S. Merchant Marine was buried in Djibouti without rightfully earned military honors. CJTF-HOA, in coordination with Djiboutian leadership, cleaned up the cemetery, installed the new headstone to identify his grave and conducted a dedication ceremony complete with military honors. CJTF-HOA builds and strengthens partnerships to contribute to security and stability in East Africa. The task force’s efforts, as part of a comprehensive whole-of-government approach, aim to increase African partner nations’ capacity to maintain a stable environment, with an effective government that provides a degree of economic and social advancement to its citizens. 

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 377th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), place a new headstone for World War II veteran, Arthur Lewis, at the New European Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Oct. 5, 2021. Lewis died in 1959 while at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Due to the nature and location of his death, the U.S. Merchant Marine was buried in Djibouti without rightfully earned military honors. CJTF-HOA, in coordination with Djiboutian leadership, cleaned up the cemetery, installed the new headstone to identify his grave and conducted a dedication ceremony complete with military honors. CJTF-HOA builds and strengthens partnerships to contribute to security and stability in East Africa. The task force’s efforts, as part of a comprehensive whole-of-government approach, aim to increase African partner nations’ capacity to maintain a stable environment, with an effective government that provides a degree of economic and social advancement to its citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

Photo of Veteran's headstone being placed

A new headstone of World War II veteran, Arthur Lewis, stands tall after U.S. Army Soldiers the 377th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), installed the upgraded grave identifier at the New European Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Oct. 5, 2021. Lewis died in 1959 while at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Due to the nature and location of his death, the U.S. Merchant Marine was buried in Djibouti without rightfully earned military honors. CJTF-HOA, in coordination with Djiboutian leadership, cleaned up the cemetery, installed the new headstone to identify his grave and conducted a dedication ceremony complete with military honors. CJTF-HOA builds and strengthens partnerships to contribute to security and stability in East Africa. The task force’s efforts, as part of a comprehensive whole-of-government approach, aim to increase African partner nations’ capacity to maintain a stable environment, with an effective government that provides a degree of economic and social advancement to its citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

ARTHUR RAYMOND LEWIS

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