L.W. Lewis was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a retired United States Air Force pilot and navigator. He was assigned to B-52's during the Viet Nam War and later flew fighters with the Flying Tigers. He was an Air Force instructor pilot. While assigned as an advisor to the United States Army, he attended Army jump school and has made 268 military parachute jumps. He earned a Bachelor's in Science degree from the University of Miami in Florida and a masters degree from Oklahoma City University. His introduction to poetry began in the sixth grade, and it has been a part of his life ever since.