Gold Rush's Fred Lewis Opens Up About His Military Service And The Transition To Civilian Life
Season 13 of "Gold Rush" is currently in full swing, and with it comes the return of one of the show's most intriguing characters — retired Green Beret and Special Forces medic Fred Lewis. Leading his own crew since Season 11, Lewis has become a trusted and well-known face on the Discovery gold mining program despite not having much success during his tenure. In recent months, Lewis has become more and more vocal about his time in the military and how it relates to his "Gold Rush" lifestyle. According to him, just like in the Army, being a gold miner also comes with its fair share of battles being thrown at him and his crew. Lewis told Fox News Digital in October 2022: "Gold mining is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done ... but I think it's what I needed."
For those who don't know, Lewis actually recruits military veterans to mine for gold and be part of his "Gold Rush" crew. According to him, it's a great way for vets to transition into the world of civilian life. Lewis told Fox: "The reason I decided to start work with veterans in gold mining was because of the similarities of the military and a deployment for a mining season. It takes a little bit of enjoying the suck."
When it comes to his personal life, Lewis is someone who isn't afraid to lay it all out on the line for others — whether it be through showing humility or talking about his inner struggles publicly, which he did in a November 2022 profile piece for People magazine.
'My transition from the military to civilian life was one of the hardest things I've experienced'
Being in the Army for 14 years and then trying to adjust to civilian life wasn't easy for Fred Lewis, but it's something he successfully got through thanks to gold mining and being around other veterans.
"My transition from the military to civilian life was one of the hardest things I've experienced," Lewis told People. "I went from the top of the food chain to the bottom in many ways," he said, noting how "the culture of military life is different" than what regular people are used to. "Civilians are different from soldiers and adapting to this over a short period of time while learning to deal with new disabilities and trying to fit in in a world that's foreign to you is immensely complicated," Lewis explained.
Looking ahead to his future, the retired Green Beret hopes that other veterans like him can learn from his life path and gain a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that anything is possible after being in the service.
"I know during my transition from the military I could have used something like this," Lewis told People. "There were several occasions I look back on and realize had someone only believed in me I could have done better. The biggest thing is you can rely on vets. They are hard workers and thrive on challenge which is perfect for gold mining."