Jacob Charles Lehman Jr. was born on August 28, 1926, to Jacob C. and Eleanor Lehman who then lived in Paoli, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children, including sisters Mary and Nancy. His father was a clerk and his mother a nurse, who later worked at the Post Office.

Jacob, who preferred to be called by his middle name, Charles, was an outstanding football player at Tredyffrin-Easttown High School. (Today, used as the Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle school on Conestoga Rd. in Berwyn). He was on the Football team 11th and 12th grades, as well as track 10-12th, Field Day Events 10-11th year. Charles was the Home Room Treasurer 10 through 12th grades, Student Council 10th, and Constitution Committee Chairman 10th grade.

Charles entered the U.S. Air Force in the fall of 1949, and was eventually assigned as bombardier on board a B-26C bomber with the 162nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 543rd Tactical Support Group.  He was sent to the Korean War zone toward the end of 1950.

On January 5, 1951, as it was lifting off for a combat mission from the Taegu Korea Air Force Base (K-2), Charles' aircraft crashed killing all aboard.  Second Lieutenant Jacob Charles Lehman Jr. (U.S. Air Force) was Killed in Action after having served in the Korean Theater of Operations for only six weeks.

He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean War Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.