I know a soldier who is going to Ft Lewis and is looking for FREE things to do and the best cheap eats in downtown Seattle.
He will be there the last week of October.
I know there are plenty of things to do that cost, but since he has specifically asked for FREE things, can you please start your response with freebies?
Then possibly suggest some low cost options.
He is not into art of any kind...
As usual, thanks for the help!

Things you can do on foot or using the "free ride zone" on the Metro bus downtown include:

Pioneer Square Historic District
Chinatown/International District
Seattle Center
Waterfront
Pike Place Market
Seattle Public Library

Bakeman's, 122 Cherry, for the best sandwich in town ~$5.00 I recommend the turkey or meatloaf. It's near Pioneer Square & only open M-F 10-3.

Every Friday in the Seattle Times there is a list of things to do entitled "Cheap Dates."

The Frye Art Museum is free--and it is good. Too bad he isn't interested.

P.F. Chang's is in the middle of things, and it is inexpensive.

Your soldier might like Mama's Mexican Kitchen--an authentic Seattle joint.

Does he like cats? And books? Send him to Twice Sold Tales - it's a used bookstore with residents cats roaming the aisles.

Taco del Mar is very reasonable.
There is plenty to do in Seattle that is free. I really enjoyed walking around Pioneer Square. There is a Gold Rush museum that was kind of interesting. THe market can definitley take up some time!
Also, since he will be an active military person, he might be able to get free or reduced admission to attractions.
My brother was also stationed at Ft. Lewis and he loved it! Him and his buddies loved to go to Vancouver.

Excellent ideas...
The Gold Rush Museum sounds interesting (to me anyway).
What is Pioneer Square? Is it a shopping mall? Maybe I am confusing it with something in Portland...?

Fish & chips at Anthony's Fish Bar at the Waterfront - great food and very inexpensive.

Suggest a visitor bus pass; $5 a day gives you unlimited use. Great way to get all over the city. Info at http://tinyurl.com/mclrt. For some nice areas to walk around and have a little relief from the urban environment, try the Arboretum - free - lots of interconnecting paths through a very nice, well forested area. There's also a great bike/walking path right along the Bay from the North end of Alaska Way (think that's the right name- the street that parallels the water front). Continue past the Edgewater Hotel and you run right into it. Or walk around one of the unique Seattle neighborhoods like Capital Hill or Fremont.

Ohhhh... Fish and Chips sounds good.
How big is Pike Place?

Pioneer Square is the "historic district" of Seattle. It's just to the south of downtown (easy walking distance). It has loads of historic old buildings, taverns, shops, a great book store (Elliott Bay), restaurants. It's an area with lots of old Seattle "character" and most definitely NOT a shopping mall.

For fish & chips you could head to anywhere along the waterfront if the weather is nice. Or Emmett Watson's a small casual restaurant right in Pike Place Market is a wonderful old timey Seattle favorite.

Pike Place Market is medium sized, I guess I'd call it. There are the two sides along the street with shops and all the fresh fish stands, produce vendors, flower ladies, arts & carfts booths, like that. But then there are also many floors (a maze of) tiny shops below that (it sits on a hill going downward towards the water). Kooky shops, antiques, candy, jewelry, paper, etc.

I love Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar and Jack's Fish Spot for good, fresh, but cheap fish.

kureiff- no kidding! people don't seem to know about it (especially Emmett Watson's) but it is such a city treasure imo. cheap too.