Posted on 11/16/2009 7:56:51 AM PST by Crush
In 1940, Lewis L. "Red" Millett, a 17 year old native of Mechanic Falls, Maine, dropped out of high school and joined the Army Air Corps in order to fight the increasing fascist threat in Europe. But when President Roosevelt stated that the U.S. would not be entering the war, Millett decided to become a deserter and head to Canada - not to avoid combat, but to seek it out as part of the Canadian army. He was sent to London where he served as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Nazi's "Blitz" bombing campaign.
"I deeply believe that if you're a free man, then you should stand up and support freedom wherever it is," Millett said during an interview on the 2003 PBS documentary American Valor.
When the U.S. joined the war in 1942, Millet was able to transfer back to the American Army. Joining the 1st Armored Division, Millett earned the Silver Star - the nation's third-highest award for valor - for his actions in North Africa. He also fought at Salerno and Anzio, but the paperwork of his desertion caught up to Millett, who was court-martialed, demoted to private, and fined $52.
However following his punishment, Millett received a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant and a Bronze Star.
Then on Feb. 7, 1951 during the Korean War, Millett - who had been promoted to Captain - was leading an under-strength company of 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds" against a strongly held enemy position on Hill 180, which is now part of Osan Air Base in South Korea.
"The Chinese had put out the word that we were afraid of bayonets," Millett told Stars and Stripes in a 1975 interview. "'Americans afraid of bayonets' is just ridiculous, I thought, so I intended to prove a point."
(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com ...
Wow.
May he rest in peace. He certainly earned it.
RIP, Soldier!
“Grenades and cold steel!”
Wow - that is a man’s man.
PRESENT ARMS
Go to your rest with our thanks and our blessing. Thank you sir for your service and your courage.
Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured. The superb leadership, conspicuous courage, and consummate devotion to duty demonstrated by Capt. Millett were directly responsible for the successful accomplishment of a hazardous mission and reflect the highest credit on himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.
I was stationed at Osan AB in the 80s - he made several trips back to Hill 180 over the years - may he RIP.
In the Fall of 1965, I was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA attending Morse Code Intercept training at the US Army Security Agency (ASA) school. Col. Millet was the ASA school commander at the time. He was a full Colonel. On one occasion, there were anti-Vietnam demonstrations occurring just outside the base. Millet called a battalion formation to discuss what was happening. In front of all the men, he said, “If the army would let me, I would bust myself down to PFC right now and head over to ‘Nam as an infantryman”.
The following April, I was in Saigon walking down the company street of the ASA station located at Tan Son Nhut AFB, and here comes Col. Millet walking my way, with another officer. He wasn’t a PFC though, he was still a Col. But he did get to Vietnam, like he wanted to. Never saw him again after that.
Thats incredible, true Hero!
I hate to hijack a thread, but living MOH winners are rare as hens teeth. When I was watching live Obama’s speech on the Fort Hood Massacre and his ‘shout out’ to a supposed Medal of Honor winner, (Dr. Joe Medicine Crow), I had a very strong feeling that this guy wasn’t one, and sure enough, I was right.
Not holding breath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ithbGPWMfn8&feature=related
I was just reading how he made it to Vietnam & later Thailand to help set up schools there too. Amazing guy!
RIP.
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