Lewis L. Millett (born 1920) was awarded the
Medal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while...
during the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
for leading the last major American
bayonetA bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.-History: The origins of the bayonet are...
charge.
Millett served during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
for seven years.
Lewis Millett was born on December 15, 1920 in
Mechanic Falls, MaineMechanic Falls is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,138 at the 2000 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area.-History:It was originally...
. He joined the National Guard when he was 17 years old. In 1940, he enlisted in the
Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was the predecessor of the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1926-41, which in turn was the forerunner of today's U.S. Air Force , established in 1947...
where he served as an air gunner; he joined the Canadian Army when it appeared that the U.S.
Lewis L. Millett (born 1920) was awarded the
Medal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while...
during the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
for leading the last major American
bayonetA bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.-History: The origins of the bayonet are...
charge.
Biography
Millett served during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
for seven years.
Lewis Millett was born on December 15, 1920 in
Mechanic Falls, MaineMechanic Falls is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,138 at the 2000 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area.-History:It was originally...
. He joined the National Guard when he was 17 years old. In 1940, he enlisted in the
Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was the predecessor of the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1926-41, which in turn was the forerunner of today's U.S. Air Force , established in 1947...
where he served as an air gunner; he joined the Canadian Army when it appeared that the U.S. would not enter the war. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 1st Armored Division. During World War II, he earned
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order...
and after reaching the rank of sergeant, he was awarded a battlefield commission. After the War, he joined the 103rd Infantry of the Maine National Guard.
He graduated from
Bates CollegeBates College is a private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists. Bates confers Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees. Bates College is one of the first colleges to be coeducational from establishment...
in
Lewiston, MaineLewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in the U.S. state of Maine and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 38,000 at the 2007 census...
in 1949.
Korean War Bayonet Charge
During the Korean War, as Company Commander of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Division, near Soam-Ni, Korea, Millett lead his men in "the most complete bayonet charge by American troops since the Civil War." On 7 February 1951, Millett led his men up Hill 180 as part of Operation Punch. Throwing grenades, turning back to call for more firepower when he saw the ground ahead crawling with Chinese soldiers, he seemed constantly upright and exposed standing under fire, urging the others on. At the crest he suffered fragmentation wounds from a grenade. The men saw him silhouetted on the skyline and heard him now, shouting "Use grenades and cold steel!" Of 47 enemy dead, 18 had been killed by the bayonet. For his courage and leadership in the action, Captain Millett was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Millett was presented the Medal of Honor on 5 July 1951 by
PresidentThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice-president and the 34th Vice President of the United States, he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
in a
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
ceremony.
Ranger and Vietnam
In 1956, after the Korean War, Millet attended
Ranger SchoolThe United States Army Ranger School is an extremely intense, 61+ days, combat leadership course, oriented to small-unit tactics, and conducted in three separate three-week-long phases - at Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S.A., , at Camp Rogers and Camp Darby, Georgia, 'the Mountain Phase' at Camp...
. He was then assigned to the
101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division — the "Screaming Eagles"— is a U.S. Army modular infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for action during the Normandy Landings and in the Battle of the Bulge...
. While serving with the 101st, then-Major Milett was selected to run the Division
RecondoRecondo is an American military term for a combination of RECONnaissance and DOughboy special training or a graduate of a Recondo school.-History:...
(for Reconnaissance-Commando) School, an on-post alternative to the Ranger School at Fort Benning. The 101st had neither the funds to send, or Benning the capacity to accept, the number of Screaming Eagles who needed the specialized light infantry patrolling training. Millett led and trained the instructors who provided that training. The school served the 101st until the Screaming Eagles deployed to Vietnam, and has intermittently been reestablished since, sometimes combined with the Division Pre-Ranger Course.
After his time at Fort Campbell, Millett went on to a variety of special operations advisory assignments in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam period. He helped found the Royal Thai Army Ranger School in conjunction with a detachment of the 46th Special Forces Company. This detachment, the only organization in US Army history simultaneously designated both Ranger and Special Forces, was made up of former Fort Benning Ranger Instructors (RI's) who'd gone on to duty in Special Forces. At this time, Millett earned the Royal Thai Army's Master Parachute Badge and was awarded the RTA Ranger Badge.
Millett retired in 1973.
Awards and Retirement
Colonel Millett's awards include the Medal of Honor,
Distinguished Service CrossThe Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high...
,
Silver StarThe Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is also the third highest award given for valor ....
,
Legion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued both to United States military personnel and to military and political figures...
(with 2 oak leaf clusters),
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order...
,
Air MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 11 May 1942...
(with numeral 2), Purple Heart (with 3 oak leaf clusters), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Ranger Tab, US and Thai Master Parachutist Badges among others.
In 1985, his son was a member of the 101st's 187th "Rakkasan" Infantry Regiment serving as a volunteeer augmentee to Task Force 3/502 Infantry. On 12 December 1985, he was one of 248 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault - Screaming Eagles) killed
when the chartered airliner carrying them home from peacekeeping duty in the Sinai crashed upon takeoff at Gander, NewfoundlandArrow Air Flight 1285 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF jetliner, registered N950JW, which operated as an international charter flight carrying U.S. troops from Cairo, Egypt to their home base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, via Cologne, Germany and Gander, Newfoundland...
.
COL Millett still serves as the Honorary Colonel of the "Wolfhounds", his old 27th Infantry Regiment.
On 7 February 1994, COL Gerald Cummins, Commander of the Army's Battlefield Coodination Element and the XO, LTC Edwin Kennedy, Jr., arranged for the first annual ceremony to honor COL (ret) Millett on the hill at Osan Air Base where the BCE was located. LTC Kennedy's father was a fellow U.S. Army Command and General Staff College classmate of COL Millett's.
In June 2000, he visited Seoul, Korea and was the keynote speaker at the Army's 225th Birthday Ball at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. All eight of the living Korean War Medal of Honor recipients were present that night.
In 2005, Colonel Lewis L. Millett (retired) was one of the four surviving Maine Medal of Honor recipients.
Places named after Millett
At
Osan Air BaseOsan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, 64 km south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is 7.5 km to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a...
in South Korea, "Millett Road" is named after Colonel Millett running up Hill 180, the hill where he led the legendary bayonet charge
Medal of Honor citation
Rank: Captain, U.S. Army
Service: Company Commander - Company E, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division
Place and date: Vicinity of Hill 180, Soam-Ni, Korea, February 7, 1951.
Entered service at: Mechanic Falls, Maine. Born: December 15, 1920, Mechanic Falls, Maine.
G.O.In militaries, a general order is a published directive, originated by a commander, and binding upon all personnel under his command, the purpose of which is to enforce a policy or procedure unique to his unit's situation which is not otherwise addressed in applicable service regulations, military...
No.: 69, August 2, 1951.
Citation:
- Captain Millett distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position, he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, rifles, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light machine guns, and sometimes hand...
, automatic, and antitank fireAnti-tank refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. The most common anti-tank systems include artillery with a high muzzle velocity, missiles , various autocannons firing penetrating ammunition, and anti-tank mines.In the area of anti-tank warfare, three...
. Captain Millett ordered the 3rd Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the two platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge, he bayonetA bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.-History: The origins of the bayonet are...
ed two enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenadesA hand grenade is an anti-personnel weapon that explodes a short time after release. The French military term grenade probably comes from the shape of the pomegranate fruit, which is also called grenade in French....
, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. 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, Captain 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 Captain 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.
See also