COL "Red" Millett

About Colonel Millett

Colonel (Retired) Lewis L. "Red" Millett was born on December 15, 1920 in Mechanic Falls, Maine. [He joined the National Guard at the age of seventeen with the 101st Field Artillery, Massachusetts National Guard.] In 1940, Lewis Millet left high school at the end of his junior year where PFC Millett enlisted in the Army Air Corps serving as an air gunner. Increasingly upset with German aggression in Europe and the Nazis' treatment of jews and anxious to get into combat, he deserted the Army after two years (at the start of World War II) and went to Canada to join the Canadian Army. Millet was fighting overseas with the Canadians when the United States entered the war.

When American troops began arriving in England in 1942, Millet took advantage of a provision that allowed American citizens serving with an allied country to transfer into the U.S. military. He went the American Embassy and asked to be transferred back and was placed with the 1st Armored Division in North Africa. By the time his records caught up with him [showing he deserted years earlier] Millet had earned a silver star, a bronze star, was a buck sergeant, had spent six months in Africa, six months in Italy.

After serving in various positions and attaining the rank of Sergeant, Millett received a battlefield commission. Following World War II, Millett joined the 103rd Infantry, Maine National Guard. He served with the 103rd for four years before joining the 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds" in Japan. As a member of the Wolfhound Regiment, Millett deployed to Korea where he served with valor and distinction. While serving as commander of Easy Company he led a bayonet charge - THE bayonet charge later named The Battle of Bayonet Hill 180 Osan Air Base (K-55), Republic of Korea, 7 February 1951, for which VFW Post 10216 is named after, later becoming VFW Post 8180, against heavily fortified enemy positions, earning the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Easy Company killed forty-seven, and another sixty were reported wounded. Of the dead, eighteen died of bayonet wounds.

Following Captain Millett’s service in Korea, he was assigned to the Continental Army Command as Aide de Camp and then as Training and Operations Officer for the Military Advisor Group. In 1956, Millett attended the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course and Ranger School as a Major. Following his stay at Fort Benning he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division where he founded the Recondo School. Millett became heavily involved in the Special Operations community following his service with the 101st. He helped establish the Vietnamese Ranger School and the Commando training program in Laos before moving to the Command and General Staff College. Colonel Millett retired in 1973 after serving as the Deputy Commander of the 2d Corps.

Colonel Millett served in three wars – WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Millett’s awards include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (with 2 oak leaf clusters), Air Medal (with numeral 2), Purple Heart (with 3 oak leaf clusters), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon among others.

Colonel Millett passed away on 14 November 2009. Colonel Lewis L. Millett's funeral

COL Millett's MEDAL of HONOR

War: Korea

Rank: Captain, US Army, Company E , 27th Infantry Regiment

Location of action: Vicinity of Soam-Ni Korea

Date of action: February 7, 1951

Medal received from: President Harry Truman July 15, 1951

COL Millett's Returns to Korea

Colonel Millett made several visits back to Korea and his name-sake VFW Post 10216, beginning in 1998, which was his first trip back to Korea since the war.

In Feb 1998 VFW Post 10216 sponsored retired COL Millett's first return to his historic battle location since the battle. As Guest Speaker during the annual Hill 180 Memorial ceremony on 6 Feb, 1998 he gave this memorable speech.

POEM: The American Soldier - the Soldier of Liberty

The American Soldier - the Soldier of Liberty With acknowledgments to Father David Desmond O'Brien former Sergeant USMC

It is the Soldier not the reporter that gives us Freedom of the Press

It is the Soldier not the poet who brings us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier not the campus agitator that gives us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the Flag, who fights beneath that Flag whose coffin is draped by that Flag who gives the protector the opportunity to burn that Flag. (Father O'Brien)

It is the Soldier who fights and dies, not the politician that gives us the Freedom that we enjoy.

It was Soldiers Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Truman, Reagan, Bush who tried as elected officials to continue the service of Duty,
Honor, Country in their civil service to Liberty." (Col Millett)