Daring soldier was awarded Medal of Honor - Col. Lewis L. Millett 1920-2009 (Army deserter)

Washington Post ^ | 11/18/09 | Adam Bernstein

[Libloather]

Daring soldier was awarded Medal of Honor
By Adam Bernstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lewis L. Millett, 88, a career Army officer who was briefly and somewhat misleadingly court-martialed for desertion during World War II and went on to receive the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge during the Korean War, died Nov. 14 at a veterans hospital in Loma Linda, Calif. He had congestive heart failure.

Col. Millett, who sported a red handlebar mustache, cut an audacious and unconventional path during his 35 years of military service. He led daring attacks in two wars and was instrumental in starting a reconnaissance commando school to train small units for covert operations in Vietnam.

He also was an Army deserter. He later said he had been so eager to "help fight fascism and Hitler" that he left an Air Corps gunnery school in mid-1941 -- months before the U.S. entry into World War II -- to enlist with the Canadian army and go overseas. He manned an antiaircraft gun during the London blitz before rejoining the U.S. Army, which had by that time declared war and apparently was not being overly meticulous in its background checks.

As an antitank gunner in Tunisia, he earned the Silver Star after he jumped into a burning ammunition-filled halftrack, drove it away from allied soldiers and leapt to safety just before the vehicle exploded. Not long after, he shot down a German Messerschmitt Me-109 fighter that was strafing Allied troops. Col. Millett, who was firing from machine guns mounted on a halftrack, hit the pilot through the windshield.

He had fought his way through Italy, participating in the campaigns at Salerno and Anzio, when his paperwork caught up with him.

[Libloather]

"I must be the only Regular Army colonel who has ever been court-martialed and convicted of desertion."

Col. Lewis L. Millett's unconventional Army career included a court-martial under unusual circumstances during World War II. (Courtesy Of Army Historical Foundation)

[redstateconfidential]

[GoDuke]

That is one certified BADA$$!!!

[Soothesayer9]

Love that mustache. :)

[fso301]

[RichInOC]

Now there’s a career-limiting move for ya. Just think, he could have been a general if he hadn’t gone over the hill.

:-D )))

[1rudeboy]

My friends and I have one term for men like this, “bullfighter.”

[quikdrw]

Rest in peace, Sir.

[AnglePark]

If all deserters left just because they couldn’t get into the fight soon enough, we’d likely have a whole army of Medal of Honor recipients...

God Bless Colonel Millett.

[verity]

“That is one certified BADA$$!!!”

Worked for him in ‘67. He was indeed unique.

[csvset]

RIP.

Sad about his son dying in the Gander crash.

[jazusamo]

 

 

Citation

 

Capt. Millett, Company E, 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, automatic, and antitank fire. Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the 2 platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, 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 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.

[redlegplanner]

Lucky you. I was only priviledged to hear him speak once at CGSC. You could tell what kind of man he was. As this was during BJ Clinton’s tenure, he was both refreshingly un pc and hysterically funny

[Flint]

Odd.

In the painting of the charge up the hill the soldiers are equipped with the wrong bayonets for M-1 rifles. That long bayonet went out back in the 1920's or so and the remaining stock was cut off short and new points ground on them. I don't think they were issued even in WWII much less Korea.

One hell of a soldier his exploits sound more like my Marines!

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

My kind of deserter. Rest in peace, sir.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

[Neil E. Wright]

P I N G

[Ramius]

Rest in peace, soldier. Job well done.

[Deo volente]

You’re right, that photo needs no caption. It is quite apparent that Obama is the antithesis of Col. Millett in every way imaginable.

[oneolcop]

Hooah Colonel!