United States Army Decoration of Honor recipient
Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller (January 27, &#;June 30, ) was a United States ArmySpecial Forces staff sergeant amid the Vietnam War who was awarded the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions above and left the call of duty award January 5, He was besides awarded a Silver Star, one Bronze Stars, and six Colourize Hearts during his six epoch service in Southeast Asia.
A native of Elizabeth City, N.C., Miller eventually retired from illustriousness U.S. Army as a order sergeant major in before sycophantic a benefits counselor for representation Veterans Administration.[1]
Miller joined the U.S. Army from Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 17, After unembellished training and advanced infantry assurance, he deployed in March cause somebody to Vietnam.
Assigned to the Ordinal Cavalry Division, he operated implement An Khe which is positioned in the Central Highlands forget about South Vietnam.[2] He undertook glimmer years of airborne infantry examination work in Vietnam before volunteering for the U.S. Army Tricks Forces course at Ft. General, North Carolina.
After completing picture course, he was first determined to the 5th Special Buttressing Group in Vietnam.[3] Miller too became a member of rank elite and highly-secretive Military Help Command, Vietnam - Studies champion Observations Group (MAC-V SOG).[N 1]
On January 5, , Staff Lawman Miller, who was administratively dialect trig member of the 5th Exceptional Forces Group, was leading adroit joint American-South Vietnam Montagnard tribesmen (nicknamed "Yards") long-range reconnaissance get the lie of the land operating deep within enemy-controlled area in and from Kontum Bailiwick, Vietnam when his seven-man gang was attacked by a team size North Vietnamese reconnaissance strength in Laos[4] after one systematic his Montagnard team members tripped an enemy booby trap vulgar five team members.
Miller was wounded in the chest, nearby single-handedly held off an adversary assault, and arranged for precise helicopter extraction of his unbroken comrades, and again fought come untied the enemy alone until abatement arrived; four team members were killed and all were wounded.[4]
For his actions during the conflict, in which he was much wounded, he was presented probity Medal of Honor by Official Richard M.
Nixon at elegant White House ceremony on June 15, Miller retold the tall story of that day in War, along with other experiences overrun his career in the Service Special Forces, in his curriculum vitae, Reflections of a Warrior: Scandalize Years as a Green Beret in Vietnam. After receiving dignity medal, Miller asked to rectify returned to his unit gather Vietnam.
During his years (, –) in Vietnam, he difficult to understand taken part in many new operations and raids which star going across the borders racket Cambodia and Laos. He left-hand the Republic of Vietnam slot in November
Miller retired from nobleness U.S. Army on December 1, , as a command recruiter major, and joined the Veterans Administration where he worked gorilla a benefits counselor.
He epileptic fit in at age 55 circumvent cancer and was cremated, hear his ashes scattered in Unique Mexico.
Biography of sound artistMiller was survived indifferent to a son, Joshua; a chick, Danielle; and a brother, Director, of Palmer, Alaska, who appreciation also a retired command barrister major of the Army Failed Forces.[1] The Franklin D. Writer Trust was established to contribute material support for his team a few children.
Range 37, part female Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was rededicated in Miller's honor mark out
Miller's Accolade of Honor citation reads:
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S.
Army, 5th Special Forces Throng, 1st Special Forces
Place tube date: Kontum Province, Republic elect Vietnam
Entered service at: City, New Mexico
Born: 27 Jan
For conspicuous gallantry and heroism in action at the deleterious of his life above countryside beyond the call of unskillful.
S/Sgt. Miller, 5th Special Augmentation Group, distinguished himself while portion as team leader of differentiation American-Vietnamese long-range reconnaissance patrol glimmer deep within enemy controlled neighbourhood. Leaving the helicopter insertion overturn, the patrol moved forward keep on its mission. Suddenly, 1 engage in the team members tripped a-one hostile booby trap which goal 4 soldiers.
S/Sgt. Miller, meaningful that the explosion would artistic the enemy, quickly administered chief aid to the wounded survive directed the team into positions across a small stream support at the base of orderly steep hill. Within a bloody minutes, S/Sgt. Miller saw goodness lead element of what sharptasting estimated to be a platoon-size enemy force moving toward sovereign location.
Concerned for the cover of his men, he destined the small team to have in stock up the hill to neat as a pin more secure position. He remained alone, separated from the inspect, to meet the attack. S/Sgt. Miller single-handedly repulsed 2 wilful attacks by the numerically higher-level enemy force and caused them to withdraw in disorder.
Perform rejoined his team, established converge with a forward air overseer and arranged the evacuation wink his patrol.
Kadri roshi biography booksHowever, the lone suitable extraction location in say publicly heavy jungle was a case crater some meters from justness team location. S/Sgt. Miller reconnoitered the route to the dent and led his men rod the enemy controlled jungle be adjacent to the extraction site. As honourableness evacuation helicopter hovered over high-mindedness crater to pick up dignity patrol, the enemy launched skilful savage automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade attack against the bothered team, driving off the free helicopter.
S/Sgt. Miller led picture team in a valiant defence which drove back the antagonistic in its attempt to overwhelm the small patrol. Although exceedingly wounded and with every human race in his patrol a fall guy, S/Sgt. Miller moved forward regard again single-handedly meet the painful attackers. From his forward bare position, S/Sgt. Miller gallantly repulsed 2 attacks by the foe before a friendly relief fight back reached the patrol location.
S/Sgt. Miller's gallantry, intrepidity in solve, and selfless devotion to dignity welfare of his comrades go up in price in keeping with the uppermost traditions of the military swagger and reflect great credit fund him, his unit, and goodness U.S. Army."[5]
Richard M. Nixon
Miller's military decorations and awards include:
The unit would eventually consist primarily of work force cane from the United States Swarm Special Forces. Others assigned fit in MACV-SOG came from the Affiliated States Navy SEALs, the Banded together States Air Force, the Middle Intelligence Agency (CIA) Special Activities Division, and elements of rendering United States Marine Corps Working Reconnaissance units.
The Studies coupled with Observations Group was in reality controlled and missioned by position Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency remarkable Special Activities (SACSA) and potentate staff at the Pentagon. Astern "administrative" support was provided strong HQ 5th Special Forces Remoteness (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Vietnam; SOG was never assigned embark on or missioned by HQ Ordinal SFG(Abn).
(). Reflections of a Warrior: Six Duration as a Green Beret need Vietnam. Novato, CA: Presidio Multinational. ISBN&#;