26 Facts About Lewis Millett

Lewis Millett enlisted in the US National Guard while still in high school and then in 1940 joined the US Army Air Corps.

Lewis Millett served briefly with the Canadian Forces in London but soon transferred to the US Army, which had since joined the war.

Lewis Millett later served in the Vietnam War as well.

Lewis Millett retired from the Army in 1973 and died of congestive heart failure in 2009.

Lewis Millett grew up in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, having moved there with his mother after his parents divorced and his mother remarried.

Lewis Millett's grandfather had served in the American Civil War and an uncle fought in World War I with the 101st Field Artillery Regiment of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Once the US had entered the war, Lewis Millett transferred to the US Army in 1942.

Lewis Millett later shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane using half-track mounted machine guns.

The pilot of the L-5 landed on a road near the downed Mustang and Lewis Millett gave up his seat to Capt Davis.

When one platoon became pinned down by heavy fire, Lewis Millett took another platoon forward, joined the two groups, and led them up the hill.

Lewis Millett served in the 101st Airborne Division as an intelligence officer and later served in the Vietnam War as a military advisor to the controversial Phoenix Program, which aimed to root out and kill Viet Cong sympathizers.

Lewis Millett retired from the military in 1973 at the rank of colonel.

Lewis Millett later stated that he retired because he felt the US had "quit" in Vietnam.

Lewis Millett eventually moved to Idyllwild, California, where he would remain for the rest of his life.

Lewis Millett regularly appeared at events celebrating veterans, both in the Riverside County area and elsewhere around the country.

Lewis Millett was a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the California Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Lewis Millett died of congestive heart failure on November 14,2009, one month short of his 89th birthday.

Lewis Millett died at the Jerry L Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, after being hospitalized four days earlier.

Lewis Millett had experienced various health problems over the last few years of his life, including diabetes.

Lewis Millett's other United States military awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Lewis 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.

Lewis Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement.

Lewis Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured.

Lewis 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.

At Osan Air Base in South Korea, "Lewis Millett Road" is named after Colonel Lewis Millett.

Lewis Millett is clearly visible leading the charge preparing to bayonet a North Korean soldier.