Lewis L. Millett Sr. was an American soldier who became very famous for his bravery and confidence during the korean war. He was born on December 15th, 1920, Mechanic Falls, Maine during the start of the Great Depression. While he was still in high school, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard because he wanted to serve his country. Later on, he went to Bates College and earned a college degree from a different college, Park College. He spent most of his life serving in the military and then became a colonel in the U.S. Army. 
He fought in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During the Korean War, he led one of the last major bayonet charges in American history at a battle called Hill 180. Even when he got wounded, he continued leading his soldiers until the hill had been captured. Because of his confidence/courage and his leadership, the president at the time awarded him the Medal of Honor in 1951, which is the highest military award. 
Throughout his military life, he served in places such as North Africa, Italy, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. He had helped train sodliers and even worked to create the Royal Thai Army Ranger School. When he retired from the Army in 1973, he stayed involved in the veterans’ organizations and often spoke at the military evens and ceremonies. He cared very much about helping veterens and honoring those who served their country. 
Lewis L. Millett Sr. had also had a large family. He married twice and had four children. One of his sons, John Millett, also served in the military. Unfortunately, he passed away while on duty in 1985. He continued supporting military communities and veterans until he died in 2009. He earned many awards for his bravery in war; Medal of honor, the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals, and lastly, four Purple Hearts. 


On this date in 1951, U.S. Army Capt. Lewis Millett earned the Medal of Honor leading a bayonet charge against Chinese forces near Soam-ni, Korea. E Company commander for 2nd battalion, 27th Infantry Division “Wolfhounds,” Millett saw a group of Chinese soldiers on a fortified hilltop. Leading the charge, he was wounded by a grenade, but continued commanding until the position was captured. Of 50 enemy dead, 20 died from bayonet wounds. U.S. Army historian S.L.A. Marshall called it “the most complete bayonet charge by American troops since Cold Harbor,” during the Civil War. 
A month later, he again would lead a bayonet charge, earning the Distinguished Service Cross. 
Those feats complement his World War II record. Millett had joined the National Guard in 1937 but deserted to join the Canadian Army Canadian Army. He feared the U.S. would never get involved in the war. He returned to the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor and was in Tunisia when the paperwork for his desertion caught up. He had recently earned a Silver Star for driving a half-truck, on fire and full of ammo to where it wouldn’t cause more damage. As a result of his court martial, he was fined $52. A few weeks later, he was given a battlefield commission. 
At the age of 36, he graduated from Ranger School. He would later develop and run an alternate Ranger school. 
In Vietnam, he served as an advisor for the Phoenix Program, which aimed to root out and kill Viet Cong sympathizers. He retired as a colonel in 1973, disappointed because the U.S. had “quit” in Vietnam. 
After the military he worked as a deputy sheriff in Tennessee, eventually moving to California. With his trademark handlebar mustache, he attended numerous Veterans events, and was part of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, California Commandery. In addition to his other awards already mentioned, he also earned three Bronze Stars and four Purple Hearts.
In 1993, his second wife, Winona, died. They had been married 40 years. His son, John, was a staff sergeant with the @101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” when he was killed with 240 other peacekeepers as their plane crashed on take-off in Gander, Newfoundland in 1985. They were on the last leg of a return trip home from the Sinai Peninsula.
Millett died of heart failure in 2009.
Col. Lewis Millett is interred at Riverside National Cemetery. 
He was 89 years old. #NoVeteranEverDies

An illustration showing Millett leading his bayonet charge over a ridge in snowy Korea.

News article from the New York Daily News featuring Col. Millett and other war heroes.

new article featuring Millett in a blood drive from the New York Daily News November 20, 1951

News article from the Boston Globe, December, 8 1965.

News article showing Millett training soldiers in a Vietnam village mock up.

Col. Millett's grave marker at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

Millett's grave marker at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

News article describing Millett's bayonet charge, Boston Globe, February 7, 1951

Col. Millett as he appeared in Korea and after being awarded the Medal of Honor.

A picture of Colonel Millett as he appeared in the Korean War and later in retirement

Riverside National Cemetery

https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/?q=lewis+millett

LEWIS L MILLETT

Service

COL

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us