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Military History: Interview with Colonel Lewis L. MillettMilitary History | Single Page | 17 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
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Army Captain Reginald B. Desiderio, who commanded E Company, 27th Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division, was killed in battle near Ipsok, Korea, on November 27, 1950, and subsequently awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. A forward observer with the 8th Field Artillery Battalion supporting that company, Captain Lewis L. Millett, volunteered to transfer to the infantry and take over the company. Millett earned the Medal of Honor while leading E Company a short time later. Today a retired colonel, Millett lives in the Southern California mountain community of Idyllwild, far from Mechanic Falls, Maine, where he was born on December 15, 1920. His wife, Winona, died in 1993. Surrounded by mementos of a 35-year military career, during which he also received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, three Bronze Stars, four Purple Hearts, three Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal and many foreign awards, Millett reminisced about serving in two armies in three wars in an interview for Military History. Military History: I understand that your military career began with the Massachusetts National Guard in 1938. Millett: Yes, I was in the National Guard for 12 years before I went into the Regular Army. When I got the Medal of Honor, I was a Guardsman on extended active duty. MH: Then you joined the Army Air Corps. Why? Millett: I was vice president of my high school senior class and was invited to make a speech on Memorial Day, 1940. I put on my National Guard uniform for the occasion. Adolf Hitler had overrun Europe, and I warned my classmates that we would soon be in a war. I told them that it was better to go prepared. So I joined the Army Air Corps. I was sent to Lowry Field near Denver, where I learned about machine guns. MH: And then you deserted? Millett: Yes. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a speech that we were not going to war against Hitler, so I deserted and joined the Canadian army. MH: What did you do in Canada? Millett: I joined the Royal Canadian Artillery Regiment. But another American and myself were sent to Ottawa for top-secret training in something called radio location; we [Americans] called it radar. I have to laugh now when I think about it. Two Americans, one a deserter from the U.S. Army and the other with a bad conduct discharge from the Marine Corps, selected for top-secret training. MH: So you became a radar operator? Millett: No. By the time we arrived in England, the United States was in the war and I was allowed to transfer to the U.S. Army. In August 1942, I went to Ireland and was assigned to the 27th Armored Field Artillery, 1st Armored Division. MH: When did you see your first action? Millett: On November 8, we invaded North Africa. We landed at a place called St. Leu, north of Oran. The outfit that was going into Oran, the 6th Armored Infantry, I believe, had a battalion aboard a destroyer that was sunk by French naval gunfire. The French fired a few rounds at us. In fact, they killed a couple of our guys. A 75mm shell hit one of our halftracks and killed two or three of our people. But otherwise we didn't run into much. [The British cutter Hartland was crippled by the French destroyer Typhon before Typhon was hit by cruiser fire. Both ships were scuttled in Oran Harbor.] MH: Then where did you go? Millett: About a week later, they sent a combat command of the 1st Armored to try and take Tunis. They didn't have enough gas and so forth to send the whole division. So we went piecemeal and we got defeated piecemeal. We made our first contact near a place called Medjez-el-Bab in Tunisia. I was an anti-tank gunner at that time, on the 37mm, which was worthless. Twenty tanks went through our position to attack the Germans. Every single one of them was left burning. They were Lees [called Grants by the British], the two-deckers, with a gun on top and another on the side. It was a good indoctrination in how good we weren't. Our 37mm was mounted on the back of a three-quarter-ton truck, and we fired six rounds at the German tanks as they rolled through our position. The shells just bounced off and the Germans didn't even notice them! Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts
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17 Comments to “Military History: Interview with Colonel Lewis L. Millett”
I have alot of respect and admiration for Col.
Millet.I first meet him in March 1959 at the 101 ABN Recondo school I went through second class of the 187 that was one of the finest schools I went to.He was a maj at the time.I was the first NCO to use General Westmorelands H13 for airial recon of emeney positions for the night raid. GOD BLESS COL MILLET.
Retired ARMY
SFC Richard Merrick
COL MILLET recommend me for Ranger School
By Richard Merrick on Jun 20, 2008 at 5:16 pm
My name is Jon Mori Uyehara and I am helping my Dad Morishin (MORI) Uyehara from the US Army 25th Infrantry division 24th regiment in the Korean War to find back then his Capt. Millet Old Handlebar they called him , which I think this COL. MILLET is. My email is LOCOLBOYZ@AOL.COM If this is my dads Capt. Millet (Old Handlebar) from the Korean War can you pass the information on to him it will be greatly appreciated by a Korean War Veteran Thank You
By Jon Mori Uyehara on Jul 3, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Reporting for training early,on a Sunday morning in late summer of 1965, I was assigned to clean the office of the training commander of USASA at Fort Devins, MA.
With no one about, a nice sunny day and many interesting artifacts & mentoes about, I was first intrigued by the large bayonet prominently displayed on his desk. Then while dusting a display case, I picked up a starred teal blue ribboned medal and from behind me at the door came deep but gentle voice. "Do you know what that is son" he said, "no sir" was my reply. Returning the medal, as I turned, he replied "that is the Medal of Honor" and then, "carry on"! I thought that perhaps this graying man with a cane was a janitor or such. Well, I (we) met him again next morning in formation. It was Lewis Lee (Red) Mllett! His photo (with bayonet) still hangs in my office and many people ask if it is my father or grandfather, I reply "sort of", he had that effect on me.
Other stories of Col. Millett during the many, many weeks of training I can relate during those days of student prostests and such. Little did know that I'd be in RVN some months later, but I know that he served there and he always requested to go back. He once carved a line with his bayonet across our formation and asked all who would stand with him to give blood only for the troops in Nam. We all crossed that line and marched to the hospital, but there were too many of us for them to handle and he gave us all the day off. What a day!
I'll never forget Lewis L Millett, may God bless and keep him!
Sp5 Frederick Hansen RA12735871
By Frederick Hansen on Dec 10, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Interessante Informationen.
By lieben on Mar 3, 2009 at 5:24 am
Thank you for COL Millett's story on your web site. We are proud of his birth and rearing in Maine and his subsequent gallant service to our Nation.
A point of correction, at the time of his service in Korean, COL Millett was a member of HHC 2/103rd Infantry, Maine Army National Guard, not Mass. National Guard. *
RON ROUSSEL
CW5, U. S. Army Ret.
Curator
Maine Military Historical Society Museum
_______________
* Ref, Page 44, Adj. Gen. Report 1951
By Ronald L. Roussel, CW5, Curator, ME Mil Hist Soc Museum on Apr 26, 2009 at 11:24 am
I do remember Col. Millet. I also have seen his desk while I was at Ft Devons, Mass attending Morse Code Intercept School. I rember 1 occasion when I was at the post gym and watching some guys box. Col. Millet stepped up to watch and said "I want to see some blood" A great man
By T. Evans on Aug 11, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I met COL Millet at the MOH reunion in Green Bay, 2007. What an inspiration. Our NG unit was asked for volunteers to help assist for the convention, I thought I wouldn't be able to as I was an E-7, however not many soldiers wanted to so I went. I spent 10 exiting days with many MOH recipiants. While I didn't want to interfere with the weeks events for these American Hero's or bother them I couldn't help wanting to sit down and question them. COL Millet always had time and words of wisdom. And his time in service and accomplishments are phenominal. Never has someone been so fortunate as to be in such company as I was. After the Packer football game I saw him in the bar and after the days events I asked how he was doing he replied "better now, got my scotch". truely someone to look up to. 1SG Robbert, John L. ,Taji, Iraq
By john robbert on Sep 13, 2009 at 3:29 am
I was in class3-D , 15 AUG 1959. Student #441
While going thru training, some film company was making a short subject film of the Recondo training , I have search but can not find anything.
I hope you can.
Thanks in advance
Ron
By Ron Thornton on Sep 14, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I met COL Millet in San Diego at the NTC Branch Medical Clinic where he was attempting to receive medical attention for a serious infection as a result of hand wounds. The clinic was closed, so I escorted the COL to Balboa Naval Hospital. We went into the emergency room and it was there that I found out who the COL really was (Medal of Honor recipient) and the nature of his wounds. After all this hero had been through in his life, his future was threatened by hand wounds/infection received from fighting with the family cat. –Apparently, the COL has made a full recovery.
By Gary on Oct 29, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Col Millett has passed away to the Jerry Pettit VA Hospital on November the 14th 2009. I had the honor to know Col Millett who is a true American Hero through the US Naval Sea Cadet Program in Moreno Valley California. He will be missed by all.
God Speed
By Ken Hudson on Nov 16, 2009 at 9:16 pm
I met Col. Millett in Washington DC when we were at a KWVA convention working to get the National Korean War menorial bult, I had many interesting talks with the Col. also a few drinks along the way. He was truly a great hero and a Soldier's Soldier—–RIP Lew, a fellow Korean War Vet.——–former Sgt. N. Bentele X Cps
By Norbert Bentele on Nov 16, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Col. Millett was my Regimental Commander at Ft. Devens
's MA and he was a great leader. A true gentleman and his Tactical Training Course will be remembered by many–including me.
By Tom Abrials on Nov 17, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I also cleaned his office at Fort Devens, while I was in training in the ASA. It was an honor to get a chance to be there. I helped dig the ditches at jungel training site on a few weekends, then went through with everyone else after graduating school.
By David K. Walkup on Nov 17, 2009 at 5:31 pm
How do we thank you Col. Millet? For outstanding service and your love of country. You are a true hero. Every American owes you and all our military leaders—thank you for the freedoms we all enjoy because of your committment, resolve and "can do" attitude!!!
By betty on Nov 20, 2009 at 7:48 am