HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLONEL MILLETT

Today marks the 85th birthday of my favorite Commanding Officer and Congressional Medal of Honor winner Lewis “Red” Millet. He is famous for leading the last bayonet charge in U.S. Army history on February 7, 1951 during the Korean War when as a young Captain he led two platoons of the 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds” against heavily fortified enemy positions. His Easy Company killed forty-seven while another sixty had reportedly been wounded and evacuated off the hill during the battle. Of the dead, eighteen died of bayonet wounds.

Citation:

Captain 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. Captain Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the two platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted two 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 affect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Captain 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 Captain 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.

I first met Colonel Millet in person at the Commander’s Call in early November, 1966 at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts when he commanded the elite Army Security Agency (ASA) Training Center & School. Millet always made a point to personally meet and lecture all new student-soldiers who were assigned to his training regiment. We had already heard much about Colonel Millet who was living legend who had deserted the peace time U.S. Army in 1940 in order to join the Canadian Army to fight in Europe. In 1942, Millet had reenlisted in the U.S. Army and fought with General Patton receiving a Silver Star. The impression that I came away with from the meeting was that Millet was a highly intelligent man who put the well being of the troops ahead of his own and felt it was an honor to be allowed to command such fine individuals as were found in the ASA.