Steve Miller

Veteran of the Month, August 2004




Brief Bio: dob, service, occupation now, family



Okay, here we go. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 17, 1946, a WW2 baby boomer like most VN vets. Dad was a B-24 bombardier instructor during WW2. After high school during the war, my Mom worked as a civilian in a factory that made and packed parachutes for bombs used on low-level missions. After discharge in 1945 my Dad worked as a letter sorter for the Post Office. Mom was just a housewife. Mom and Dad had problems, and in 1950 she packed up me and our suitcase and headed for her sister's house here in Florida. Graduated high school here in 1964 and went two years to a local junior college. Got drafted into the Army in March, 1968. Separated in March, 1970, and finished college compliments of Uncle Sam. Now work for our local school district, both as a paid employee and a volunteer. A couple years ago my Mom took a couple of bad falls and suffered a serious hip injury. She was afraid of living alone anymore, so I moved in (along with my cat, Yeahbut) and we take care of each other.



Why did you decide to join the Armed services?



Didn't join...was drafted. Got through two years of college and ran out of money. In 1968 if you weren't in college and weren't 4F you were going to visit your rich uncle.



Where were you assigned during your tour?



All my time in service was in CONUS...Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Gordon, GA, Ft. Bragg, NC, and Ft. Lee, VA.



What was your first assignment?



My basic training was at Ft. Benning, Georgia. During basic I signed the little one-sentence piece of paper that read, "I agree to jump from an airplane while in flight and land on the ground via parachute." Also during basic I scored high company marksman with the M14. Pretty sure that's what earmarked me for 11B...infantry.



Where did you go next?



After basic training it was off to Ft. Gordon, Georgia for Advanced Individual Training (AIT). In my case this was an Airborne-oriented infantry AIT...which was infantry AIT plus a little airborne familiarization and a LOT of physical training to get ready for jump school. After AIT we bussed straight down to Ft. Benning (again!... was I EVER gonna get out of Georgia?) for jump school.During jump school they asked for volunteers to go to the Parachute Rigger School at Ft. Lee, Virginia. They explained what riggers do, and that it was a critical MOS. There was a severe shortage of riggers. They said that as riggers, we would literally have paratroopers' lives in our hands, and if we couldn't deal with that responsibility, not to volunteer. That sounded like it was right up my alley. Of course, getting E-4 out of rigger school was okay, too! Rigger school was three months...one month in parachute packing, one month in air delivery, and one month in maintenance. I did so well in the school that they asked me to stay on board as an instructor. As my college had been for teaching, this was, to me, a custom made assignment.



Have any interesting highlights to share?



As I mentioned the rigger MOS was critical, so the school was running 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. We were running three classes through at one time on days, swing, and graveyard shifts. That meant at least three chances a month to jump. Got to jump many different aircraft, both fixed wing and helos. Ft. Lee was the Operations Center for U.S. rigger and airdrop operations all over the world. We wrote the TMs for rigging, tested new equipment and chutes, and analyzed all the parachute malfunction reports (U.S. troops stationed world-wide). We also received after-action reports involving air delivery operations in Vietnam and worked on ways to get more stuff to the troops on the ground, and get it to them faster and intact. We could airdrop almost anything...supplies, water, ammo, artillery, tanks...up to and including full-size road graders and a complete Bailey bridge.



What were your most memorable experiences in the military?



Well, let's see...a couple of parachute malfunctions stands out. Got to do a LOT of jumping...probably 5 times as much as a paratrooper in a divisional assignment.. I'll never forget General Eisenhower's death in 1969...the President we had grown up under...we had a special ceremony. Sitting in the dayroom in the company and watching Neil Armstrong step onto the moon in July, 1969. I almost got into a fight with the Charge of Quarters on that one...he insisted on shutting the dayroom promptly at 2100 hours. I threatened to call the CO at home. It worked.



How did you feel about going into combat?



All my assignments kept me stateside. Certainly would have gone if so ordered. My duty was to be where I was needed, and our work in air delivery at the Rigger school kept soldiers and Marines alive in Vietnam.



What was your homecoming like?



It was rather anticlimactic. While I was in the Army I thought continuously about being out, but never thought beyond that. Remember standing in the bus station with my duffel bag in hand, thinking, "Is this it? Is this all there is? What now?" Like all of you, it took me awhile to re-adjust.



What do you consider your greatest achievements?



Making it through jump school. Having the honor of being asked to perform a critical job during my service...and doing it well.
Getting my college degree. Helping kids. I am a good listener, and so many kids don't get listened to at home and just need someone to listen... to try to understand their concerns. I am blessed with that ability.



What are some of the highlights of your life since the war?



Finishing college. Working in the Vietnamese re-settlement program after the war. Working as a 911 Fire dispatcher for eight years. Teaching and helping kids. Oh, yeah, and living through three major hurricanes!



Are you active in veterans' organizations?



No, I'm not. I guess I should be. They do a lot for veterans in many ways. But I still have a problem with the way my brothers who saw combat were treated by the Vet organizations when they came home. Something I'll have to deal with in my on way and in my own time.



Do you keep in contact with your military comrades?



There are a few I stay in touch with. For most it's an occasional e-mail. Ran into one of my Army buds walking down the street in a city 1500 miles from home!



What can be done to improve public awareness of foreign policy and military and veterans' affairs?



That's easy. Be an ambassador. Tell people your story. Help them understand what is important. NOTHING is as effective as one-on-one communication.



Are there any messages you would like to communicate to your fellow veterans?



To all the vets (and sisters!) in these forums: Some of us have been together (virtually) for a long time...from way back on the History Channel's forum. That's longer for most of us than our military service! To you I say that I am honored to be among you...to be counted as one of you. We have impacted each others' lives. We have changed each other. We are the welcome home we never got. Whether we be doggies, jarheads, swabbies, or zoomies, we one in spirit. We are, indeed, a band of brothers!



Thank you for your service to our country and your time in this interview.



Welcome home!



Airborne! Steve / 82Rigger