Tuesday, January 26, 2010

For Maj. Curtis Dan Miller

My first cousin Maj. Curtis Dan Miller was shot down over Laos on March 29, 1972 while flying a C-130 gun ship. Their mission was to search out and destroy supply trucks on the Ho Chi Ming trail in Laos, a supply line to North Viet Nam when they were hit by a missile called a flying telephone pole. There were reports of beeper signals from parachutes, so our hope was always that Dan would be found alive someday. Although the chance of him escaping the flight deck of a C-130 was highly impossible from the reports of nearby support aircraft of the severe hit the C-130 received from the missile.
My first POW Bracelet was silver and I wore it throughout High School and at college, which was followed by a red one and it always received attention from people not sure of its meaning. This past year Dan was identified through bone fragments that the USAF had excavated from his crash site after his immediate family protested the planned burial of several unidentified bone fragments in a grave with the names of the five members from his aircraft that had not been personally identified from previous tests. Since they have now identified a bone fragment as Major Curtis Dan Millers, his service is scheduled on the day he went missing 38 years later. By wearing the Killed In Action bracelet at his Funeral/Memorial service it will give me a chance to take a step forward in realizing that he like many others will never return and wearing the KIA bracelet will always remind anyone who asks, that there are sacrifices that we endure for the freedom that so many take so lightly.
Kevin M.

5 comments:

Cheryl M Brown said...

Dan graduated in 1964 from the small Texas town of Palacios. He was one of 50 graduates. Several of our classmates also served in Viet Nam. One actually was on the search party of Dans crash. Many of our classmates are planning on attending his funeral and burial in Ft. Worth and Dallas. We plan to never forget Dan. "You are not dead until you are forgotten."

Susan P Young said...

I have had my POW/MIA bracelet for Capt Curtis Dan Miller since the mid 70's when the bracelets first became available. I wore it every day for several years, eventually saving it in my jewelry box. I did not know him, but still his name was kept close to my heart.I have visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC many many times and have found his name on the wall wondering if he had been found.I was so surprised to hear his name on the news yesterday that he had been identified and returned to his family. My condolences to his family and my relief as well that he has come home at long last. I plan pay him tribute this Memorial Day and place his bracelet at his name on The Wall. Thank you Major Miller for your service and sacrifice to the great nation.

Vivian S. McFarland said...

When I heard the news report....Major Curtis Dan Miller...remains to be buried 38 years after being shot down in Viet Nam....I knew immediately that this was my POW...the man who's name I proudly wore on a metal bracelet.....for years, I wore that bracelet in an effort to support our troops and to keep them present in our memories...He is at last brought home to his family and his country.....the country he lost his life in protecting....I will look at this bracelet now a little differently...it is now the proud reminder of a man who gave his everything for people he would never know....but I will never forget him....God bless our troops.

Anonymous said...

For eight years I wore my bracelet for Captain Curtis Dan Miller. When I visited the Vietname Memorial I approached the wall not knowing it his name would be there. It was, as Major Curtis Dan Miller. Until today, I had never seen his picture or knew his story. I just knew I had faith that someday we would know. My heart goes out to his family, his wife and daughter. May you be at peace and know that many people prayed for Major Curtis Dan Miller.

Unknown said...

I, too, wore a POW bracelet during the 70's, with Capt. Curtis Dan Miller's name. At the time we were instructed to return the POW bracelet to the family when the serviceman returned home... Capt. Miller never did. Then, 2 days ago I learned through an anonymous post on my blog, that his remains were returned to Texas, in 2010. With all my heart I would like to return this bracelet to Susan and his daughter. So, if anyone can help me contact them I would be very grateful!