SERGEANT BIDS FAREWELL TO MARINE CORPS WITH MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES Susan Weich With the flag flying high in a pleasant breeze Friday morning, Master Gunnery Sgt. Lennie Miller bid farewell to a Marine career that spanned 36 years.
"Reavis Montrey's death, although tragic, was the inspiration I needed to serve my country," Miller said. Within six months, he also enlisted in the Marines. Miller also talked about his hero, Melvin Riley, who had offered to take Miller's watch on Sept. 4, 1967, as a present to Miller on his birthday. Riley lost his life that night when the Viet Cong came up the hill southwest of Da Nang that Miller was supposed to have been guarding. Each Memorial Day, Miller said, he visits Riley's grave and talks to him. "As I kneel next to his grave, I not only remove the debris from an aging headstone, but I tell him about the men and women of extraordinary courage that we served with in Vietnam," he said. Miller says he also tells his friend about his life. He thanks him for each day of his life and for his beautiful children and grandchildren. "But most of all, I tell him that I love him for his sacrifice and that I still miss him after all these years," he said. Miller then talked about the military personnel serving today, saying that they are in the armed forces because they truly want to make a difference. "If I am so fortunate to leave a legacy of my service, I hope it will be one of a Marine who never forgot his fellow man and a man who simply loved his Marines too much," he said. Although Miller did not talk about his military accomplishments, he has had a distinguished career. He was awarded a Purple Heart, three Navy Commendation Medals and three Navy Achievement medals. And he was given the Bronze Star for his heroism in a firefight in the summer of 1968. His reconnaissance team's machine-gunner was injured, and Miller made a run for the gun, then used it to hold off the assault until U.S. helicopter gunships could help them out. After Miller's hitch was up in 1970, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves, but 11 years later, he rejoined active duty. Miller spent the next 20 years as a recruiter and as a trainer for other recruiters. He figures he ushered in about 15,000 Marines during his duty. With his retirement, Miller closed a chapter of the Vietnam Era, because he was the last active enlisted Marine who was on active duty during the Tet Offensive in 1968, the event many consider the turning point of the Vietnam War. At a reception after the retirement ceremony, Miller announced that he was establishing a scholarship fund in the name of Melvin Riley. The scholarships will go to children of former Marines who live in the Francis Howell School District. And although Miller has left military duty, he still hopes to serve his country in another way - as a state representative. Miller is the Republican candidate in Missouri's 15th District. = = = = A good Marine * Who: Master Gunnery Sgt. Lennie Miller, 54. * What: Retired from a career that spanned 36 years. * Where: St. Peters Veterans' Memorial. * When: Friday morning.
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