WAYNE MILLER I met Wayne in the Spring of 1959 when my family moved to Memphis. We rented the downstairs apartment from his mom. We always called her "Lenore". Wayne immediately became a friend and he helped me get enrolled at Memphis Tech, the high school a few blocks away. That was a great old house on Waldron Street. It must have had 15 rooms in it - huge attic full of trunks and stuff - even a gable to peek out of. I-55 cleaned out the neighborhood when it came thru about 1965. My folks moved back & forth a few more times but we always lived in that same neighborhood. Wayne helped get me a job later that summer at Memphis Seating Co where we made kitchen furniture. Wayne & I fought in the Golden Gloves in January, 1960 - we both lost. I left Memphis Halloween 1960 & moved to Chicago where I worked thru the Winter. I never lived in Memphis again. Wayne never was much for writing but I heard from a girlfriend in Memphis that he had joined the Air Force. I got up one morning in January, 1961 with a foot of snow on the ground, -25 degrees and a howling wind. I decided Chicago was history, gave notice that day at work, and was at Lackland AFB, Texas by Feb. 10th. I found Wayne, more by luck than anything else, and we visited a few moments before we had to get back to our units. He got sent to Shaw AFB, SC and I went to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. I didn't see him again for 4 years after we were discharged when he came for a visit. I never saw him again after he left in 1965. I got a letter from him after he joined the Marines. In February, 1967 he wrote that he needed white socks badly. I sent him a box of socks and other items. A month after his funeral, the box came back to me stamped DECEASED-NO FORWARDING ADDRESS. -Bill Lamkins (12/12/00) Information about Wayne from the Wall internet site: Last name: MILLER First name: WAYNE TERRY Home of Record (official): MEMPHIS State (official): TN Date of Birth: Monday, April 20, 1942 Sex: Male Race: Caucasian Marital Status: Single --- Military --- Branch: Marine Corps Rank: PFC Serial Number: 2248532 Component: Regular Pay grade: E2 MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 0341 --- Action --- Start of Tour: Unknown/Not reported Date of Casualty: Sunday, March 19, 1967 Age at time of loss: 24 Casualty type: (A2) Hostile, died of wounds Reason: Other explosive device (Ground casualty) Country: South VietNam Province: Quang Nam The Wall: Panel 16E - Row 113 -Bill Lamkins (12/22/00) Wayne's name is on a microchip launched into space. His and over 1,000,000 other names are on the rocket. All the names from the Vietnam Wall are on the rocket. His section looks like this: KENNETH MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) MARK JEFFERY MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) ORMOND MITCHELL MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) PHILIP DENNIS MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) PHILLIP MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) RICHARD DENNIS MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) RONALD DARRELL MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) RUSSELL PERRY MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) WAYNE TERRY MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) WILLIAM FRANKLIN MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) WILLIAM LEE MILLER (PFC/MARINE CORPS) EVERETT GENE MILLER (PSG/ARMY) CHARLES MILLER (PVT/ARMY) RONALD JOHN MILLER (PVT/ARMY) Frequently Asked Questions about the STARDUST Microchips What is the purpose of sending peoples names into space? Placing the names onto the STARDUST spacecraft was a public outreach effort. It allowed people to be personally involved with the STARDUST Mission and helps to promote public interest, awareness and support of the space program. It also provided a way to honor individuals by enabling them to be associated with mankind's most advanced technological endeavor and to be part of the quest of the human species to reach for the stars. Whose names are on the microchips? The names on the microchips are from individuals who submitted their own names along with the names of friends and family if they chose to include them. Also, all members of the Planetary Society and the National Space Society current as of 1998 were included. In addition, as a special tribute, all names on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC were included. And finally, the names and selected photos of members of the STARDUST Mission team were also included. Will the microchips remain in space or will they come back to Earth? Both. Two copies of each microchip were made. One set will remain in space in the STARDUST spacecraft which will continue orbit the Sun after the mission. The other set of chips will be returned to Earth in the Sample Return Capsule. Plans are to place the returned microchips in a major museum, but the museum has not been chosen as of this writing (1999). The spacecraft was launched February 7th, 1999 and is on its way to a rendezvous with comet Wild 2 in January 2004. -Bill Lamkins (7/1/01) From: Barnesgolf@aol.com Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:35:58 EST Subject: Wayne Miller To: Bill@LAMKINS.com Bill, I was in the same outfit as Wayne, Golf 2/5. we have our own web site, www.2ndbn5thmarines.com and also have a "Lest We Forget" page dedicated to those of our fallen brothers that made the supreme sacrifice over in Nam. We are redesigning it to include photos of those heroes from Nam. Any chance that you could share a photo with us of Wayne?? Thanks and Semper Fi, -Barney Barnes Hi Barney, Feel free to use any of the photos at Wayne's website: http://memphis_tech.tripod.com/Wayne_Miller.html I don't think he ever sent me any marine photos. But his nephew has some on his website which has a link on mine. Did you know Wayne personally? Thanks, -Bill Lamkins (1/12/07) Thanks Bill, I'll see what I can find for photos on his nephews site too. No, I did not know Wayne, my time in Nam was Sept. 67 - Oct. 68. I'm just trying in some small way to keep his memory, as well as that of the other 145 or so Marines from Golf we lost, alive. I'll do some checking and see if any of our guys might remember him. Thanks again and Semper Fi, -Barney Barnes (1/13/07) Hi Barney, Just wanted you to know I updated Wayne's memorial webpage with a link to the Golf Company website. I'm also working on getting him a webpage at the Virtual Wall. Thanks, Bill Lamkins (1/26/07) Subject: Photo for Virtual Wall webpage I've attached a .jpeg formatted photo for the Wayne Terry Miller memorial webpage that I just submitted at your website. And I would appreciate it if you would show the weblink to Wayne's website that I made in his honor: http://memphis_tech.tripod.com/Wayne_Miller.html Thanks for all you do. -Bill Lamkins (1/26/07) Subject: Photo of Wayne T Miller for The Virtual Wall Dear Bill, Thank you for requesting a memorial page for Wayne Miller on The Virtual Wall and for sending us a photo of him to add to his memorial page on The Virtual Wall. However, i think the photo of him on your web site: http://memphis_tech.tripod.com/Wayne_Miller1960.gif Is a much better photo than the obituary photo you sent. I would prefer to have the 1960 photo as his main photo on his memorial page on The Virtual Wall and then have the obit photo further down. Do I have your permission to do so and to copy the photo from your site? We're a little backlogged working on The Virtual Wall right now, so creating his memorial page and adding the photo may take a few days. One of our staff will send you an email note when his memorial page is published. We ask your patience. I invite you to read "The Day it Snowed in Vietnam" http://www.VirtualWall.org/snow.htm or "I came to see my son's name" http://www.VirtualWall.org/docs/sonsname.htm (you should be able to click on the blue lines above) God bless, -Jim Schueckler 192nd Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam 69-70 (1/27/07) Yes, please use the 1960 photo and anything else on my website.. I like it better too - I thought you might require one in military clothing. Thanks again for your help. -Bill Lamkins (1/27/07) Hi Bill, Thanks! I just copied that photo from your site and resized both images and forwarded them to Ken Davis, who will make Wayne's memorial page. Wayne's memorial page will probably be published in about a week, and Ken will send you an email note then. I included your note asking for the link to your own memorial page in honor of Wayne. Please consider having a link from your site to either The Virtual Wall at http://www.VirtualWall.org or directly to Wayne's memorial page. The URL for Wayne's memorial page, when it is made, will be http://www.VirtualWall.org/dm/MillerWT01a.htm God bless, -Jim Schueckler (1/27/07) A Note from The Virtual Wall From the 2nd Bn, 5th Marines Chronology for March 1967: "At 181140H [11:40 am, 18 March] the point Marine of a Co G Platoon combat patrol activated a Bouncing Betty (dud). Dud was blown in place. A second Bouncing Betty was detonated by a Marine in the middle of the column resulting in 2 USMC WIA (evac). Evac was completed at 181225H." -http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/MillerWT01a.htm (2/10/07) My name is Steven Peitsmeyer. I was on the patrol when Wayne was hit. As a matter of fact I was just one man ahead of him in the column as we worked our way up the hill. My birthday was the day before and Wayne was giving me a bunch of crap about not telling him. We were walking up the side of a hill when the point man hit a bouncing betty. Everyone stopped and froze in our tracks. The first one was a dud and the word was passed down the line to watch for mines. We started moving again and really watching. Not sure how long it was ( not very long-- minutes) and there was a big explosion behind me. I had gone around the side of the hill so I was protected from the blast. Again I froze where I stood and heard someone moaning and another yelling. I turned around and at that time the Corpman came running down from the front of the column to get to Wayne and the other man. As he ran past I just grabbed my helmet and crouched down in case he hit one. I turned around and stepped where the corpman stepped and walked back to see who and what happened. Wayne was conscious and somewhat alert. We ( the ones that were near him) were trying to cheer him up and telling him he got a ticket home and all that kind of stuff. The Marine behind him was wounded ( not bad). The Corpman when to work on Wayne and they set up a team to take him to a clearing for medavac. That was the last time I saw him. Wayne was a great Marine and would make any Parent proud. He was very gung ho and wasn't kidding about wanting to be out looking for Cong. Semper Fi to a Great Marine, Wayne -Steve Peitsmeyer (2/21/07) A "Bouncing Betty" was a trip-wire mine that, once activated, jumped up into the air and exploded at groin height. Mines were a particular concern to American combat troops. 11% of deaths in Vietnam were attributable to mines. -http://www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/exhibits/vietquest.html (2/21/07) Hi Steve, Thank you very much for your email. To learn the details of Wayne's death after nearly 40 years has affected me deeply. All I had known these many years was that a mortar blast had killed him. Would it be okay with you if I post your account on my memorial webpage for Wayne at http://memphis_tech.tripod.com/Wayne_Miller.html Thanks again for your email. -Bill Lamkins (2/21/07) That would be fine if you want to put it on. Any other questions ( if I can answer them) please let me know -Steve Peitsmeyer (2/22/07) I have a general idea of what a bouncing betty is. How did the one work that killed Wayne? Was it triggered by a wire across his path? Do you recall the nature of his wounds? We were told he was killed by a mortar round with no details. Most of his family are gone now. His mom died a few years ago and his dad before that. -Bill Lamkins (2/22/07) A bouncing betty is a mine that is planted underground and it is triggered by stepping on 3 prongs that are just at the ground surface. Once you step on them there is a charge that shoots the mine in the air and it goes off about 6 feet in the air. The point man stepped on one and it went up in the air and fell to the ground and fizzled. Nothing happened. I am assuming Wayne stepped on one because of the one at the point. It could have been a morter round but i doubt it. There could not have been a wire across the path because about 15 or so of us already walked over it. How someone didn't step on it before Wayne ??? Anyway, if it was a bouncing betty then Wayne took the brunt of the blast because I think it hit him in the butt then went off. It never got air borne or it would have gotten me and a few more. Probably not killed us but hurt us pretty bad. I don't know how graphic you want me to be about his wounds. Let me know. Sorry that his mom and dad are gone - I should have gotten in contact with them a long time ago. I didn't know until a few years ago (3-4) that the details of what happened were not told to the family of the men killed. A side note - The other Marine that was wounded that was walking behind Wayne was named White, I believe. Didn't know him well. He got to Nam just before I did and at that time we were not allowed to leave An Hoa until we had been in country a week To get us use to the climate and over jet lag. So Golf Co. went out on an operation and I didn't go because I just got there. This Marine named White went out for his first day in combat. BAD LUCK! They got pinned down by enemy fire and called for our 81mm morters to fire on the enemy. (Wayne was with the 60mm mortars in our squad.) Well, they fired a white phosphorus round to spot where it would hit before they sent the high explosive. The round fell short and burnt White. He was medevaced to the hospital where he recovered. That was around the 20 of Feb. He finally got back to our unit and on the first day he went out was the one where he got wounded. I remember him laying there kinda messed up but nothing life threating and telling the Lt., "I dont care what you do to me send me to jail - beat me - do what you want - I AM NOT COMING OUT HERE AGAIN!!" Can't say I blame him: first time in combat, wounded - second time in combat, wounded and... he didn't come back. 3 purple hearts and you got a ticket back to the US to finish your enlistment. Take care and let me know how much you want to know about Wayne's wounds. -Steve Peitsmeyer (2/22/07) Yes, tell me about his wounds. Did they look fatal at the time? I believe he died the next day. -Bill Lamkins (2/23/07) Well here goes--What I can remember--Its been a long time ago. The first thing I saw when i got around the corner of the hillside (I put my foot every place the Corpsman put his foot as he ran to help Wayne) was seeing Wayne. The other man wounded was behind him. Wayne's face and most of his body was black from the exploding mine. His pants were blown off except the strip around the waist and his belt. The reason I think it was a bouncing betty was he had both feet and legs. Had it been a mortar it usually blew off the foot or leg you stepped on it with. His legs were really cut up as was most of his butt. The back of his elbows were really cut up or blown up. His chest, face, neck, and back seemed ok His flack jackett protected him a lot. He was really in shock and not bleeding much at all. He was able to talk and knew what we were all saying to him. I think the only reason he was alive then was his determination and being in such good shape. With most of his butt gone and legs cut up so bad it looked like he wasn't going to make it. I think the bouncing betty went off and went up and hit him in the butt which stopped it from going up in the air and getting more of is. That's about all I can think of. Does he have any brothers or sisters? He got to our unit about a week or so before I arrrived in country I do remember standing lines with him at AN Hoa before we went to the coal mines and he wanted to go out side the wire and look for Gooks. He was gung ho that way. -Steve Peitsmeyer (2/25/07) Thanks very much for all the information about Wayne. In some strange way, it has been comforting. And thank you for your service to our country, -Bill Lamkins (2/28/07) Sue Warner Bean will be going to Viet Nam with the Company Comander of Golf Company (not the one when Wayne was there). They are going with a group called Green Tree. They remove old mines and plant trees in their place. They will be planting a tree in the name of Wayne Miller. Will let you know more when I get it. Sue's brother was a good friend of mine also and he was killed Feb 17 1968 Steve Peitsmeyer (3/2/07) Thanks for the info, Steve. I like the idea of a tree for Wayne. His name went into space on a microchip in 1999 and returned last year. NASA put all the names on the Wall on the microchip. It was the Stardust Project at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/98/sdviet.html -Bill Lamkins (3/7/07) There are two women going lthis month to Viet Nam on a tour. They are going with the Company CO when Golf was at Hue. They are sisters of two other friends of mine killed over there. They are the ones planting a tree in the name of Wayne. Will give you more when they get back. -Steve Peitsmeyer (3/7/07) The Stardust sample return capsule, containing comet samples (and the microchip with Wayne's name on it), successfully returned to Earth on Jan. 15, 2006. -http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stardust/main/index.html (3/8/07)