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Warrant Officer, David E. Miller, 21, son of Ray E. Miller and Louise Hielscher Miller, 712 W. Butler St., Olney passed away Saturday April 18, 1964 in a hospital in Vietnam, from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash in Vietnam on Friday April 10. (114 AVN Co ~ Vietnam AM)
Word of his death was received by his parents Saturday. He sustained burns over 40% of his body and face when serving as co-pilot on a UH-1B helicopter on a combat mission enroute to the landing zone, when the helicopter crashed, exploded and burned.
The telegram received by the Millers Saturday, telling of their son's death was as follows: "The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express deep regrets that your son, Warrant Officer David E. Miller, died in Vietnam on April 18, 1964 as a result of injuries previously reported to you. The Chief of Support Services, Department of the Army will communicate with you concerning return of remains. A representative of the Commanding General of the U.S. Army will contact you personally to offer assistance. Please accept my deepest sympathy. J.C. Lambert, Major General USA . The Adjutant General"
Surviving in addition to his parents are the following step-brothers and step-sisters: Fritz Schmelzer of Dundee, Arthur Schmelzer of St. Louis, Mo., Virginia Vito of Chicago, George Miller of Bensonville, Howard Miller of Phoenix, Az. and Kenneth Miller in the U.S. Navy in Damascus, Md.
David was a member of the graduating class of 1961 of East Richland High School where he was a member of the football team. He was one of the communities most popular young men.
He had recently visited his parents and friends in Olney before going to his overseas assignment, leaving the states March 29. He had been in Saigon about six days before the tragic crash. He had flown 25 missions.
The body will be returned for burial.
Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) ~ April 20, 1964
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Michael Fredric Bauman (1964)
David Miller was killed as a result of injuries incurred while co- piloting a UH1 Army helicopter,he was in the process of extracting South Vietnamese troops in a highly overloaded helicopter when the helicopter experienced tail rotor failure due to the overloading.The helicopter crashed into the ground WO1 Miller was badly injured and was transported to a hospital where he died several days later from the injuries sustained in the crash. WO1 Miller's body was transported back to Olney and he was buried in the Haven Hill Cemetary.
Dixie Cowan (Cocagne) (1961)
I was a reporter and editor for The Daily Illini, the student newspaper at the University of Illinois, while I was a student there from 1961-1965. I read several newspapers every day and believed I was well informed about local, state, national and international news. In disagreement with both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations on the escalation of American personnel in the Vietnam War, my political opinions were moving toward a more anti-war position than ever before. When I learned of David Miller's death as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, my attention immediately turned to the terrible human sacrifices being made there. I continued to report on campus events related (mainly) to anti-war sentiment, requiring my articles on speeches and protests be non-partisan. My off-duty speech, however, exposed my true point of view about the devastation of war.
I give thanks to all U.S. veterans for their service to this country!
Dixie Cowan Cocagne
Class of 1961