Walter Reed Milliken was born in Boston, MA. His father started as a missionary salesman and went on to own and operate a distributorship to grocers in the New Bedford area, Cape Cod, and the islands. His mother was the traditional homemaker. His only living sibling was a sister, Elizabeth, seven years his junior. The family settled in New Bedford, MA, for Walt's senior year of high school.

In his early childhood, thanks to the recollections of Elizabeth "Libby," Walt was busy making model airplanes (out of balsa wood, tissue paper, Duco cement, and banana oil) and flew them from his bedroom window. Later, at Quincy High School, he sang in the choir and played the trumpet and baritone horn. Basketball, ice hockey, sailing, and swimming were his favorite sports. Walt worked for his father and established his own salesman route selling peanut butter, which was plentiful during WWII. His father instructed him to only pursue new customers, so as not to take business away from other salesmen. Coincidentally, Walt learned some French negotiating with the many French-Canadian grocers on his route.

Walt began to show interest in West Point as a senior at New Bedford High School, graduating in 1943. He was a "whiz" at math and science. Encouraged by a third alternate appointment from Senator David I. Walsh of Massachusetts, Walt went to Millard Preparatory School in Washington, DC, and then entered Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a year before going to West Point. He was the first in his family to go to college. At West Point, Walt played varsity hockey and water polo (a club sport) all four years and was president of the water polo team. Not so surprising, he was a member of the Radio, French and Airplane Clubs as well. One roommate, Bill Gustafson, recalled that "Walter always exuded a rock-solid demeanor, strong jawed, direct eye contact, and a calm, firm voice with an occasional twinkle of humor."

Another remarkable aspect of Walter was his devotion and loyalty to his hometown sweetheart Priscilla Lightbown. He never dated any other girl while at West Point and married Priscilla three days after graduation in Massachusetts. Goble Bryant commented that, "He certainly made the right choice. As a matter of fact, Walt never had a problem making the right decision in any situation." This sense of commitment, steady focus on important things, and confidence in his ability to know what was right would be the hallmark of the rest of Walt's life.

Walt was commissioned into the Air Force and, following graduation, attended air tactical school at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. His first assignment was in production control for depot level maintenance at the Middletown Air Depot at Olmstead AFB in Pennsylvania. Walt took advantage of his position to take part in test flights of aircraft after completion of maintenance to "improve his knowledge of all operations within our maintenance activities." On week-ends, he was deeply involved in building and flying control line model airplanes while taking care of his son, Mark, who was just under two years old at the time.

In 1952, the Millikens were ordered to Kelley AFB to join the 75,th Air Depot Wing, which then deployed to Japan. It seems that Walt and classmate Bill Lambert were the only West Pointers on the base except for the base commander. Bill credits Walt with "creating a monumental conspiracy" with Bill "to pretty much run the whole base as we saw fit." That they had been promoted to captain on April Fool's Day 1953 seems to have inspired them on to greater heights. Despite this adventure or perhaps because of it, Bill added,

"This guy knew how to be a friend ... He was there when I needed him, and usually before I knew I was in need."

In 1956, Walt was selected to become a mathematics instructor at the new Air Force Academy. He was scheduled to get his master's degree first, but plans changed. Instead, he was sent to Lowry AFB to teach the cadets before his residence was completed. He finished his master's through night courses at the University of Colorado in 1958 and moved to the new Air Force Academy in 1959 in time to see the first class graduate.

It came as a surprise to his closest friends when he resigned as a captain in 1960. It appears that Walt had perceived that "non-rated" (those not qualified for flight crew) officers had decidedly limited futures in the USAF But Walt did not "throw in the towel" completely, he joined the Air Force Reserve.

Walt took a position with the Mitre Corporation, working on the SATIN program to integrate the USAF SAGE air defense system with the Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control system. His colleague at Mitre, Don Macbeth, wrote that Walt was "a major contributor... and a steady influence as a role model for our many young engineers." In 1969, he was working at the Logistics Management Institute, a civilian think tank, and in 1974 he was a consultant in defense management.

Walt was called to active duty in 1974 and assigned to the Air War College in Montgomery, AL, as Reserve advisor with the rank of colonel. Four years later in 1978, he became an advisor to the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, DC. He was awarded the Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Ser-vice Medal while on active duty.

One of Walt's very close friends from his early days after graduation from West Point was Stan Wilkinson, a non-graduate, "rated" Air Force officer. Knowing Walt's thirst for flying, Stan endeavored to get Walt on board whatever bomber aircraft he was flying at the time. When Walt left active duty, the friendship continued between the families. Stan's home was in Rhode Island near Walt's summer home in Mattapoisett, MA. Both loved the ocean for sailing, boating, and water-skiing. Stan introduced Walt to water- skiing in 1975. The starting dock was in fairly calm water. Walt made it up on the first try and would not stop until he had bounced his way through about two miles of choppy sea! Once again, Walt had been given a challenge that demanded skill, confidence and endurance, and he delivered proficiently and gracefully.

Well done, Walt. Be thou at peace.
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Walt and Priscilla had one son, Mark Reed. Walt accepted Marks decision to attend the Naval Academy, where he excelled and made his dad very proud indeed. Mark is now a Rear Admiral, and surely Walt is looking down on him with that extraordinary smile and twinkle in his eye.

On 15 Jun 1980, Walt was attending an outdoor ceremony at the National Defense University. A limb broke off a tree above the stands and struck Walt. Walt's life ended suddenly and tragically, but his memory remains alive among his classmates, military and civilian associates, and his family.
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May he rest in  peace