CLASS OF 1949

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

MEMORIAL ARTICLE

Cullum # 600463



GEORGE ALVIN MILLENER, JR ex-'49

22 Dec 1926 - 16 Jul 1984 - Died in El Paso, TX • Interred in Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, TX

GeorgeAlvin Millener, Jr:, spent his entire life in the Army. It was the only life he knew; the only life he wanted. His father was a member of the Class of '24 whose career served as a model for George's own life. With the start of WWII, the Milleners entered the nomadic existence all Army families experienced, and by 1943, George graduated from his third high school, San Antonio's Thomas Jefferson.After graduation, he attended Millard's to prepare for the Academy entrance examinations, which proved no problem. George received an appointment and took the oath in July 1945.

Neither Beast Barracks nor Plebe year presented any insurmountable obstacles. He spent yearling leave in San Antonio with several classmates and many young lovelies. The remaining summer days were busy supplementing the Class of '47's Beast detail and field training at Lake Popolopen. That fall, the Corps reorganized, and George joined Company H-2. He was a good athlete and excelled at lacrosse, but his academic struggles prevented corps squad try-outs. By yearling Christmas, George faced special examinations in three subjects. Passing all three proved impossible. When the Corps returned from Christmas leave, George had left West Point.

He entered Bucknell University and then transferred to the University of Maryland, where he chose military science as his major. During his junior year, George met and became engaged to Shelley Schaffer, whose father was the U.S. military attache to Cuba. In June 1950, they graduated, and George received a Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Infantry. One month later, in July, he and Shelley married in Havana, and George reported for the shortest assignment of his career with the 3rd Division at Ft. Benning.

In August, George was on his way to Korea as a platoon leader in the 3rd Division. On 21 Nov 1950, he commanded a motorized platoon patrolling west of Wonsan that ran into an enemy roadblock and heavy fire from three directions. Despite two wounds and intense fire, George maintained control, loaded the wounded onto vehicles, and started the patrol back to a secure area. George and 12 men provided covering fire for the vehicles during the successful evacuation, but George's wounds required immediate evacuation. Eventually he was evacuated to the Ft. Benning hospital, where Shelley joined him. There, ILT Millener received the Silver Star for his leadership, initiative, and gallantry.

The Milleners remained at Benning, welcoming daughter Judith in 1951 and son Stephan in 1953. George then joined the Big Red One in Europe, serving there and rotating to Ft. Riley in April 1954, where he received his promotion to captain, the same month that most of the Class of '49 received their promotions. In 1956, George and Shelley's last child, George 111, arrived at Ft. Riley. In 1963 at CGSC,

George received orders for his first Viet Nam tour, became advisor to the chief of Viet Nam's
southernmost province and received his second Combat Infantryman Badge in October.George returned to staff positions in the Pentagon until his assignment as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne/Mechanized), 8th Infantry Division. He was back where he belonged-with troops. He led the battalion in a major joint exercise in Greece, where his leadership and personal dynamism achieved outstanding results. The spring of 1969 brought orders to the Army War College, accompanied by an oak leaf cluster to the Legion of Merit that acknowledged his professionalism in commanding the battalion.

Assignment to CDC at Ft. Leavenworth followed and, in September 1970, George received promotion to colonel. He served as head of the Directorate of Testing and Evaluation for two years, until receiving orders for a second tour in Viet Nam. By then, an old habit had become a near-crippling problem: George, a longtime smoker, had trouble breathing and had lost considerable weight. He knew his health problems were serious. If a physical examination was conducted, then his orders would have been canceled and someone else would go to Viet Nam in his place. He could not bear that and avoided any physical examination. When he left for his first tour in Viet Nam in 1964, fewer than 20,000 American soldiers were there. As the war waged on, that total surged to a half million. By the time George returned to the States from his second tour in May 1972, fewer than 30,000 remained. As senior advisor to ARVN's 1 st Infantry Division, his team had but one-third of its authorized advisors with which to assist the Vietnamese. The signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973 ended American participation in the war, requiring withdrawal of American forces within 60 days. By the end of March 1973, George was on his way to an assignment at CGSC.

George and Shelley realized his health had deteriorated severely, and George decided to not leave active duty until he felt unable to do his job properly. That time came two years later, and George retired in September 1975.
The family moved to El Paso with its dry climate and access to William Beaumont Army Medical Center, but George's emphysema was irreversible. On 16 Jul 1984, he passed away.

George made friends wherever he went; he was friendly, had a ready sense of humor, and rarely lost his temper. During that final semester at West Point, he never complained, he just kept trying to work through his problems. George's devotion to the Army and his determination to be the best officer possible far overshadowed his regret at not graduating from West Point. George was a loving and provident husband, a sympathetic and supportive father, and an intelligent and brave officer.

George Alvin Millener, Jr., led a life of duty and honor dedicated the service of his country. In a full career he received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, two Combat Infantryman Badges, five Legions of Merit, and a host of lesser decorations. May it be said, "Well done."

Shelley and the Class of 49
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