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Thomas H. Miller Arlington, VA QCWA # 22001 Chapter 119 |
Lt. Gen. USMC (Retired) Tom Miller passed away peacefully at his home in Arlington, Virginia on November 27th after a battle with cancer. His wife of sixty-four years, Ida Mai was at his bedside. Miller was born in Live Oak, Texas on June 3, 1923. He was the only child of a county judge and a loving mother. He met his future wife when they were both toddlers and their relationship was nourished over the next eight decades. Educated at the Schreiner Institute and the University of Texas, Miller enlisted in the Naval Reserve shortly after the outbreak of World War II.
He was commissioned a Marine officer and aviator in 1943. During his thirty-seven year career he reached the three-star rank of Lieutenant General and headed all of Marine Corps Aviation during a critical four and a half year period when the Marine Corps was developing its "vertical envelopment" concept that would better move and support Marines in combat on the ground. Lt. General Miller has been called "the father of STOVL (short take-off and vertical landing) aviation in the USMC." ? He was the first American to fly the British Harrier jump-jet fighter, orchestrated its procurement for the Marine Corps and oversaw development of the concept during his career. He was still advising the current Commandant as recently as three months ago. His impact on Navy and Marine Aviation will be felt for generations. Tom Miller was a rarity among fighter pilots, seeing active combat in not only World II and Korea but also two tours of Viet Nam action.
He was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations. In between wars, he was a test pilot and at one tme set a 500 KM closed course speed record flying the F4H Phantom. With devotion to Corps and country, he was truly a "Marine's Marine." Tom Mill was also a deeply religious and devoted family man. He cherished his relationship with his wife and two daughters, Jacqueline and Jo Ann. One friend called him the "most generous man he had ever met." He contributed to many charities and gave of his own time without hesitation. He cited his philosophy that "life was much like a wheel with each spoke representing family, country and faith. They all had to be delicately balanced." He lived by that creed. He was a lifelong avid ham radio operator with the call sign of K4IC and grew to know hundreds of such operators around the world.
He entertained countless children, including his two grandsons Matt and Tim, with his infamous call to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. As a youngster, he was an accomplished violinist and loved football, playing college ball at the University of Texas. His friendship with astronaut and Senator John Glenn became as close as brothers. Not only did they fly many combat missions together during World War II and Korea but owned homes next door to each other in Virginia. Their families became one extended group to this day. During confirmation consideration on the Senate floor in 1975, Glenn praised Miller with the following words: "I know of no man to whom I would give higher recommendation for any position than Tom Miller. He is dedicated to doing what is right, is a fine Christian gentleman in every sense and I deem our country fortunate to have a man of this caliber."