Charles T. Miller's Obituary
Command Sergeant Major Charles (Chuck) Thomas Miller, US Army Retired, passed away on August 8, 2015. He was born on 1 June 1924 in Three Oaks, Michigan to John and Mary Miller. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Eileen and second wife Alicia; sisters, Margaret and Catherine; and brother, John.
Chuck graduated from Three Oaks High School in 1942 and enlisted in the United States Navy. During World War II, he served in the Pacific with the Amphibious Landing Forces. He made the Invasions of the Philippines; Le Shima, Okinawa; and Iwo Jima. After discharge from the Navy as a Gunner’s Mate Second Class in 1946, he returned to Michigan and worked for the Michigan State Highway Department as an equipment operator. In March 1947, he enlisted in the US Army and participated in the invasion of North Korea in 1950 and the retreat from the Chosen Reservoir when the Chinese entered the Korea War in November 1950. He was on the last ship out of North Korea.
After the Korean Conflict, he served at Camp Atterbury, Indiana with I Corps until being accepted as a ROTC Instructor for five years at Colorado State University. After leaving his ROTC assignment, he served at Fort Riley, Kansas with the 1st Infantry Division, and in Germany with the 4th Armored Division. He also served with the Fifth Infantry Division Mechanized and several other army units. Other stateside assignments included: North Carolina, Maryland, and his last duty post at Fort Lewis, Washington. His overseas assignments included the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, and Germany. He also made TDYs into Vietnam at the beginning of the Vietnam War.
Chuck is survived by his daughter Catherine and her husband James Grant of Fayetteville, PA; brothers James of Stevensville, MI and Edward of Dowagiac, MI; stepchildren: Robert Marcan and his wife Yvette of Melbourne, FL; James Marcan of Longwood, FL; William and Thomas Marcan and Patricia Terranova of Lakewood, WA; several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.
Chuck was a good father and friend to all who knew him. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
A Celebration of Charle's Life will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home, in the Garden Chapel, Friday, August 14, 2015 at 1pm. Inurnment will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA where he will join his wife Alicia. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
What’s your fondest memory of Charles?
What’s a lesson you learned from Charles?
Share a story where Charles' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Charles you’ll never forget.
How did Charles make you smile?