Roger Lee Miller

Roger Lee Miller, (LTC Retired, US Army) passed away on November 27, 2017 in Chesterfield, Va, at the age of 97. He is predeceased by his parents Leonard and Della Bingham Miller, his brothers Troy Miller, Kenneth Miller and Bobby Miller, and sisters Doris Allen and Ruthie Rohrer, all of Springfield, Ohio. He was married to Helen Ware Dickson Miller for 56 years before her passing in 2001 and to Myrtle Graves Miller who passed in 2012. He is also predeceased by his daughter, Carol Miller. He is survived by his daughter Barbara Weisman (David) of Chesterfield, VA, grandchildren Candy Jackson (Steven), Brian Weisman, and Michael Weisman (Elisa), great-grandchildren, Amber and Tyler Jackson, and Isabelle and Neele Weisman, and his loving companion, Myrna Weyant. He is also survived by his brother Jack Miller of Canton, NC and his sister, Freda Fuller, of Hixson, TN.

Roger was the epitome of members of the greatest generation. He entered the Army in 1939 at the age of 19 and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. A paratrooper in the 11th Airborne and a 1st Lt. platoon leader in B Co. 511th IN BN, he earned a Silver Star for gallantry in action for his reconnaissance mission forty miles behind enemy lines prior to the Raid on Las Banos to rescue American prisoners in a Japanese prison camp on Luzon in the Phillipines. He selected the parachute drop field and ascertained the covered routes of approach to enemy guard posts around the prisons. He then rejoined his company. This mission successfully rescued approximately 2000 allied internees and became a model for many future airborne operations. In 2003 he was invited to Los Angeles, CA to be interviewed by The History Channel for the making of Rescue At Dawn: Raid at Las Banos . While there, he met some of the people who had been rescued. After WWII he became one of the Army’s few experts in running sports, recreation, and entertainment programs for Army service members. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967 after 28 years of service.

Roger was a gifted athlete, playing baseball in his younger years and golf, in later years. He also had the talent and willingness to build or fix anything, much to his family’s and friends’ delight. His colorful, descriptive stories of growing up in a large family on farms in Ohio during the 1920’s and the depression years became family lore and were enjoyed by anyone who was privileged to be present when Dad was on a roll. But mostly, he was a loving, generous, available husband, father and Papaw who put his family first. He delighted in helping others, and was never too busy to share his time and talents with his neighbors.

In Dothan, AL Roger was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church (the sweet tea man on Wednesday nights) and an active volunteer at the Peanut Festival for The Disabled Veterans. He was also a member of Harmony Lodge #46, F. and A. M of Alabama in Eufaula, AL.

Roger will be buried next to Helen and his daughter Carol at a private graveside service at Sunset Memorial Park in Dothan, Alabama.