TAPS: CSM (Ret) Franklin D. Miller (MOH)

[E19]

CSM (Ret) Franklin D.
Miller (CMOH) passed away at 9:00 this morning. June 30, 2000

[Ler]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I only had minimal email contact with CSM Miller when I purchased his book(recommended to anyone who hasn't read it yet) but he did give me some important advice. I'll say a prayer for his children..Ler..

[Mac679]

*bows head in respect for a fallen SF soldier*

[SOTICgrad]

RIP Doug....I'm sure your new team Sgt just needed you now. A good man, although I only knew him a bit. The following isn't mine, but I've always liked it.

Give me, my God, what you still have;
give me what no one asks for.


I do not ask for wealth, nor success,
nor even health.
People ask you so often, God, for all that,
that you cannot have any left.


Give me, my God, what you still have.
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.

I want insecurity and disquietude;
I want turmoil and brawl.


And if you should give them to me,
my God, once and for all,
let me be sure to have them always,
for I will not always have the courage to ask for them.


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[Erick]

Our condolenses to the family.

[XavieN]

I didn't know him and never will, therefore I can't figure out something else to say then I'm sorry.

I'm sure he was a good man,
let his soul rest in peace.

[RifleMaster]

We have lost a truely courageous SF trooper! Our thoughts and sympathy go to Doug's family.

"Taps", The Haunting Song

The story behind the song: It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia.

The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay motally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate; but, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was born.

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the Lakes, From the hills, From the sky, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, Dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, Gleaming bright, From afar, Drawing nigh, Falls the night.

Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

DE OPPRESSO LIBER!


[This message has been edited by RifleMaster (edited 07-01-2000).]

[Sharky]

Didn't know him but will fire off a prayer to the Ranger in the sky for him. R.I.P.

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F.I.D.O.

[Mark]

I had the honor of meeting CSM Miller when he was MSG Miller and I was a young PFC. It was Foal Eagle, 1984, ROK. I recognized him from his picture in the Hall of Hereos at the JFKSWC. He took the time to talk to me and even went through a photo album he had with him, showing me the picture of him receiving the Medal, along with other pictures. He was a class act and his kindness to me will not be forgotten.
Rest in peace,
Mark

[FLTCREW1]

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past,
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened, for they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bob has passed away
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

No he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary very quiet sort of life,
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passing; 'tho a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great,
Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
Some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the services he gives,
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out with his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a soldier who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin, and country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin
But his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps a simple headline in the paper that might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.


NSDQ