Elizabeth City in Pasquotank County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Medal of Honor Awarded to: Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller

January 27, 1945 - June 30, 2000

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 18, 2021

1. Medal of Honor Awarded to: Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller Marker

Inscription.

Medal of Honor Awarded to: Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller. January 27, 1945 - June 30, 2000. , Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

Franklin Douglas Miller, a native of Elizabeth City, NC, was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in the Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam on January 5, 1970. The citation was presented by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on June 15, 1971. It reads: ,

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Miller, 5th Special Forces Group, distinguished himself while serving as team leader of an American-Vietnamese long-range reconnaissance patrol operating deep within enemy controlled territory. Leaving the helicopter insertion point, the patrol moved forward on its mission. Suddenly, 1 of the team member tripped a hostile booby trap which wounded 4 soldiers. S/Sgt. Miller, knowing that the explosion would alert the enemy, quickly administered first aid to the wounded and directed the team into positions across a small stream bed at the base of a steep hill. Within a few minutes, S/Sgt. Miller saw the lead element of what he estimated to be a platoon-size enemy force moving toward his location. Concerned for the safety of his men, he directed the small team to move up the hill to a more secure position. He remained alone, separated from the patrol, to meet the attack. S/Sgt. Miller single-handedly repulsed 2 determined attacks by the numerically superior enemy force and caused them to withdraw in disorder. He rejoined his team, established contact with a forward air controller and arranged the evacuation of his patrol. However, the only suitable extradition located in the heavy jungle was a bomb crater some 150 meters from the team location. S/Sgt. Miller reconnoitered the route to the crater and led his men through the enemy controlled jungle to the extraction site. As the evacuation helicopter hovered over the crater to pick up the patrol, the enemy launched a savage automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade attack against the beleaguered men, driving off the rescue helicopter. S/Sgt. Miller led the team in a valiant defense which drove back the enemy in its attempt to overrun the small patrol. Although seriously wounded and with every man in his patrol a casualty, S/Sgt. Miller moved forward to again single-handedly meet the hostile attackers. From his forward exposed position, S/Sgt. Miller gallantly repelled 2 attacks by the enemy before a friendly relief force reached the patrol location. S/Sgt. Miller's gallantry, intrepidity in action, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his comrades are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army."

, Awards and Honors: Combat Infantry Badge, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, U.S. Army Airborne Master Parachutist

Frank Miller's Credo: "Share your fears with yourself and your courage with others. You will inspire people to do things that are incredible."

Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Miller, 5th Special Forces Group, distinguished himself while serving as team leader of an American-Vietnamese long-range reconnaissance patrol operating deep within enemy controlled territory. Leaving the helicopter insertion point, the patrol moved forward on its mission. Suddenly, 1 of the team member tripped a hostile booby trap which wounded 4 soldiers. S/Sgt. Miller, knowing that the explosion would alert the enemy, quickly administered first aid to the wounded and directed the team into positions across a small stream bed at the base of a steep hill. Within a few minutes, S/Sgt. Miller saw the lead element of what he estimated to be a platoon-size enemy force moving toward his location. Concerned for the safety of his men, he directed the small team to move up the hill to a more secure position. He remained alone, separated from the patrol, to meet the attack. S/Sgt. Miller single-handedly repulsed 2 determined attacks by the numerically superior enemy force and caused them to withdraw in disorder. He rejoined his team, established contact with a forward air controller and arranged the evacuation of his patrol. However, the only suitable extradition located in the heavy jungle was a bomb crater some 150 meters from the team location. S/Sgt. Miller reconnoitered the route to the crater and led his men through the enemy controlled jungle to the extraction site. As the evacuation helicopter hovered over the crater to pick up the patrol, the enemy launched a savage automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade attack against the beleaguered men, driving off the rescue helicopter. S/Sgt. Miller led the team in a valiant defense which drove back the enemy in its attempt to overrun the small patrol. Although seriously wounded and with every man in his patrol a casualty, S/Sgt. Miller moved forward to again single-handedly meet the hostile attackers. From his forward exposed position, S/Sgt. Miller gallantly repelled 2 attacks by the enemy before a friendly relief force reached the patrol location. S/Sgt. Miller's gallantry, intrepidity in action, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his comrades are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army."

Awards & Honors: Combat Infantry Badge, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, U.S. Army Airborne Master Parachutist

Frank Miller's Credo: "Share your fears with yourself and your courage with others. You will inspire people to do things that are incredible."

Topics and series.

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This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is January 5, 1970.

Location. 36° 18.052′ N, 76° 13.105′ W. Memorial is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in Pasquotank County. It is on North Water Street just north of East Colonial Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 217 N Water St, Elizabeth City NC 27909, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 18, 2021

2. Medal of Honor Awarded to: Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: May Freedom Fly (a few steps from this marker); W.H. Weatherly & Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Wright Brothers in the Albemarle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Wright Brothers in the Albemarle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Luther Clement "Wimpy" Lassiter, Jr. (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Wright Brothers in the Albemarle (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Wright Brothers in the Albemarle (about 700 feet away); Wild's Raid (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elizabeth City.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 7, 2024

3. Medal of Honor Awarded to: Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 498 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on September 10, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.