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

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

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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

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

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

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."

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. 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. Marker is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in Pasquotank County. Memorial is on North Water Street just north of East Colonial Avenue, on the right when traveling