MILLES JOSEPH WAYNE

CW2 Joseph "Joe" Wayne Milles was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/16/2011 at the age of 71.3
Bradenton, FL
Flight Classes 65-3W and 65-3
Date of Birth 09/15/1939
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 147 ASHC in 66-67, 213 ASHC in 67, 178 ASHC in 67
Call sign in Vietnam BOXCAR
This information was provided by Boxcar Winter 2011

More detail on this person: The following appeared in the Winter 2011 issue of The Boxcar Newsletter. Joseph Wayne Milles, age 71, passed away January 16, 2011. He was a lifelong Biloxi native and the only son of Joseph and Mary Belle Trahan Milles. A graduate of Notre Dame High School, Wayne went on to attend Spring Hill College and Ole MS. He also attended Spartan School of Aeronautics where he received his airframe and mechanics license. He then entered the US Army, graduated from classes 65-3 and 65-3W, and piloted the Bubble, the Huey and the Chinook helicopters. He held the rank of CW2. He served in Vietnam with the 147th ASHC in '66-67, the 213rd ASHC in '67, and finally in '67 the 178th ASHC - The Boxcars. He was awarded the Bronze Star and had 24 OLCs on his Air Medal. After Vietnam he was a helicopter instructor pilot at Fort Rucker. He was a member of the VHPA and the local organization of the "Quiet Birds" or QBs. Upon his father's death he returned to Biloxi to maintain the family business "Milles Sno Cones." He owned and operated Milles Sno Cones for 20 years and was recognized locally as "The Snoball Man." His love for flying never ceased. He maintained all of his licenses by flying charters. He flew for Chevron Oil, Burger King, Emery, Apollo Aviation, Isle of Capri, and many other companies, while managing Milles Sno Cones.

At various times he went by Joe, Wayne, Hoe Wayne, Joseph W., Wayne J., Mississippi Joe, and in emails I always called him "Papa-san" even though he was only three years older than me. At Chu Lai he gave out business cards describing himself as a "VHP" for Very Hot Pilot _ and he was. He joked about not making the military his career because, "The Army and I never quite agreed on how I was supposed to behave_" Joe was an excellent pilot and was unparalleled as a friend - Joe was truly 'One of the Good Guys.'

From: Dean C. Nelson

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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