More detail on this person: LT. COL. Charles
"Chuck" L. Miller, US Army Retired, passed away
at Bella Vista Transitional Care Center on October
9, 2014 after a courageous battle against
complications from three strokes.
The fifth of six children, Chuck was born in 1930
to the late Albert Miller and Josephine Hutchinson
in a small logging camp in Sulphur Springs,
Oregon. When Chuck was 14 his father passed
away suddenly, leaving the two youngest children
orphans.
In 1946 WW II was winding down and both Chuck
and his younger brother wanted to join the Army
Air Corps. On a trip to Salem, Oregon they talked
to an Army Air Corps Recruiter who told them they
and their 15 year old buddy could sign up if they
could get a piece of paper signed by an adult
saying they were all 18. The mother of their young
sister-in-law was only too glad to oblige, and the
Army Air Corps promptly inducted 16-year old
Chuck, their 15-year old buddy and Chuck's 14-year
old brother George.
Chuck wanted to be an aircraft mechanic but was
sent to Heavy Equipment Crane and Shovel School
instead. He spent his first enlistment stationed
at Harmon Field in Guam. During his first year in
Guam, a Major General named William E. Farthing
stopped and visited with the young man. Apparently
impressed with Chuck's "can do" attitude he put in
orders promoting Chuck to "Buck Sergeant" 10
days before Chuck's 17th birthday and 13 months
after his enlistment date.
In 1951 Chuck joined the Paratroops and was part
of the 82nd Airborne and later the 11th Airborne.
Chuck earned his Senior Parachute wings after
making 35 jumps. In 1954 he was accepted for
OCS (Officers Candidate School) He had to "fess
up" and admit his true age and discovered there
were only two schools available - Infantry or
Artillery. Chuck chose the Infantry because he
knew Artillery had advanced math, but the military
again knew best and put him into the Artillery
School. Many long hours were spent in Study Hall
every evening to keep up with the college
graduates in his class, but he graduated as one of
two in the top 5% of his 1953 class. The 5%
ranking earned him the choice of going to the
Corps of Engineers.
In 1957 Chuck was sent to Gary Air Force Base in
San Marcos, Texas for primary flight training, and
Fort Rucker, Alabama for Advanced fixed wing
flight training. This was followed by flying
helicopters, which he dearly loved, and earning a
Master Aviator rating. He was assigned with the
30th Topographical Survey Team and was sent to
Iran for a year mapping that country. He spent
three years in Italy with the Mediterranean
Engineer Division as a pilot and Civil Engineer
flying to the Middle East, Africa and Burma.
Chuck completed two tours in Vietnam (1966-67
and 1970-71) with the1st Air Cav Division and the
9th Air Cav Squadron. During his 1970-71 tour,
Chuck was assigned as Airfield Commander of
Marble Mountain, Da Nang, relieving the last US
Marine Air unit based there. He ended his 24 year
career in the US Army as the Regular Army
Engineer Advisor to the California National Guard,
based out of Santa Rosa and covering San
Francisco north to the Oregon border.
His medals and awards include the Distinguished
flying Cross, Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf
Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak
Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with V for Valor and 10
Oak Leaf Clusters, Senior Parachute Wings,
Master Aviator Wings (6000+ hours fixed wing,
2000+ rotary wing) Army Commendation Medal,
Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Atlantic Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory
Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National
Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Vietnam Service Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters,
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Republic of South Vietnam Cross
of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm, Republic of
Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation.
Following military retirement, Chuck became a
Construction Superintendent for Dart Industries,
flew for a regional airline, built custom homes in
Camarillo, and was the City of Paso Robles' first
full-time Airport Manager, best remembered for
putting on Air Shows featuring the USAF
Thunderbirds and the USN Blue Angels. After his
retirement from the City of Paso Robles, Chuck and
his wife moved to Central Oregon and continued
their love for travel, returning back to
Atascadero in the late 90's.
Chuck was a long time member of the Estrella
Warbirds Museum, serving as President twice, The
Atascadero Elks Lodge, MOAA, MOWW, VUMS
(Veterans of Underage Military Service) and the
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.
Chuck is survived by his loving wife of 42 years,
Elizabeth "Betty" Renton Miller, his two children,
son Charles L. "Chip" Miller, Jr. (Hilda) and
daughter Mary Jayne "Jaynie" Miller. Chuck is the
proud grandfather of Cayce McDonald (Jon) and
Matthew Miller and great-grandfather of Kaili,
Josh and Samantha McDonald. Also surviving
Chuck is his sister, Donna Hutchinson Hoeffliger
and brother, Dwayne Hutchinson (Betty Ann) and
numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many
dear friends.
The family wishes to thank his devoted care
givers, Kathleen and Kathy; Dr. Than Luu, MD; Dale
Felker, RN; and the wonderful staffs at Bella
Vista Transitional Care Center, Sierra Vista
Hospital, Twin Cities Community Hospital and
Wilshire Home Health Care for their loving care
and comfort during Chucks last days.
A Celebration of Chucks Life will be held in Paso
Robles at the Estrella Warbirds Museum at 2:00
pm on Sunday, November 9. In lieu of flowers
donations may be sent in his name to the Estrella
Warbirds Museum Aviation Scholarship Fund - 4251
Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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