Embedded Files
Interviewed by:
Maddie Kelly and Cece Orlandella
1968
2016
"You know, it would go real quiet and real quiet for a long time.
And then all of a sudden, you know, bang."
~ Fredrick Miller (26:19)
Name:
Fredrick "Ted" Miller
Date of Birth:
May 31, 1946
Branch of Service:
U.S. Army
Dates of Service:
1967-1970
Location of Military Service:
Central Highlands, Vietnam then
Fort Carson, Colorado
Residence at Time of Interview:
Chatham, MA
Frederick Miller's Story:
In the Army, every job is important. Fredrick Miller’s job repairing equipment was especially so. He made sure aircraft could land safely on the military base. Mr. Miller was born in 1946 in Natick, Massachusetts. He lived in Virginia and New Jersey, but often vacationed on Cape Cod. Mr. Miller was originally drafted, but volunteered his service instead. This gave him more of a say in what he would specialize in.
After training for the army, Mr. Miller served in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. There, he worked repairing and maintaining the "Rice Paddy Radar". This was the nickname given to the satellites and other radar equipment used at the airfield. He was a Specialist E5. Without his help, there could have been many plane and helicopter accidents. Mr. Miller protected the equipment in life and death situations to provide for the safety of others. He always had to remain alert, because the base in An Khe was mortared monthly. He stayed to help in Vietnam until 1969.
After Vietnam, Mr. Miller returned to the United States and moved to Colorado. He worked at Fort Carson as a technician to finish his enlistment. Mr. Miller then went back to school and received a degree in math education. Later, he became a teacher and raised a family. On behalf of all U.S. citizens, we say thank you!
Here is Mr. Miller's dog tag. It states his identity such as his name and social ID. The attached can opener was made by his mother.
These are the friendship bracelets given to Mr. Miller during the war by the Vietnamese. Many Vietnamese worked at the base in An Khe, and some became Mr. Miller's friends. They show the bond between the two different cultures.
Here is An Khe. Mr. Miller spent most of his time in Vietnam at the base here. An Khe is found in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Here is the Vietnamese currency that Mr. Miller collected. This bill is worth 50 dong.
This is a video of the An Khe Army Airfield. Mr. Miller served here a year after the video was made.
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