Role Professor Years of service 1967 - 1969 Doctoral advisor Manuel Blum | Rank First Lieutenant Awards Knuth Prize Name Gary Miller | |
 | ||
Born March 19, 1947
Covington, Virginia ( 1947-03-19 ) Died February 16, 1969(1969-02-16) (aged 21)
Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam Place of burial Allegheny Memorial Park
Covington, Virginia Allegiance United States of America Education University of California, Berkeley Residence Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Known for Miller–Rabin primality test Notable students Shang-Hua Teng, Jonathan Shewchuk, F. Thomson Leighton Similar Shang‑Hua Teng, Manuel Blum, Jonathan Shewchuk, Daniel Spielman, F Thomson Leighton | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
Gary Lee Miller (March 19, 1947 – February 16, 1969) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Contents
Biography
Miller joined the Army from Roanoke, Virginia in 1967, and by February 16, 1969 was serving as a first lieutenant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On that day, in Bình Dương Province, Republic of Vietnam, Miller smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown grenade with his body, sacrificing his life to protect those around him.
Miller, aged 21 at his death, was buried in Allegheny Memorial Park in his birth city of Covington, Virginia.
Medal of Honor citation
First Lieutenant Miller's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous intrepidity and gallantry in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Miller, Infantry, Company A, was serving as a platoon leader at night when his company ambushed a hostile force infiltrating from Cambodian sanctuaries. After contact with the enemy was broken, 1st Lt. Miller led a reconnaissance patrol from their prepared positions through the early evening darkness and dense tropical growth to search the area for enemy casualties. As the group advanced they were suddenly attacked. First Lt. Miller was seriously wounded. However, the group fought back with telling effect on the hostile force. An enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of the friendly patrol group and all took cover except 1st Lt. Miller. who in the dim light located the grenade and threw himself on it, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body. His action saved nearby members of his patrol from almost certain serious injury. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.