KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Share #1 Posted August 9, 2008 Not long ago the daughter of S/Sgt Charles W. Miller gave me his uniform , documents and photos to preserve. In honor of his service, I have put together this tribue to him. Chuck was from Portland Oregon and joined the Oregon National Guard in 1940 as part of the 162nd Infantry , 41st Infantry Division. War clouds were gathering and little did he know that within 2 years he would find himself in some of the ugliest fighting in the SW Pacific in places such as New Guinea and the Philippines. During WWII he earned the CIB , Good Conduct Medal , Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 stars , and the American Defense Service medal + more . After WWII he joined the Portland Fire Dept and retired after 30 years of honorable service. Sadly he passed away in 1989. S/Sgt Miller typifies those from the " Greatest Generation" . He went to war , served his country , and came home to his family. He saw a lot of combat and came home with the same medals most of his comrades did. Here's to you Sarge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted August 9, 2008 A tribute from a daughter to her father Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted August 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted August 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted August 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted August 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 9, 2008 Share #7 Posted August 9, 2008 Nice job Kurt. These are the guys that did the dirty work. While we chase around after the glamorous stuff, these are the regular Joes that got the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted August 9, 2008 Share #8 Posted August 9, 2008 Nice memorial, Kurt! Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat123 Posted August 9, 2008 Share #9 Posted August 9, 2008 Great grouping and tribute. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raidercollector Posted August 9, 2008 Share #10 Posted August 9, 2008 Nice Job Kurt. Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfacedsoldier Posted August 9, 2008 Share #11 Posted August 9, 2008 Kurt, That's a really outstanding tribute. My last acquisition was a KIA grouping from a man in the 162. He was killed in the Philippines. Some might say it's not much to say about a life, but I prefer to think it says it all. No greater love. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted August 10, 2008 Share #12 Posted August 10, 2008 To me this is a MAJOR part of collecting. Two thumbs up Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted August 10, 2008 Share #13 Posted August 10, 2008 Excellent display, thanks for showing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIKyle Posted August 10, 2008 Share #14 Posted August 10, 2008 Three and a half years overseas... and we today complain about the current time spent away from family is too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camelgreen44 Posted August 10, 2008 Share #15 Posted August 10, 2008 A nice tribute Kurt, plain and simple ! Denny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicjoy1945 Posted August 10, 2008 Share #16 Posted August 10, 2008 Nice tribute Kurt !! Really nice... Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted August 11, 2008 Share #17 Posted August 11, 2008 Got to love those Jungleers!! Nice group Kurt. Thanks for letting us take a peek at it. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share #18 Posted August 12, 2008 Thanks for the comments guys! I have forwarded this thread on to his daughter and I know she will appreciate them. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest julialynn Posted August 19, 2008 Share #19 Posted August 19, 2008 Hi, Kurt, this is Chuck's younger daughter--my sister just forwarded me the link, and i signed up simply so i could tell you what a beautiful job you've done! It's a great and memorable tribute to my dad, and i wanted you to know how much i appreciate it. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together and then sharing it with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share #20 Posted August 2, 2013 It's been a long time...bringing this back to the top! In a unusual twist to this story, Chucks daughter let someone borrow his wartime diary a few years back and he never returned it. Believe it or not, at the Show of Shows. 2 years ago I bought a WWII diary , and didn't realize I had bought Chuck's diary until I got home and read it! The odds of this happening are mighty slim. I let Chucks daughter know I found it and she was amazed it turned up. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bones Posted August 2, 2013 Share #21 Posted August 2, 2013 Was meant to be kept together. Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted August 2, 2013 Share #22 Posted August 2, 2013 Inexplicable that you'd put the pieces together. Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted August 2, 2013 Share #23 Posted August 2, 2013 It's a small and amazing world. I had a similar experience a few years ago, when I found a few letters for sale from a Civil War soldier whom I had been researching, one of which I randomly picked off the top of a pile at a flea market and recognized the handwriting. Sometimes these things were just meant to turn up! Congrats on a great tribute. -- Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grovb Posted August 2, 2013 Share #24 Posted August 2, 2013 amazing story especially with how you reunited the diary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottG Posted August 3, 2013 Share #25 Posted August 3, 2013 Its that Karma thing, you took a family item not entirely in line with your own collecting interests and turned it into a great tribute to a hero of the greatest generation. 31/2 years overseas is a huge part of what made these guys the greatest generation. Your good deed has not only been recognized by the family, but by the good fortune to reunite the diary. Well done sir! Scott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now