MILLETT, LEWIS L.

RANK AND ORGANIZATION: Captain, U.S. Army, Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment.
BORN: 15 December 1920, Mechanic Falls, Maine.
ENTERED SERVICE AT: Mechanic Falls, Maine.
PLACE AND DATE: Vicinity of Soam-Ni, Korea, 7 February 1951.

CITATION:
Capt. Millett, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small-arms, automatic, and antitank fire. Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the 2 platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured. The superb leadership, conspicuous courage, and consummate devotion to duty demonstrated by Capt. Millett were directly responsible for the successful accomplishment of a hazardous mission and reflect the highest credit on himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.

"Fix bayonets! We're going to attack!" Captain Lewis Millett shouted to his men. At the top of Hill 180 across from the Wolfhounds, Chinese soldiers were entrenched and firing at E Company. The first platoon was pinned down by small arms and anti-tank fire.

Millett's actions wrote another chapter in the regimental history on 7 February, 1951. Military historians call the attack, near present day Osan Air Base in South Korea, the only organized US bayonet charge since the Civil War.

"Kill 'em with the bayonet!" Lewis Millett shouted as he led a bayonet charge with two platoons across a frozen rice paddy and up the fire drenched slope of Hill 180. Half way up the hill, he was busy dodging dozens of grenades thrown by the Chinese. One finally exploded near him, putting a hole in his shin. He later said that it was like being kicked in the shin and made him mad as hell.

He was seriously wounded in the back and legs by grenade fragments, but climbed the hill and jumped into Chinese trenches and killed several enemy with his bayonet in whirlwind hand to hand combat. When the hill was taken, nearly a hundred enemy lay dead -- thirty by bayonet.

Colonel Lewis Millett was presented the Medal of Honor by President Truman (photo). E Company was later redesignated as A Company, 2nd Battalion.