Bill Patterson - About Sargeant Roy W



Bill Patterson - About Sargeant Roy W. Miller.

Roy was one of us in the 319th Transportation Company in Augusta Georgia, reservists who were called to active duty and sent to join regular Army units in Vietnam in 1968.  As we were reservists on a six-year committment of active and reserve duty, we spent a lot of time together and of course observed each other regularly. 

Roy was somewhat unusual and got my attention.  He was not athletic or a Hollywood type.  He wore thick glasses, had a high-pitched voice near a woman's range and appeared somewhat clumsy to me.  But he was serious.  He performed his duties well and was promoted to Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in Augusta before we were activated.  I remember one day at our reserve center he tried to drill a squad of about ten of us on the parking lot.  He called the drill as best as he could but his voice did not instill fear in us "drillees".  We smiled but did as he ordered as we liked him enough. 

I got on the commercial bus at the center as we were leaving Augusta for Fort Lee Virginia in May I believe.  Roy was already on board and was looking out the window at his wife and relatives.  The seat next to him was open and I asked if I could join him.  He did not notice me or respond.  He continued to stare out the window and spoke to only himself as he said "I'm coming home".  My only thought was that none of us really knew that. 

We had been in Vietnam for a few weeks I believe.  We had learned our work requirements and were going about them for very long hours each day.  Roy's sleeping cot was in my building, across the walkway and two or three cots away from mine.  Each day we would return from the convoys and get what little sleep we could. 

One evening one of our members came into our building and began to gather Roy's possessions from his wall and foot lockers.  I asked him why this was happening.  He told me Roy would not be coming back.  He had been accidentally killed that day. 

I was of course stunned.  I knew we were in war but Roy was the first casualty in our unit.  I well remember his un-slept in bunk that night. 

We always got too little sleep.  Roy, as all of us did, had dozed for a few minutes under a truck.  Another driver trying to sleep in the truck's cab accidentally released the truck's brake and the big vehicle rolled over Roy. 

Roy was the only one of us to die in Vietnam.  He was also the only one who vowed that he was coming home, at least to me. 

Over thirty years later our unit was having its annual reunion which included a ceremony at Hillcrest Cemetary in Augusta.  Roy did come home in this way and is buried there.  At the ceremony was one of Roy's sisters I believe.  I didn't know her but felt I had to speak to her and tell these observations.  I hope my words helped her some.  I know they made her cry though. 

After many years of trying, our Vietnam veterans from the 319th succeeded in getting the U.S.Army Reserve Center in Augusta re-named the Roy W. Miller Reserve Center.  I attended the ceremony as did many of our unit's veterans.  It was an emotional day as the current 319th was being deployed again to the Middle East. 

I did not know Roy well and he showed no knowledge of my existance.  But I do know he was a good, sincere soldier who did his job and loved his family.  He did the right thing and paid the ultimate price for his country and home.....

 

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