Allen Miller:  

OVERVIEW - The Rest of the Story It was my honor and good fortune to have served my country in uniform for 27 years. My adventures began with my delayed enlistment in to the United States Air Force during my senior year of high school. I would enter active duty following HS graduation and summer vacation with a guaranteed job of becoming a Radio Operator. This position had the potential to lead to a future aircrew position on one of several USAF aircraft. Following my BMTS in Texas and my technical training in Mississippi, my entire Radio Operator class was assigned and dispersed throughout the Southeast Asian Theatre of Operation. I was assigned to the 1974th Communications Group located at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand. This base was the home of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Triple Nickel) which was the largest F-4 Phantom II squadron in the world. The Vietnam Conflict (War) ended for U.S. involvement in DEC '73; I arrived "in country" for my one year remote tour in FEB '74. Thailand was a very interesting tour! After Thailand I was assigned to Andrew AFB, Maryland. Andrews was an "OK" assignment but I was extremely fortunate to have PCS'd (permanently reassigned) from Andrews to the Panama Canal Zone in 1976. The Panama Canal Zone was sovereign U.S. soil which bordered the canal 5 miles on each side and ran the entire distance from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This was an incredibly exhilarating and beautiful assignment. The fact that I was able to cycle thru three PCS assignments during my initial four year enlistment was extremely unique and fortuitous. Panama would become my personal training ground for what would become my life changing and greatest challenge; application, selection, and qualification for USAF Pararescue! In Panama I would start sport parachute jumping, extensive physical training to include long distance swimming, long distance running, and heavy calisthenics. Prior to departing Panama, I prequalified for Pararescue (PJ) Selection and I would go on to "make the hard cut" for "Indoc" (Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX) and "the Pipeline" which would include Army Airborne Training (Fort Benning, GA), Special Forces Underwater Operations (Combat Diver) Course (Trumbo Point, Key West, FL), Aircrew Survival and Resistance Training (Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA), and extensive medical and tactical operations in New Mexico. (Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM). Upon completion/qualification of PJ training I was afforded my choice of any worldwide PARARESCUE assignment; I chose RAF Woodbridge, England. England and Pararescue were both incredibly outstanding and exciting! I was a PJ Team Leader and Jump-master! We did it all; Parachute ops, Day jumps/Night jumps, SCUBA ops, North Sea Day ParaSCUBA ops, North Sea Night ParaSCUBA ops, intentional Tree Landing jumps, Jump-master ops, Mountain climbing ops, Mountain rescue ops, Ice climbing ops, Glacier ops, Alpine ski ops, Nordic ski ops, Medical ops, Escape & evasion ops, Long range infiltration/exfiltration ops, Marksmanship proficiency, Special mission M-134 (mini-gun) ops, Space Shuttle recovery ops, and more. The primary mission of Pararescue remains as combat rescue and recovery of downed aircrew from behind enemy lines. Emblazoned on the flash (device worn on the maroon beret) and adopted as the core value of each and every PJ is the creed "THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE!" In England I was afforded the opportunity to work along side of true American heroes! I loved the USAF and Pararescue!! I departed the aforementioned with an inter-service transfer to attend and qualify as a U.S. Army Warrant Officer helicopter pilot with training conducted at Fort Rucker, AL. Nearing completion of rotary-wing flight training I requested an assignment to West Germany (FRG). I was assigned to an Attack Helicopter Company in Germany flying the OH-58 Kiowa helicopter as an aeroscout. This too was another great assignment and the flying was plentiful; at times I would be flying very slowly with my skids below the tree tops which was like walking on the tree canopies, at other times I would be concealed in a hover-hole with my rotor blades swirling inches from the tree branches, and still other times dashing rapidly across open terrain seeking observation and concealment. Our real world mission was to defend the Fulda Gap and to seek out and destroy Soviet armor had we gone to war. As my West German assi...Expand for more