Howard Allen Miller

Obituary of Colonel Howard A. Miller I kicked the bucket on Monday, July 20, 2020 in Crownsville, Maryland. I recently read an article by a professional obituary writer stating everyone should write their own obituary; here is my life. I was born to Joe Edward Miller and Vera Aline Allen in the back bedroom of 308 West Broadway, Anadarko, OK, on April 28th, 1933. My father's brother and wife, Albert Howard Miller and Hazel Wynona Matlock, only lived a block and half away and had no children. So, in reality, I had two sets of parents. My dad (Pop) and Uncle Bert (Hop) were true entrepreneurs of Anadarko. They were raised on a land auction farm just four miles south of Anadarko and attended a one room school on the Cyril highway. Together, Pop and Hop launched a number of businesses, among which was Anadarko's first gas station, a bowling alley, a confectionary and a movie theater. They were also farmers. As a child, I learned to appreciate the rewards of hard work. I lived in Anadarko until I graduated high school. My aunt Hazel told me she would pay for me to go to any college I wanted. So, I decided to attend the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M now OSU). There I earned my first bachelor's degree in Geology. I was required to take Army ROTC. At the time I would have preferred the Air Force. This turned out to be a great blessing in my life. After graduating, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Corp. of Engineers, and was sent to Fort Belvoir, VA, for Engineer School. Upon completion, I was assigned to Erlangen (Nuremberg), Germany as an army Engineering Platoon Leader. This was just after WWII and it was incredible to be there during what was still the reconstruction of Europe. My army obligation completed, I returned to Anadarko. This is when I met Marjorie Lou Johnson (Marja). After a few months of dating, I realized she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We were married in the house where I was born. We were happily married over fifty-three years. We were blessed to have had four children. I found a job with Baroid as a Mud Engineer in Texas, so off to the Longhorn State we went. We were in Falfurrias TX in 1959, when our first child, Susannah, decided to join us. Baroid then moved us to Wichita Falls, TX, but Marja longed to see the world. We decided that I should rejoin the army. The recruiter laughed because the Army was downsizing at the time. However, since I was an engineer, my request was approved and I was ordered to Fort Lewis, WA. When I went to give my boss at Baroid my two week's notice, he was so mad he told me to park the company car and leave right away! My family and I were in Washington for almost three years. There, in 1960, our oldest boy, Howard (Jay) decided to join our incredible journey. I was then sent back to Fort Belvoir for Advanced Engineering School. When President Kennedy announced on the evening news that he was sending advisors to Vietnam, little did I know that I was to be one. While I traveled on a diplomatic passport my family went to stay with Marja's parents in Anadarko. I served for 11 months (luck again) in Quang Tri, Vietnam as a Vietnamese engineering battalion advisor. Luckily, I was there before the United States committed ground forces and, thankfully there was little action during my tour in Vietnam. After that, I attended the University of Missouri at Rolla to get my second bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Upon completion, we all packed up and headed back to full army duty in Wildflecken, Germany where I served as Cold War Operations Officer. Here, in 1965, our son Nicholas (Nick) joined our family unit. After this tour, I was ordered to Korea for an unaccompanied tour. Before deploying, we traveled back to the United States on the famed ocean liner SS United States, this was a ship on which kings and queens had traveled. I was concerned about going back to Vietnam which was in full war mode at the time, but as luck would have it, I was sent to South Korea, where the conflict had already ended. I was assigned as the Operations Officer for an Engineer Brigade in Uijeongbu (pronounced We Sham Boo), South Korea. I was in charge of keeping the streets paved and clear in the DMZ. Upon returning to my family in Oklahoma, I was assigned Asst. Project Manager for the construction of a dam at Stockton, MO. I was the only military engineer on site. After many years abroad, it was nice to be in Missouri and so close to Oklahoma and family. My next assignment allowed me to take my family with me to Tokyo, Japan. We lived in Kanto Mura while I worked at Fuchu Air station. I was the Chairman of the US / Japanese Facilities and was in charge of coordinating the military aspect of the Okinawa reversion back to Japan. Marja and I took full advantage of this opportunity and toured Asia extensively. After three years, I was assigned back to Kaiserslautern (KTown), Germany, where I was in charge of supporting Army Engineering facilities in Europe. Once again, we took full advantage of touring Europe and the Mediterranean. I was fortunate to be able to bring my mother for a visit and tour Italy with her-this was her only trip to Europe. From KTown we were assigned half a world away to Honolulu, Hawaii. For five years, we lived in a house on the beach, at the entrance to Pearl Harbor. It was here that Susannah was married on the beach in our backyard, a dream location for any bride. For three years I was the Army Project Manager for the nuclear waste cleanup of the Eniwetok Atoll in the South Pacific , where nuclear bombs had been tested. For this endeavor, I received the military's Humanitarian Medal. Then I was assigned to improve US foreign relations with the engineering teams of as many far east countries as possible. During these five years, I did more traveling in the pacific & Asian arena than most people could ever dream of; but I did this traveling alone. After Hawaii , for the first time in my career the Army gave me a choice of assignments. Marja and I chose Fort Devens, MA, where for the next three years I would be Director of Engineering and Facilities, because I could finally spend my nights at home instead of on the road. It was here that Jay got married, and our youngest, Nick left the nest . Marja and I had time to ourselves for the first time in 25 years, but our lives did not slow down and we explored the eastern seaboard of the United States. My career winding down, we decided to stay on the east coast and I took the job of 1st US Army Engineer at Fort Meade, MD. For my three years there, I was in charge of the facilities management of all the army facilities in the 13 north eastern states. After living in military quarters for 27 years, we were finally able to have our own house built to call home. This is also where my military career came to an end â€" I retired after 31 years of service as a Colonel. It was one of the greatest honors of my life before I retired to be given the Legion of Merit, the military's highest non-combat award. Having retired from the military, but too young to retire, I got a job at George Washington University (GWU), Washington DC, as a Construction Manager. During this time, we were blessed to adopt adopt one-year old Nathaniel, and welcome our only grandchild, Ona. After five years at GWU, I decide to fully retire. Marja, Nathan and I spent the next several years traveling among our homes in Maryland, Hawaii, and Anadarko. In 2010 my love of 53 years passed away. Marja was buried in our home town, Anadarko. Nathaniel and I settled in Maryland. Together we set our sights on traveling the US to see as much of the country as possible. With a sudden shock to the whole family, Nathaniel passed away unexpectedly in 2017, he was laid to rest next to Marja. As of the date of this writing, I can say that I have been to every state in this great union. I have been to at least 52 countries, if not more. I can also tell you that I have been blessed with an active and fulfilling life. My success is attributable to my wife, my family and good fortune.I leave behind my achievements as modest as they are, to my daughter Susannah of Anadarko, my son Jay and his wife Beryl of Crownsville, MD, my granddaughter Ona of Boston, MA, and my son Nick and his spouse Jonathan Maskin of Fort Washington, MD. In lieu of flowers or other offerings, I would like to raise a fund that will be donated to the Anadarko, Oklahoma community animal shelter in my memory. I dragged family pets around the world and I know the joy they bring and wish to give back to those aiding our neediest furry friends in my hometown. Any assistance with this request is greatly appreciated. The website link is: https://gf.me/u/yhdzt3, So, feel free to come and say goodbye, farewell, adios or whatever at the Smith Funeral Home in Anadarko, OK, on Saturday, July 25th from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. or Sunday 26th from 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. I will be laid to rest between my mother and my wife in Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko, OK on the 27th of July at 10:00 A.M. Services under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.smithfuneralservices.com

Howard Allen Miller

April 28, 1933 - July 20, 2020

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