U.S. Army Vietnam War Schererville, IN Flight date: 10/27/21
By George (Mickey) Mills, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer
I am 74 years young and grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois and have two sisters, Karen and Linda. I met my wife, Barbara, in 1966 while working in the mail room at the First National Bank of Chicago (later purchased by Chase Bank). We were married on Flag Day, 1968. I graduated from DePaul University, majoring in German, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1968 after completing ROTC training.
In spring of 1969, I reported to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer Basic Course. It was there I met a guy from Mississippi, Willis Pope III, and we became great friends. We served together for the entire time we were on active duty, including our year in Vietnam. We had remained close, especially the last 10 years, until his passing two years ago from Agent Orange.
After infantry school, I went to Fort Holabird, MD for intelligence school. I became a training officer for basic trainees at Fort Bragg, NC. It was there that I received my orders for Vietnam (not Germany as I had hoped). In my preparations for Vietnam, I found out from a medic that I had been disqualified for the service after a physical the day before my commissioning. I did not contest my orders because my father and uncle served in the Solomon Islands in WWII, and I felt an obligation to follow their example. I left for Vietnam in January, 1970.
My first assignment was as a combat intelligence officer and later I became Operations Section Chief, Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam. At the Combined Intelligence Center our responsibility was to collect information concerning enemy activity, casualty reports, area analysis, and imagery interpretation from US units, and provide that intelligence to any units entering a particular area.
We had Vietnamese counterparts that did the same for their units. I lived in the BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) which was an old Vietnamese hotel in the Cholon area of Saigon. Our intelligence work was done on a small campus near MACV headquarters (U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam). Willis and I left Vietnam together in January, 1971 and flew to Fort Dix, NJ. where we were discharged from active duty. I received the Bronze Star and Joint Service Commendation Medal during my service in Vietnam.
While overseas my wife had moved back with her family. We communicated by letters and cassette tapes, a little different than nowadays. But I was able to call Barb on our second anniversary. After eight months, we met in Hawaii for a week of R&R. A few weeks before I came home, Willis and I went to Hong Kong for a week’s leave.
After I was discharged, I returned to the bank and worked in the Capital Markets group for the next 25 years, leaving as Vice President. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, I was able to attend DePaul’s Graduate School of Business, receiving my MBA and MST degrees – much more useful at the bank than a German degree. I have had my own financial advisory practice for the last 25 years, and currently am with a practice affiliated with Ameriprise Financial as I prepare to retire next year.
Barb and I are very proud of our three children, Jeff, Jason and Jennifer. We have seven granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. I enjoy golfing and the Cubbies. I am very grateful to Honor Flight Chicago, and all the volunteers for this very special day and for the opportunity to travel to D.C. with my fellow vets.
Bill, thank you for your sacrifice and resolute service to your country. Enjoy your well-deserved day of honor in Washington, DC. on Honor Flight Chicago’s 99th flight.