A Tribute to

William McMillian

by Linda McMillian Noblin

 My father, William McMillian, was a man of his times. His life of 88 years spanned almost a century and embraced the values of those pioneer families who settled here. His love of family and tradition was often expressed in his knowledge of genealogy, that rich mosaic of stories that have helped shape who we are today. His devotion and loyalty to country and community guided him all the days of his life whether serving in the US Marine Corps as a China Marine or in WWII in the Pacific or in the mountains of Korea. They continued to guide him as he served as Veteran's Service Officer, as a State Representative and as Registrar of Voters. His genrosity of time and resources has touched us all - family, neighbors, friends, and the multitude of organizations that have known his participation and leadership. But most of all, I know my father as a complex man who loved his family fiercely and sought the comfort of his God in the private reaches of his soul. (written for the bulletin at his memorial service)

Dad lived consistantly by the principles that made him who he was: loyalty and service to family, community and country. I know there may be some theological question about having the Marine Corps Hymn sung in the service, but there was no more fitting tribute to a man who declared only a week before that he had been a Marine for 70 years. As the old soldiers walked up to the casket, snapped to attention and saluted my father, I felt a great pride and was moved to tears over and over. As the young Sgt read his military history concluding with a smart salute and the Marine farewell, "Semper Fi" more tears came and would not stop. And as I sat at the graveside and three Marines folded the flag and presented it to me as taps was being played, I felt a great loss for my dad , the stern man who was admired and respected in ways I had never known. My brothers and I have decided to engrave his tombstone with Semper Fi. I feel it says it all; he was always faithful to those principles that I sometimes found so hard to understand, but to which he was faithful.

It is true that I have both loved and feared my dad, all the days of my life. The push-pull of our relationship has felt wrenching and at times alienating, yet in the end it is with great love in my heart that I can say he was a good man, true to what was important to him and I will carry his legacy all the days of my life.

Military History of

Captain William Franklin McMillian

Written December 17, 2002 by Jeanie McGinnis, Captain McMillian’s oldest grandchild

        In March of 1933, at the age of eighteen, William F. McMillian began his career in the United States Marine Corps in which he would remain active for the next twenty-three years.  After boot camp, he shipped out to the Pacific where the 6^th Marines were rushed to China to reinforce the 4^th Marine Division in Shanghai in defense of the International Settlement during the Sino-Japanese War.

        For service in World War II, he trained as a tank gunner, an occupation in which he would obtain the familiar title of Gunner Mac.

        Following a posting in New Zealand, he transferred to his former platoon which landed him in Tarawa in one of the most extreme battles fought during World War II.  He also saw action at Tinian and Guadacanal.  When he was wounded, he was evacuated back to California where he met a nurse, Clara Mae Weaver, to whom he was married on October 3, 1944.  A year later, his daughter Linda was born.

        He attended further tank tactics training at Fort Knox and was heading back to California when he heard of the onset of the Korean War.

        He landed at Inchon, Korea with the 1^st Division and engaged in the war battles from Pusan to the 38^th parallel.  After Korea, Captain McMillian ran the Tank School for several years at Camp Pendleton, California.

        His second child Bill was born in l947 followed by this third child David in l954.  Captain McMillian retired from active duty from the Marine Corps in l955.

        He was awarded three Purple Hearts during his years of service.  In addition, he was the last Marine Gunner in the Corps and was given special permission from the Commandant to continue wearing the bursting bomb insignia.

        During the last twenty years, he has maintained contact with many of his old Marine compatriots through his active participation in the United States Marines Corps Tankers Association.

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