David Leon Miller, Jr.

Colonel David Leon Miller, Jr. Retired US Army, 82, of Fayetteville passed away Saturday, January 23, 2021 at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

David was born July 8, 1938, in Asheville to the late Elizabeth and David Miller.

David is survived by his wife, Dorothy Miller; daughter, Debbie Gradian (Paul); sons, David L. Miller, III; and Daniel C. Miller (Kristin); sister, Laura Hildreth (Tim); brothers, Gary Miller (Pat) and Alan Miller (Susie); grandchildren, Rachel and husband Pat, Emma and husband Sam, Clarke, and Drew Miller.

David will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his service in the military, his love of reading and the English language and the teaching of it to his college students, his commitment to his church as a member of the choir and as a teacher of the Barrington Sunday School class. David met his sweetheart Dot in the Methodist youth group when “she slung a hymnal” in his lap. He always told that story with a gleam in his eye. They were married for just short of 60 years. Together they moved all over the country and to Germany in the military, first with one child, then eventually with three. In every home they made friends and sought out ways to build community with the people around them.

David graduated from Fayetteville High School and went on to attend college at West Point. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1961, David was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree, and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the field artillery. He also held a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. His military education included completion of the Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Organizational Effectiveness Staff Officer Course, and the US Army Command and General Staff College. 

He held a wide variety of command and staff positions, culminating his career as the Installation Commander, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Past assignments include Garrison Commander/Chief of Staff Headquarters; Fort Devens, Director Installation Services, Defense General Supply Center, Defense Logistic Agency; Director of Human Resources Development, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Administration and Logistics, Headquarters TRADOC; Professor of Military Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Quality of Life Officer, U.S. Army Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Chief Combined Arms Division, Tactics and Combined Arms Department, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Assistant Professor, Department of English, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Other key assignments included command of the 15th Missile Detachment in West Germany; staff duty with the United States Support Activities Group 17th Air Force, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, during the evacuation of Vietnam; advisor duty in The Republic of Vietnam, and command of a Pershing Missile Battery at Fort Sill.

Awards and decorations that Colonel Miller received include the Bronze Star Medal (Meritorious), Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He was also authorized to wear the Parachutist Badge.

After retiring from the Army, David taught writing, literature, and public speaking classes at Fayetteville Technical Community College for nearly twenty years. He was also the advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa.  

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 1 pm at Lafayette Memorial Park with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the United Service Organization, PO Box 96860 Washington, DC 20077 or Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Ft. Bragg Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28303.

Online condolences may be sent to www.jerniganwarren.com

Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

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