Petty Officer Second Class Charles L. Milam of Littleton, Colo., graduated from Columbine High School in 1999, the year two fellow students attacked the school, killing 12 students and a teacher, and joined the Navy on June 14 that year. He was following his dream, doing what he wanted to do and had planned to make the Navy his career. Serving in the Navy was a family tradition. His brother was in the Navy and so was his grandfather. Born in Albuquerque, Charles moved with his family to Colorado in 1992. Even though his parents moved to Washington in 2001, he still considered Colorado home. One of his favorite pastimes was riding his mountain bike. He was awarded the Purple Heart, two Combat Action ribbons, two Good Conduct medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment ribbons. This was his fourth deployment overseas, having served three tours in Iraq in the past six years and he died while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan at age 26.
The new U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command consolidated aid station was officially dedicated to HM2 Charles "Luke" Milam on March 12, at the MARSOC headquarters building.
The following touching tribute submitted by a fellow service member training with Corpsman Milam:
"I trained with him at Fort Bragg NC and what a great guy-strong as an ox, smart as a whip, hardworking, an all around great sailor! He was a MARSOC medic and you will have to look far and wide to find a tougher trooper. As I recall the Marines named a medical clinic after him and the Navy a barracks-that is just one measure of how much he was thought of by his commanders. One evening my wife and I were watching one of those house buying tv shows and a young lady and here husband were looking for their first home; at the conclusion the camera scanned a set of family photo's and I instantly recognized Luke! She briefly explained her brother, Luke, had left in his will the funds from his military life insurance policy for her to buy a home if he should perish in the war...it certainly brought tears to my eyes. But that is the kind of man Luke was: taking care of others. May he rest in God's peace."
