USMA Class of 1929. Cullum No. 8785.
Named Samuel Whitside Miller after his maternal grandfather Samuel Marmaduke Whitside, "Samuel" was dropped at a young age. He was known as "Whitside" and later "Whit." The first child of 1LT Archie Miller of the 6th Cavalry and Madeline Whitside Miller, he was born in Malabang, Mind-aneo, the Philippine Islands, where his father was stationed.
His father was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Philippine Moro Campaign in 1909 and, later, went into the Army Air Service, commanding airfields on Long Island.
A descendant of President William Henry Harrison and Sir George Rook of the British Navy, it was his desire from childhood to be in the Army, especially the Horse Cavalry, like his father and grandfather.
At the age of 8, he went to a private school on the eastern shore of Maryland. When he was 13, his father was killed in an air crash, the worst aviation accident at the time. Whitside thought he was being punished for stealing vegetables from Aunt Mary's garden (she was the cook at the school). Later sent to Greenbriar Military Academy, his mother then transferred him to Fishburn Military Academy because it was closer to Washington, DC, where his mother and sister Caroline lived.
He was 17 when he entered the Academy in 1925. His mother was against it, thinking he was too young, but he obtained an appointment even though eligible to attend as the son of a Medal of Honor recipient. Whitside said, "3 times being a 'rat' (underclassman) was too much for a young kid," but he survived the hazing. Academics was a struggle (classmates called him "Maxey"), but math came easily. He spent many a night with a tiny flashlight "trying to memorize that French!"
On the swim team all 4 years, he broke at least one record in the backstroke. Classmate GEN Lester Bork remembers "his unfailing good humor, ability to quietly overcome adversity, and sweet, endearing, half-quizzical smile."
The 1930s brought various assignments, a short marriage, and son Sims (who died shortly before Whit). In 1936, he tranferred from Infantry to the Horse Cavalry. After graduation from the Cavalry School at Ft. Riley, as a first lieutenant with the 2d Cavalry, War Department saying, "I urgently request to be detailed as a student in the special Advanced Equitation class of the Cavalry School for the 1939--40 class. It has long been my cherished ambition to become as great a cavalryman as my father and grandfather, so that they would have been justly proud of me had they lived." He was accepted! While there, he met Maxine Kern of Junction City, KS, at a social, and they married in 1941. He then went to the 11th Cavalry at Camp Lockett near San Diego. Still a newlywed when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he patrolled the Mexico--California border to detect any possible Japanese invasion from Baja. A sad day of his life was when he had to give up "Danavar," his private mount, in 1942 and become a tank commander.
In 1942, their first child Janet was born in transit to Ft. Benning, GA. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served there as the Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 11th Armored Regiment, 10th Armored Division, one of Gen George S. Patton's spearhead units into Germany. Later, he was attached to the 29th Infantry Division as a G-3 staff officer.
Post-war years were spent in Phoenix (where sons Gregory and Whitside were born); Ft. Richardson, AK (Commander of Special Troops in Alaska); Ft. Meade, MD (daughter Linda was born and there they socialized with many classmates); and Ft. Mason, CA, where he retired in 1957. They moved to San Pedro, CA and last child, Debora, was born. Whit and Maxine loved playing bridge 4 or 5 times a week in retirement.
But retirement was not good for Whit; alcohol became more and more of a problem. In 1973, he joined A.A. Later, living in San Diego, he found real serenity in the program. His family was very proud of him for turning his life around. It took a strong and determined person to beat that illness. The last 20 years of his life were dedicated to helping hundreds of people maintain sobriety, with an unconditional commitment for everyone in A.A.
Whit also fought a recurring cancer and age was taking its toll. Sadly, and against his will, the V.A. placed him in a nursing home his last 6 months. His family made it as happy as possible with dinner at his graddaughter's, lunch with Maxine and his children, a visit to a lake, or out for ice cream (strawberry!), and he rarely missed the weekly A.A. meeting that was still important.
Happy to have carried on the tradition of his father and grandfather in the Horse Cavlry, he continued his proud membership in the 10th Armored "Tiger" Division and the 29th Division, Limestone Post 72. The oldest living graduate in the West Point Society of San Diego, he delighted members each year at the Founder's Day dinner with stories of his Army experiences. A patriotic American to the end, he leaves wife Maxine, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and sister Carolyn Burns Jark. Laid to rest in Ft. Huachuca, AZ (founded by his grandfather, Samuel M. Whitside in 1877), "Army Blue" and "America" were sung at his funeral. Along with full military honors, he was honored with the presence of B Troop, 4th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) and the riderless Horse.
He is missed very much.
Written by his daughter, Janet Miller Simkins.
Named Samuel Whitside Miller after his maternal grandfather Samuel Marmaduke Whitside, "Samuel" was dropped at a young age. He was known as "Whitside" and later "Whit." The first child of 1LT Archie Miller of the 6th Cavalry and Madeline Whitside Miller, he was born in Malabang, Mind-aneo, the Philippine Islands, where his father was stationed.
His father was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Philippine Moro Campaign in 1909 and, later, went into the Army Air Service, commanding airfields on Long Island.
A descendant of President William Henry Harrison and Sir George Rook of the British Navy, it was his desire from childhood to be in the Army, especially the Horse Cavalry, like his father and grandfather.
At the age of 8, he went to a private school on the eastern shore of Maryland. When he was 13, his father was killed in an air crash, the worst aviation accident at the time. Whitside thought he was being punished for stealing vegetables from Aunt Mary's garden (she was the cook at the school). Later sent to Greenbriar Military Academy, his mother then transferred him to Fishburn Military Academy because it was closer to Washington, DC, where his mother and sister Caroline lived.
He was 17 when he entered the Academy in 1925. His mother was against it, thinking he was too young, but he obtained an appointment even though eligible to attend as the son of a Medal of Honor recipient. Whitside said, "3 times being a 'rat' (underclassman) was too much for a young kid," but he survived the hazing. Academics was a struggle (classmates called him "Maxey"), but math came easily. He spent many a night with a tiny flashlight "trying to memorize that French!"
On the swim team all 4 years, he broke at least one record in the backstroke. Classmate GEN Lester Bork remembers "his unfailing good humor, ability to quietly overcome adversity, and sweet, endearing, half-quizzical smile."
The 1930s brought various assignments, a short marriage, and son Sims (who died shortly before Whit). In 1936, he tranferred from Infantry to the Horse Cavalry. After graduation from the Cavalry School at Ft. Riley, as a first lieutenant with the 2d Cavalry, War Department saying, "I urgently request to be detailed as a student in the special Advanced Equitation class of the Cavalry School for the 1939--40 class. It has long been my cherished ambition to become as great a cavalryman as my father and grandfather, so that they would have been justly proud of me had they lived." He was accepted! While there, he met Maxine Kern of Junction City, KS, at a social, and they married in 1941. He then went to the 11th Cavalry at Camp Lockett near San Diego. Still a newlywed when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he patrolled the Mexico--California border to detect any possible Japanese invasion from Baja. A sad day of his life was when he had to give up "Danavar," his private mount, in 1942 and become a tank commander.
In 1942, their first child Janet was born in transit to Ft. Benning, GA. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served there as the Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 11th Armored Regiment, 10th Armored Division, one of Gen George S. Patton's spearhead units into Germany. Later, he was attached to the 29th Infantry Division as a G-3 staff officer.
Post-war years were spent in Phoenix (where sons Gregory and Whitside were born); Ft. Richardson, AK (Commander of Special Troops in Alaska); Ft. Meade, MD (daughter Linda was born and there they socialized with many classmates); and Ft. Mason, CA, where he retired in 1957. They moved to San Pedro, CA and last child, Debora, was born. Whit and Maxine loved playing bridge 4 or 5 times a week in retirement.
But retirement was not good for Whit; alcohol became more and more of a problem. In 1973, he joined A.A. Later, living in San Diego, he found real serenity in the program. His family was very proud of him for turning his life around. It took a strong and determined person to beat that illness. The last 20 years of his life were dedicated to helping hundreds of people maintain sobriety, with an unconditional commitment for everyone in A.A.
Whit also fought a recurring cancer and age was taking its toll. Sadly, and against his will, the V.A. placed him in a nursing home his last 6 months. His family made it as happy as possible with dinner at his graddaughter's, lunch with Maxine and his children, a visit to a lake, or out for ice cream (strawberry!), and he rarely missed the weekly A.A. meeting that was still important.
Happy to have carried on the tradition of his father and grandfather in the Horse Cavlry, he continued his proud membership in the 10th Armored "Tiger" Division and the 29th Division, Limestone Post 72. The oldest living graduate in the West Point Society of San Diego, he delighted members each year at the Founder's Day dinner with stories of his Army experiences. A patriotic American to the end, he leaves wife Maxine, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and sister Carolyn Burns Jark. Laid to rest in Ft. Huachuca, AZ (founded by his grandfather, Samuel M. Whitside in 1877), "Army Blue" and "America" were sung at his funeral. Along with full military honors, he was honored with the presence of B Troop, 4th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) and the riderless Horse.
He is missed very much.
Written by his daughter, Janet Miller Simkins.
USMA Class of 1929. Cullum No. 8785.
Named Samuel Whitside Miller after his maternal grandfather Samuel Marmaduke Whitside, "Samuel" was dropped at a young age. He was known as "Whitside" and later "Whit." The first child of 1LT Archie Miller of the 6th Cavalry and Madeline Whitside Miller, he was born in Malabang, Mind-aneo, the Philippine Islands, where his father was stationed.
His father was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Philippine Moro Campaign in 1909 and, later, went into the Army Air Service, commanding airfields on Long Island.
A descendant of President William Henry Harrison and Sir George Rook of the British Navy, it was his desire from childhood to be in the Army, especially the Horse Cavalry, like his father and grandfather.
At the age of 8, he went to a private school on the eastern shore of Maryland. When he was 13, his father was killed in an air crash, the worst aviation accident at the time. Whitside thought he was being punished for stealing vegetables from Aunt Mary's garden (she was the cook at the school). Later sent to Greenbriar Military Academy, his mother then transferred him to Fishburn Military Academy because it was closer to Washington, DC, where his mother and sister Caroline lived.
He was 17 when he entered the Academy in 1925. His mother was against it, thinking he was too young, but he obtained an appointment even though eligible to attend as the son of a Medal of Honor recipient. Whitside said, "3 times being a 'rat' (underclassman) was too much for a young kid," but he survived the hazing. Academics was a struggle (classmates called him "Maxey"), but math came easily. He spent many a night with a tiny flashlight "trying to memorize that French!"
On the swim team all 4 years, he broke at least one record in the backstroke. Classmate GEN Lester Bork remembers "his unfailing good humor, ability to quietly overcome adversity, and sweet, endearing, half-quizzical smile."
The 1930s brought various assignments, a short marriage, and son Sims (who died shortly before Whit). In 1936, he tranferred from Infantry to the Horse Cavalry. After graduation from the Cavalry School at Ft. Riley, as a first lieutenant with the 2d Cavalry, War Department saying, "I urgently request to be detailed as a student in the special Advanced Equitation class of the Cavalry School for the 1939--40 class. It has long been my cherished ambition to become as great a cavalryman as my father and grandfather, so that they would have been justly proud of me had they lived." He was accepted! While there, he met Maxine Kern of Junction City, KS, at a social, and they married in 1941. He then went to the 11th Cavalry at Camp Lockett near San Diego. Still a newlywed when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he patrolled the Mexico--California border to detect any possible Japanese invasion from Baja. A sad day of his life was when he had to give up "Danavar," his private mount, in 1942 and become a tank commander.
In 1942, their first child Janet was born in transit to Ft. Benning, GA. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served there as the Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 11th Armored Regiment, 10th Armored Division, one of Gen George S. Patton's spearhead units into Germany. Later, he was attached to the 29th Infantry Division as a G-3 staff officer.
Post-war years were spent in Phoenix (where sons Gregory and Whitside were born); Ft. Richardson, AK (Commander of Special Troops in Alaska); Ft. Meade, MD (daughter Linda was born and there they socialized with many classmates); and Ft. Mason, CA, where he retired in 1957. They moved to San Pedro, CA and last child, Debora, was born. Whit and Maxine loved playing bridge 4 or 5 times a week in retirement.
But retirement was not good for Whit; alcohol became more and more of a problem. In 1973, he joined A.A. Later, living in San Diego, he found real serenity in the program. His family was very proud of him for turning his life around. It took a strong and determined person to beat that illness. The last 20 years of his life were dedicated to helping hundreds of people maintain sobriety, with an unconditional commitment for everyone in A.A.
Whit also fought a recurring cancer and age was taking its toll. Sadly, and against his will, the V.A. placed him in a nursing home his last 6 months. His family made it as happy as possible with dinner at his graddaughter's, lunch with Maxine and his children, a visit to a lake, or out for ice cream (strawberry!), and he rarely missed the weekly A.A. meeting that was still important.
Happy to have carried on the tradition of his father and grandfather in the Horse Cavlry, he continued his proud membership in the 10th Armored "Tiger" Division and the 29th Division, Limestone Post 72. The oldest living graduate in the West Point Society of San Diego, he delighted members each year at the Founder's Day dinner with stories of his Army experiences. A patriotic American to the end, he leaves wife Maxine, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and sister Carolyn Burns Jark. Laid to rest in Ft. Huachuca, AZ (founded by his grandfather, Samuel M. Whitside in 1877), "Army Blue" and "America" were sung at his funeral. Along with full military honors, he was honored with the presence of B Troop, 4th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) and the riderless Horse.
He is missed very much.
Written by his daughter, Janet Miller Simkins.
Named Samuel Whitside Miller after his maternal grandfather Samuel Marmaduke Whitside, "Samuel" was dropped at a young age. He was known as "Whitside" and later "Whit." The first child of 1LT Archie Miller of the 6th Cavalry and Madeline Whitside Miller, he was born in Malabang, Mind-aneo, the Philippine Islands, where his father was stationed.
His father was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Philippine Moro Campaign in 1909 and, later, went into the Army Air Service, commanding airfields on Long Island.
A descendant of President William Henry Harrison and Sir George Rook of the British Navy, it was his desire from childhood to be in the Army, especially the Horse Cavalry, like his father and grandfather.
At the age of 8, he went to a private school on the eastern shore of Maryland. When he was 13, his father was killed in an air crash, the worst aviation accident at the time. Whitside thought he was being punished for stealing vegetables from Aunt Mary's garden (she was the cook at the school). Later sent to Greenbriar Military Academy, his mother then transferred him to Fishburn Military Academy because it was closer to Washington, DC, where his mother and sister Caroline lived.
He was 17 when he entered the Academy in 1925. His mother was against it, thinking he was too young, but he obtained an appointment even though eligible to attend as the son of a Medal of Honor recipient. Whitside said, "3 times being a 'rat' (underclassman) was too much for a young kid," but he survived the hazing. Academics was a struggle (classmates called him "Maxey"), but math came easily. He spent many a night with a tiny flashlight "trying to memorize that French!"
On the swim team all 4 years, he broke at least one record in the backstroke. Classmate GEN Lester Bork remembers "his unfailing good humor, ability to quietly overcome adversity, and sweet, endearing, half-quizzical smile."
The 1930s brought various assignments, a short marriage, and son Sims (who died shortly before Whit). In 1936, he tranferred from Infantry to the Horse Cavalry. After graduation from the Cavalry School at Ft. Riley, as a first lieutenant with the 2d Cavalry, War Department saying, "I urgently request to be detailed as a student in the special Advanced Equitation class of the Cavalry School for the 1939--40 class. It has long been my cherished ambition to become as great a cavalryman as my father and grandfather, so that they would have been justly proud of me had they lived." He was accepted! While there, he met Maxine Kern of Junction City, KS, at a social, and they married in 1941. He then went to the 11th Cavalry at Camp Lockett near San Diego. Still a newlywed when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he patrolled the Mexico--California border to detect any possible Japanese invasion from Baja. A sad day of his life was when he had to give up "Danavar," his private mount, in 1942 and become a tank commander.
In 1942, their first child Janet was born in transit to Ft. Benning, GA. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served there as the Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 11th Armored Regiment, 10th Armored Division, one of Gen George S. Patton's spearhead units into Germany. Later, he was attached to the 29th Infantry Division as a G-3 staff officer.
Post-war years were spent in Phoenix (where sons Gregory and Whitside were born); Ft. Richardson, AK (Commander of Special Troops in Alaska); Ft. Meade, MD (daughter Linda was born and there they socialized with many classmates); and Ft. Mason, CA, where he retired in 1957. They moved to San Pedro, CA and last child, Debora, was born. Whit and Maxine loved playing bridge 4 or 5 times a week in retirement.
But retirement was not good for Whit; alcohol became more and more of a problem. In 1973, he joined A.A. Later, living in San Diego, he found real serenity in the program. His family was very proud of him for turning his life around. It took a strong and determined person to beat that illness. The last 20 years of his life were dedicated to helping hundreds of people maintain sobriety, with an unconditional commitment for everyone in A.A.
Whit also fought a recurring cancer and age was taking its toll. Sadly, and against his will, the V.A. placed him in a nursing home his last 6 months. His family made it as happy as possible with dinner at his graddaughter's, lunch with Maxine and his children, a visit to a lake, or out for ice cream (strawberry!), and he rarely missed the weekly A.A. meeting that was still important.
Happy to have carried on the tradition of his father and grandfather in the Horse Cavlry, he continued his proud membership in the 10th Armored "Tiger" Division and the 29th Division, Limestone Post 72. The oldest living graduate in the West Point Society of San Diego, he delighted members each year at the Founder's Day dinner with stories of his Army experiences. A patriotic American to the end, he leaves wife Maxine, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and sister Carolyn Burns Jark. Laid to rest in Ft. Huachuca, AZ (founded by his grandfather, Samuel M. Whitside in 1877), "Army Blue" and "America" were sung at his funeral. Along with full military honors, he was honored with the presence of B Troop, 4th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) and the riderless Horse.
He is missed very much.
Written by his daughter, Janet Miller Simkins.
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Husband of Maxine Helen Kern Miller
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