Posted by John's family and friends on September 25, 2003:

? To know, to love, to serve, and to be happy,? John McKenna Milton was by nature a happy man. He was wise and witty with a calm, self assured demeanor, and humility and complete honesty were the hallmarks of his varied career. John?s life-long commitments were to his faith, his family, his country, and his friends. Coming from a long line of soldiers, John was born in El Paso, TX . His father, Alexander Mortimer Milton, Class of 1903, was a Cavalry officer at Fort Bliss. John?s official military training began at Fishburne Military School, where he spent his high school years making lifelong friendships. While at West Point, John reunited with old friends and quickly made new ones. After graduation, John and classmate Tom Ware embarked upon a ? working vacation? before reporting for duty. To see as much of America as possible on limited funds, they worked briefly as cowboys on a friend?s ranch and dropped in on hospitable classmates along the way. This ?Great Western Adventure? provided stories that have been passed down through generations. John then reported to Ft. Benning, GA, for the Infantry Officer Basic Course before leading an Infantry platoon of the 33rd Infantry Regiment safeguarding the Panama Canal Zone. When the Army Air Force needed pilots, John was sent to Mississippi to try his hand at flying. Unlike his brother Ross ?40, who made a career in the Air Force, John preferred the life of an Infantryman and returned to the jungles of Panama to command the heavy mortar company of the 33rd Infantry. In Panama, John met Elaine Holland, a Canal Zone science teacher from New Jersey. A romance made for Hollywood ensued. Dates spent exploring the jungle or sailing to offshore islands quickly ended; however, when John was promoted to captain and assigned to the Pentagon. They were married on 22 August 1953, and John worked on intelligence issues for the Army G-2, and as a counter- intelligence officer. Their next move was to Ft. Benning, GA, for thr Infantry Officer Advanced Course. While in Georgia, John and Elaine were blessed with John Jr. , the first of their six children. John then set off on TDY to airborne and ranger schools, and at age 32, was known as the ?old man? in both classes. Next came Ft. Jackson, SC, where John spent a year on the operations staff of the 101st Airborne Division. There in March 1956, Teresa, their second child, was welcomed into the family. Two months later, John went to Viet Nam ( then still known as ?Indochina?) as an advisor to the Vietnamese army. There he developed an opened the South Vietnamese Infantry School. Upon his return in 1957, he assumed command of a company at Ft. Jackson. John and Elaine next spent a wonderful year at the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth. KS. It was a time to catch up with classmates also at CGSC, and to celebrate the birth of their third child, Tom. With two toddlers and an infant in tow.John and Elaine moved to Ft. Benning, GA, for a three year tour they wished could last forever. John?s ability to describe complex problems in simple terms quickly made him a valuable member of the infantry school staff. His writing talents became known, and soon he was penning various articles for professional journals. Work, children?s activities, celebrations, and the births of Kate and Robert were all part of this time. An overseas assignment followed next, with the Milton family moving to Heidelberg, Germany. An attic apartment in the stairwells of Patrick Henry Village was thankfully replaced by an apartment in Mark Twain Village. There the family made a happy home for three years as John began to make his professional mark on the logistics staff of Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe. His practice of giving unvarnished assessments along with his unwavering professionalism insured that his work was always respected and sought out. While in Germany, the Milton family welcomed David, the youngest of their six children. A promotion to lieutenant colonel meant another move was due. The next leg of their journey put the Milton family in Ft. Dix, NJ, where John commanded a battalion of new recruits who would soon find themselves in Viet Nam. After command, John followed the recruits to Viet Nan (1968) as the G-3 of the Military Assistance Command Viet Nam. The Miltons next returned to Ft. Benning, where John was promoted to colonel and served as chief of the Testing Division, Infantry Board. The Army was beginning to make significant technological improvements to its equipment, and John worked diligently to ensure the soldiers in the field would get the very best. While at Ft. Benning, John took up boating again, one of his favorite hobbies. The Milton family (and the boat) moved to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. John continued his work in test and evaluation as the director of the Infantry Material Testing Directorate, Test and Evaluation Command . On 31 July 1976, he retired as a colonel. John and Elaine bought a house near the bay and settled into the small town life of Aberdeen. John continued his life long pursuit of learning. His favorite classes always involved the physical sciences and eventually led him into Towson State University?s master?s program in geography and urban planning. John also worked as a freelance editor and was a respected member of the Aberdeen Planning and Zoning Board. Throughout his life, John never wavered from his duty, family, ethics, faith, or friends. He led a full life, one with a positive and lasting impact upon many. Life with John was secure, interesting, and happy. His wife, family and friends feel blessed to have known this strong, good man.

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