Merlin Eugene Miller

Guttenberg native Merlin Eugene Miller was drafted by the Army at the age of 18 years old. He trained as an infantryman and was sent to South Vietnam in early September 1968. PFC Miller was assigned to a unit in the 25th Infantry Division. Less than one month into his deployment in Southeast Asia, PFC Miller was killed. He died on September 29, 1968 when he was struck by a tail rotor of a UH-1D Huey Helicopter at a landing zone. He died three days shy of his 19th birthday. The young Iowan’s body was returned to Iowa and buried by his family at the Guttenberg City Cemetery. His funeral was held at the Guttenberg Methodist Church.