Paul Lloyd Milius

Paul Lloyd Milius graduated from Readlyn High School in 1946 before joining the United States Navy. He commanded an observation plane over Laos on February 27, 1968. The plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and burst into flames, killing a crew member. Milius ordered the rest of the crew to bail out while he tried to save the plane. Finally Milius ejected, but his body was never recovered. He was awarded the Navy Cross for Extraordinary Heroism and in 1995 the Navy named a ship, the USS MILIUS (DDG-69) in honor of the Iowa native.