August 3, 2025 • 38 mins
Navy Chief Debbie Miller never does anything by halves. Whether it's convincing her husband to join the Navy with her at age 34, playing cards with enemy faction bodyguards in war-torn Bosnia, or creating innovative virtual "mess meetings" for her American Legion post, her story exemplifies the resourcefulness and dedication of America's veterans.
In this captivating conversation with host Jerry Allhands at the American Legion Department of Mississippi Convention, Miller shares remarkable stories from her 24-year naval career that took her from Sarajevo to Kosovo, Germany, Hawaii, and ultimately England. Her vivid recounting of serving as the lone American attached to a British intelligence unit during the Bosnian conflict reveals how creative problem-solving and human connection can transcend language barriers and political divisions, even in combat zones.
Miller's post-military journey proves equally inspiring. After retiring as an E7 Chief in 2010, she earned her history degree from Southern Mississippi and dove headfirst into American Legion service. Now the incoming District 7 Commander, she bridges generational gaps by embracing technology to reach younger veterans through virtual meetings with former shipmates scattered worldwide.
Her perspective on military service reflects both profound patriotism and practical wisdom: "If you did your job, the sky's the limit." For women considering military careers, her experiences offer powerful encouragement about the opportunities available to those willing to serve with dedication and creativity.
Ready to hear more stories of veteran resilience and service? Subscribe to the Veterans Sound Off Podcast and join our community of listeners passionate about honoring those who've served our nation.
Don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends and family. Drop us a line today at JDAllhands@outlook.com. If you'd like to become a sponsor of our show or advertise with us please send an email to jdallhands@outlook.com or call us at 662-902-6658.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerry Allhands (00:00):
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Jonathan Michael Fleming (00:02):
Hard, work, work.
Let's get it going.
Let's go Hard work work.
Jerry Allhands (00:06):
I'm your host, jerry Allhands, a veteran of the
US Air Force and US Army.
I'm a past Department ofMississippi Commander of the
American Legion and apaid-up-for-life member of the
VFW.
Each week, I invite you to joinme as we visit with members of
our veteran families and othergroups and organizations that
support military veterans.
This week, I attended theAmerican Legion Department of
(00:28):
Mississippi's annual convention,held in historic Natchez
Mississippi.
It was in the NatchezConvention Center, where the
coffee was always hot and thepeople were great.
Hey, speaking of coffee, thisseries is made possible by the
generous gifts and sponsorshipsof people just like you.
This series is made possible bythe generous gifts and
sponsorships of people just likeyou.
If you'd like to sponsor an adin this series, please call
662-902-6658.
(00:52):
Or you can become a sponsorsimply by clicking on the
Sponsor the Show button and youcan make a donation on our page
where it says Sponsor the Show.
Hey, we really appreciate yourhelp in making this program
possible.
I like that.
We are at the American LegionDepartment Convention in Natchez
(01:13):
, mississippi and talking withour local veterans today, and I
have the distinct privilege oftalking with a female veteran
today and I'm going to ask youto please identify yourself and
what position you might holdwith the American Legion.
Debbie Miller (01:28):
Okay, my name is Debbie Miller and I am my
post-adjutant, and I am also theincoming District 7 commander.
For the last five or six years,I was the district executive
committeeman, with the exceptionof two years when my husband
(01:49):
took it over for me to finish mydegree or get my degree.
So that's who I am.
Jerry Allhands (01:56):
Now, what post number is that?
Debbie Miller (01:58):
That's post 76, liberty Mississippi.
Jerry Allhands (02:00):
Liberty Mississippi?
Absolutely.
Where's Jerry Clower when Ineed?
Debbie Miller (02:03):
him?
I don't know, because I thinkhe's in heaven telling jokes to
everybody I hope, keeping theLord smiling.
Jerry Clower (02:11):
First of all, I want you to know that I come
from Route 4, liberty,mississippi.
Now, that's 12 miles west ofMacomb, mississippi, 65 miles
due northeast of Baton Rouge,louisiana, and 116 miles due
north of New Orleans, louisiana.
It was there that I first sawthe light of day out, at Amitt
(02:34):
County, september the 28th 1926.
I was born there.
Debbie Miller (02:40):
The funny thing is that if you go into our
little drugstore you'll find hiscoffee cups still there.
Oh, it's so sweet because theyhave the whole row of them.
Liberty Mississippi is God'scountry.
Jerry Allhands (02:51):
Oh hey, Look, all I can say is Jerry Clower
got me through many a long nighton guard duty.
Debbie Miller (02:58):
I know it.
Jerry Allhands (03:01):
Debbie, tell me about your military experience.
I understand that you werethinking about joining the
Marine Corps, but you decided todo something better and join
the Navy.
Debbie Miller (03:10):
Well, the thing is I come from a long line of
Navy veterans, or at least ashort line.
My dad was a Navy veteran andwhen I was nine I tried to join
the Navy.
The recruiter was really sweet.
He talked to me for like threehours and I wanted to join the
Navy.
The recruiter was really sweet.
He talked to me for like threehours and I wanted to join.
I wanted to sign up right thenand he said you've got to come
(03:32):
back when you're older.
My program that I wanted wasNavy nurse.
That's what I wanted.
So he said, well, gave me abusiness card which I looked at
recently.
Still have it Still have it.
I still have it.
Still have it, I still have it.
He wrote a famous Navy quotethat's on every evaluation, when
you're halfway decent, verymotivated individual.
(03:52):
I asked her to come back whenshe was 22.
So he took all day almost withme.
I never forgot that, exceptthat I waited till I was 34.
Never was a nurse yet, but Ijoined the Navy at 34 and
originally joined the Reserves,and so I joined in March 10th
(04:19):
1988.
And at the same time he myhusband, who was in the Navy
prior, because I was a Navy wifeto begin with.
He had been in eight years andhe did not want to join the Navy
anymore.
But the recruiter, he was lyingto me.
I was so shocked.
He said I'm only recruitingcouples, you've got to go get
(04:40):
your husband.
So I kept going home for liketwo years telling my husband how
he had to sign up becauseotherwise I couldn't join.
And so finally he was on the18th hole of the golf course and
he called me up one day and hesaid hey, I'm feeling good today
.
I said are you?
(05:01):
Because I got your paperworkfor you to sign up?
And he said I'm so tired ofhearing this, okay, if you can
get the paperwork over to me onthe 18th 19th hole, which was
the watering hole.
If you can get it over here,I'll sign up.
So I walked into my boss, whowas a Navy supply officer.
I said, sir, I need you becauseFreddie says he'll join now.
(05:24):
I need you to swear us in.
And the recruiter got all thepaperwork.
By the time I got to him wewere on the 19th hole and I
signed, him and us the two of usup under my headlights of my
car, and my husband was a littleinebriated.
(05:44):
So the next morning he said Ikeep having this dream and I
think I might have joined theNavy.
Last night I said no dream,sweetheart, we're both in you
drill in two weeks.
But now he thanks me every timehis paycheck gets here because
he ended up retiring as a Navychief, as I did, after 24 years
(06:05):
in both of us I got no.
1996 is when I started goingfull time, and so I went from 96
to 2010.
When I retired on December 10,2010, as an E7 in Molesworth,
(06:27):
england, raf Molesworth myhusband retired like three years
before me and he says don'tforget, I'm senior to you all
the time.
In fact, he begged me not tostay another two years because I
was really on a fast track forE8.
It's a very good possibility.
(06:48):
I was going to get it.
So he didn't want me to besenior.
So I just thought well, youknow, he doesn't ask for much,
poor man, I'll retire.
Jerry Clower (06:57):
So that's what happened with my Navy that close
.
Oh it was.
Debbie Miller (07:01):
Oh yeah, but anyway it was great.
I had the best Davy career ever.
I was a yeoman and that's anadmin person Okay To an intel
group, so I never left them.
They recruited me from thebeginning.
So my favorite thing to watchare things about CIA and you
(07:22):
know and people coming in withlie detector tests.
I remember that happening a lot,you know, but that was my thing
.
So when I retired I went backand got my degree.
I had never gotten my degreebefore, so I got it.
When I retired, after werestored a house down in Liberty
, I started college forbasically the first time and
(07:45):
went straight through.
Gi Bill was wonderful to me.
Jerry Allhands (07:50):
No wait now.
You got the GI.
See, I got the old.
We went from the GI Bill toVEEP the.
Veterans Education AssistanceProgram which was the biggest
ripoff to me.
I used a year of it.
Jerry Clower (08:04):
I think and financially.
Jerry Allhands (08:06):
I still kick myself because the GI Bill at
the time in the early 80s youcould have one or the other.
Debbie Miller (08:14):
Exactly.
Jerry Allhands (08:14):
And they pushed the VEAPs hard.
You know, for every dollar yougave they would give two or
three or whatever.
Kids today, young people todayin the military, have got it
made with the GI Bill and I wasactually remember.
Debbie Miller (08:30):
I was old but I was new, so I'm a Desert Storm
Desert.
I'm the Middle East DesertStorm.
Jerry Allhands (08:39):
So you got the new GI Bill, I got the GI Bill,
I got the.
Debbie Miller (08:41):
Gulf War GI Bill.
So I had the wonderful one thathad the.
Oh yeah, absolutely without adoubt, it was a wonderful,
wonderful one.
My time to be just a littlejealous, I know.
I mean I graduated from.
I did two years at SouthwestCommunity College.
Jerry Allhands (09:01):
Okay.
Debbie Miller (09:01):
And then I went on to Southern Miss straight
through community college andthen I went on to Southern Miss
straight through.
I'm a history um history majorand minor in geography and have
my degree as of 2020.
Now I kind of blame myself,because not hell didn't freeze
over in 2020, but a worldwideCOVID outbreak happened, so I
didn't get to walk across thestage until 2021.
Jerry Allhands (09:24):
I did, I stayed okay so you got to go across the
stage oh, absolutely.
Debbie Miller (09:29):
There was only like six of us that stick around
and did it yeah but I did it.
Jerry Allhands (09:33):
Oh, I do too absolutely man, I was talking
with our adjunct a while ago andshe got her her degree through
the community college of the airforce back in the day, yes, but
I didn't.
Debbie Miller (09:44):
You know, that's how I did it.
And then I joined.
Did you want to talk about whenI came into the Legion?
Yes, please, okay, I came in 13years ago.
I was recruited by Mary Tony.
Jerry Allhands (09:57):
Our National Executive Committeeman now, yes.
Former Department.
Debbie Miller (09:59):
Commander Right, I mean, I moved to town, we were
at an event, somebody had justintroduced us as the new people
of liberty and we came over fromengland.
I bought a house.
I was living eight years inengland working as a you know
navy chief eight years.
That was my last assignment andI came and they, when I opened
(10:22):
my, they thought I was supposedto be English and I said no, I'm
a New Orleanian.
But I found liberty.
Somehow.
It was inspired, heavenlyinspired.
And Murray came running up andfound out we were both veterans,
so he signed us up.
So we've been 13 years in.
Jerry Allhands (10:42):
Yes, so it's all Murray Toney's fault.
Debbie Miller (10:44):
It's Murray Toney's fault that I got here,
and I'm very grateful to him forit.
Jerry Allhands (10:51):
So has your Legion experience.
Has it been the whole time withLiberty?
Debbie Miller (10:55):
Yes, the post there yes.
Jerry Allhands (10:58):
How has your experience with the Legion
affected your?
Debbie Miller (11:02):
well, let's just say your life Well.
Well, I never lacked forpatriotism, because I really
have a hard time not crying fora lot of things when things
happen, especially because I wasin DC within 30 days of the
(11:23):
attack.
So that whole thing it justkind of reinforced it.
And then the four pillars ofthe American Legion has just
been really so.
It's just been a great thing.
Now we are trying really hardin our post to do more things
(11:43):
with the community.
But right now we do a MemorialDay program and a Veterans Day
program.
We do a lot of things withtomorrow and Wednesday we're
having a fundraiser for one ofour people in town who was
burned over 50% of his body andhe's not a veteran but he's a
(12:04):
community member.
So that doesn't have anybearing.
But we're doing two differentfundraisers this week to help
him have any bearing.
But we're doing two differentfundraisers this week to help
him.
And Legion is a really wonderfulway to go.
We've done a lot of recruiting.
In fact I have a what would youcall it?
It's a virtual wing of our unit, of our American Legion post.
(12:29):
They're my Navy chiefs andthey're all over the world.
So we do.
We have we call them the messmeetings once a month or when we
can get to them, becausesometimes we can't.
We all get together in allthese different time zones.
People in England I got likefour people still in England.
I've got them all over thecountry.
(12:49):
But you have to meet theseyoung folks where they are and
they're electronic.
So we get on and we do amessenger thing or we'll do a
Zoom meetings.
So we'll all get up there and wejust basically keep in touch
(13:11):
with each other.
So we're recruiting all thetime that way, because that's
where people that's what theywant to be.
They don't want to meet in ameeting with a bunch of
80-year-olds, they want to be.
You know, I say that becauseI'm 71, so my 80-year-olds but
I'm getting there.
But still they want to.
You have to beat people wherethey are, and so you know we're,
(13:35):
we're expanding all the timebecause they're they're taking
in the new chiefs that come inand they go.
Hey, you know why don't you dothis?
Jerry Allhands (13:43):
so if somebody wanted to join your post or join
your mess meetings how wouldthey do that?
Debbie Miller (13:48):
well, they would.
They would actually.
We're on facebook and we're onthe Messenger and you could just
email me.
My email address is DebsMillerD-E-B-S-M-I-L-L-E-R at yahoocom
If you wanted to join my group.
Jerry Allhands (14:06):
Let's do that again, because I'm slow.
It's okay, I'm sorry.
Debbie Miller (14:10):
I've been up a long time today.
Jerry Allhands (14:12):
Coffee hadn't kicked in yet, has it?
Debbie Miller (14:14):
No, I only have one cup today.
Okay, so it's Debs D-E-B-SMiller.
All one word at yahoocom.
Jerry Allhands (14:25):
Okay.
Debbie Miller (14:25):
And there's also a group, the mess group is
called Mama Chief and that's themessenger group and because
that's what I was called in thenavy at my last command and my
husband was papa chief, so youknow, that's what.
That's what they named it, mamachief, and that's where we get
(14:47):
on and we make appointments andwe decide when we're going to
get together.
And it's great I mean, itwasn't just chiefs, because I've
got a bunch of officers whohave just joined us too that I
was stationed with.
Jerry Allhands (14:58):
You let officers in the room, absolutely Okay.
Debbie Miller (15:01):
Because now they're out and we're all equal
yes.
Let them live it down, yeah wehave to, but anyway, that's my
story.
Jerry Allhands (15:12):
Let's pause for a moment to hear from some of
the people who have made thisseries possible.
It's like family when you werein the military.
We form a bond and you allwatch each other.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
That's the same with American Legion.
Jerry Allhands (15:24):
Every time I come here I meet somebody
different.
Jerry Clower (15:26):
I found the Legion to be welcoming from the time I
walked in the door.
You need something that guyover.
Jerry Allhands (15:31):
There is the guy .
That guy's an electrician, thatguy's a plumber.
Oh, you've been having troubleswith the VA.
That guy knows a good VSO.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's been fun.
I mean we do a lot of stuff forthe community, we do a lot of
support, we give out a lot ofmoney.
I really like that.
We go out and do volunteer workwhen we can we do.
People that are involved arepassionate about helping
veterans, helping their familiesand their communities.
I don't have family that livesin Anchorage, but the Legion is
my family.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
What better way to meet people when you're new to
an area and also meet people whohave a shared experience with
you.
I think it's an incredibleorganization and I'm proud to be
a member of it and honored andhappy because it really serves
my joy.
To be here Thanksgiving andChristmas and doing walks, I
think, is a big impact.
Picnics in the summertime,fourth of July, memorial Day
(16:20):
it's more family-orientated now.
It may sound cheesy but youknow, I feel like it's a place
to belong.
I enjoy the company.
I enjoy the mentorship that Iget here.
Debbie Miller (16:30):
Searching for that Brotherhood and I found it
here in the Legion and it givesme a sense of security that
Brotherhood can't be replacedanywhere else.
There's a respect and there'san understanding that we are a
group of people that are herefor the community, for our
veterans and for their families.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I want to come and get some peace and quiet.
Oddly enough it's at the Legion.
I'd say that for their families.
I want to come and get somepeace and quiet.
Oddly enough it's at the Legion.
I'd say that for many others,it's given a fantastic face to
this organization.
Jerry Clower (16:57):
I learned some very valuable information about
what family means to veteransand to each other.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I feel accepted and people want to know what's going
on.
I want to know what's going onwith them.
You feel like you're part of afamily, part of a community, and
it's really awesome to see thediversity in the room too.
I believe we're the future ofthe American Legion.
We want to be out there.
We need to be out there.
It's exciting.
Jerry Allhands (17:25):
For more information on joining the
American Legion, go to legionorgforward slash, join or call
601-352-4986.
Again, that's 601-352-4986.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Nothing hurts my mom, but she showed anyway.
Debbie Miller (17:50):
She'd always say you do what you need to do to
take care of yourself.
But she thought that meant shehad to do it on her own.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
We were trained to help others, but there's
strength in finding help foryourself too.
Debbie Miller (18:08):
We're in this together.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
We're in this together.
Even the toughest of us mightnot know where to go to get a
little support.
Encourage women who have servedto learn more about the VA care
and benefits they've earned.
The VA Women Veterans CallCenter connects veterans with
personalized information on VAservices that can make a
difference.
Call 1-855-VA-WOMEN or visitwwwwomenshealthvagov.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
You can join in the mission to remember our fallen
heroes, honor those whocurrently serve and their
families, and teach youngergenerations about the value of
freedom.
A $17 donation to WreathsAcross America sponsors a fresh
balsam remembrance wreath.
These wreaths have become asymbol of America's respect for
those who have served and nolonger walk with us.
(19:02):
Sponsor a wreath today, Visitwreathsacrossamericaorg or call
877-385-9504.
Jerry Allhands (19:10):
And now back to our visit with the Department of
Mississippi's American LegionConvention in Natchez,
Mississippi.
Debbie Miller (19:17):
But anyway, that's my story.
A little strange.
I've been married 54 years.
I got married at 17.
It wasn't supposed to last.
Jerry Allhands (19:26):
Look at you.
Yeah, I know we're going strong.
Yeah, yes, so on your militarytours, was England it Well?
Debbie Miller (19:35):
no, no, I started .
I went active duty.
I ended up with about 14 yearsof active duty out of the 23 or
24.
No, I was stationed in well, my96th.
They sent me to Bosnia, whichwas a whole lot of fun.
96 they sent me to Bosnia,which was a whole lot of fun.
I almost got shot by a Turkishtorrent because I was getting
(19:59):
pulled in the woods by twoBosnians who had killed the
police and they had stolen a carand they had their uniforms on.
And I was running down the roadwith some of the SAS people in
our unit and I was training withthem and they had promised they
weren't going to leave mebehind.
But I hit this mud puddle and Ihad a bad knee, so they didn't
(20:21):
realize I got left behind, so ano-man-left-behind kind of thing
.
Well, they were circling backwhen this police car green and
white police car pulled up andthese two guys were trying to
pull me off into the woods.
They had already killed twopolicemen and so I knew the guys
on the Turkish tank.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Sorry.
Debbie Miller (20:42):
Yeah, it was Turkey, yes, the Turkish tank.
And they screamed to me no,problem, sergeant M.
We got him in the sights and Iturned around and screamed
problem, sergeant M.
We got him in the sights and Iturned around and screamed no,
you'll kill me.
They didn't even realize thatthey were trying, they were just
.
They didn't know what to dobecause they couldn't leave
their tank.
So I stood there and stayed inthe mud and one guy was pulling
(21:03):
one way, the other was the otherway, and I said they're too
stupid to kill me, don't worryabout it.
So then came back the SAS andthey came and got me.
So that was kind of funny,because my husband had asked me
never, please, when you go toBosnia, don't leave the camp.
And I said right, I can't dothat.
So I was a bodyguard on thethird day to the colonel,
(21:25):
british colonel.
So I've had a lot of adventuresin my naval career.
So I've had a lot of adventuresin my naval career.
Jerry Allhands (21:32):
The company you were keeping, british Special
Air Service which is the specialforces of the British Army.
Debbie Miller (21:39):
Right.
Jerry Allhan (21:40):
Bosnia-Herzegovina yes, in Sarajevo.
Debbie Miller (21:44):
I landed at the.
If I can tell you one morequick story, at the time I got
called from my unit and unit andthey said, hey, can you be in
Bosnia on Monday, sarajevo onMonday.
I said I don't know, can I beon Bosnia on Monday because it's
like Friday afternoon.
And so he said I think we canget you there.
(22:06):
I said, all right, sure I can.
I go home and, of course, myhusband's having stroke because,
see, he never did get mobilizedin those last many years and he
wanted me to become a cook likehim.
But I could, you know I didwhat I was going to be, you know
.
So anyway, um, I ended up therein, but when I landed I didn't
(22:29):
have time to get all my bankingstuff in order.
This was 96.
And I told him, as I wasleaving out the door, I'll just
use my ATM card until I geteverything going right, not
thinking clearly.
Until I landed at the Sarajevoairport and it was a building.
All the glass was gone and itwas a metal frame building and I
(22:49):
said to myself I can't use thisATM card here anyway.
So, and then there was nobodypicking me up, because I showed
up three days early.
So I talked the French ForeignLegion into a ride to my camp,
which was called the ARC, theAtlantic Rapid Reaction Team.
So I that's how I got there,but I only could speak a few
(23:14):
words of French, growing up inNew Orleans, enough to make them
understand that I needed help.
So I'm going through sitting inthe back of a deuce and a half,
I think they call them becauseI was Navy and this is a bunch
of Army.
Well, whatever the foreignLegion is, I was with them and
I'm in the back of theirequipment holding on while we're
(23:37):
hitting the bumps in sarajevoand I'm looking, we write down
suicide alley and I'm thinking,okay, if my friends could see me
now, because they were tellingme not to join to begin with.
And so I.
That's how.
That was my first thing.
I never stopped being on activeduty, pretty much from the rest
of it, wow, my whole time.
But I've just had a good bunchof adventures.
Jerry Allhands (23:56):
That would just about top them all right there.
And that was just the beginning.
Debbie Miller (24:00):
That was the beginning of it.
Yeah, it was the beginning.
Jerry Allhands (24:04):
How long were you in?
Debbie Miller (24:04):
Bosnia.
I was there six months.
Jerry Allhands (24:06):
Six months.
Debbie Miller (24:08):
I stayed with them, Okay and oh, and I left.
When I left, 55 days into mytour, the last 55 days we were
going to be, the Americans werecoming to take over the camp and
we were at the place where theOlympics were held.
That's where we were.
Intel was so there were somefunny stories about that too
(24:29):
like a big old, because theydon't have the British are not
very shy about things Like inthe female dorms they had naked
men on the walls in posters.
Well, there was one poster thatwas in a bad position because I
couldn't really see it well, soI went to move it and it was a
hole about that big in the wall.
This was August.
It was covering up that big oldhole.
(24:50):
So I thought, well, I guess Ican't enjoy that poster.
So I put it back.
And then we were all justlaughing about my silliness.
But you know I'm that's mynature, I'm quite silly.
So anyway.
But then I had to get used toyou walking through departments
and they, one guy had a fullblown up size of his wife on the
wall and it was like audiovisual and I thought, okay, well
(25:14):
, you, it's a good thing.
I'm not like really shy andeasily because I'm in another
command.
Sure, I'm in the Brits, I'mwith the Brits, so that was
pretty hilarious to me.
But there was a lot of thingsLike you had a.
They were out of everythingwhen I got there because it was
(25:34):
the end of their tour.
Jerry Allhands (25:35):
Now you were in the Muslim sector or the
Christian sector.
Debbie Miller (25:38):
No, I was in the Muslim sector, oh my goodness.
Yeah, it was Sarajevo section,but the French were supposed to
be in charge of us but really Iwas with the Brits, which we
were all together.
It was the NIC, so the NationalIntelligence things, and I was
always making up new ones.
You know, like the Philip,because it had a big bunch of
mailboxes up and it had the GE,the German, no, it was the GE,
(26:02):
the G-NIC and all the differentNICs.
So I started making up new ones.
I put the Philippine Islands,it was the picnic you know I
just made just to amuse myselfwhen you do a 14-hour shift and
you have to do things.
So it was always pretty comical.
They never knew what I wasgoing to do next to make them
laugh.
But the last 55 days theincinerator went down.
(26:23):
My colonel who I had been hisbodyguard, said will you stay
behind, since you came in thesame day?
That I did late because theyhad been there 18 months, this
poor group.
So I come in to kind of relievethem.
So he said to burn all the, getall the secret documents from
(26:44):
everybody and get rid of them inthe incinerator.
Little did I know that on thesecond day the incinerator went
totally down.
The second day the incineratorwent totally down and I was up
on the roof in a blizzard for 55days because it snows like
crazy there with burning secretdocuments.
I'd already done all the thingand matching everything, so I
(27:05):
was burning in a 55-gallon drumeverything.
Jerry Allhands (27:08):
With the mesh grill across the top, right with
the thing.
Yeah, Right.
Debbie Miller (27:12):
So you know.
But there was hilarious otherthings about it.
One is when he made me the okay, my husband said do not go off
the camp.
I laughed and said whatever themission goals, I'm doing Right.
He looked at me and shook hishead and said say goodbye to
your mommy because I'm not sureshe's coming back this time.
(27:32):
Of course I'm coming back.
Well, anyway, the colonel, theBritish colonel who had just
gotten there the same day I didon the same well, the next day.
Sorry, is this going?
Jerry Allhands (27:43):
too long.
No, no, you're fine, you'refine.
Debbie Miller (27:47):
He said he came into his office with all of his
British people.
It was all his little corpsmen,not corpsmen, corporals and
everything.
And he said to me to them, Ineed someone to get the weapons
out the armory.
And I was the armorer.
And he said sign them out.
And we got to go out with thefactions and you'll meet on the
(28:08):
hill with the factions.
Nobody got up and so he repeatedhimself His name he's Colonel
Barr.
He is a sir now.
But anyway, he, he repeatedhimself, he cleared his throat
and nobody, none of them got up.
So I looked up at him and Isaid sir, do you do you would
(28:31):
like me to be your body?
He said I need a bodyguard andhe said.
I said do you have an objectionto me being your bodyguard?
And he said not at all.
So I, and of course I hadchanged, I had put on the board,
because when I first arrivedthe day before the petty officer
thing that was in the Navy,they wanted me to go clean all
(28:53):
the toilets and I was outranking everybody.
So I became the Sergeant M ofthe group.
It was like no, no, no, I wasnot his sentient for that, you
know.
So we took care of that onejust by having me become
Sergeant M.
So he said Sergeant M, I wouldappreciate it.
So I got in the car with himand sat there while they met for
like five hours and we had adifferent location every day.
(29:16):
So his first words to me werein the car, as we, as I'm
driving.
The British, uh, cannot drivethemselves.
They have to have a, anenlisted person, it's oh, yeah,
yeah officers.
so he says to me um, I'm reallyconfused by your country.
Do you have children?
(29:36):
I said I have three and I havea husband.
Why would they send you here?
And I said well, sir, we don'tdiscriminate against our
soldiers, and if that personagrees to do it, they don't just
send you home because you'refemale.
They will let you do it.
So he said okay, I understand.
(29:57):
So the next day when I went out, I decided I was way too bored.
So I got a deck of cards and Imet the other bodyguards and I
brought sandwiches and I gaveeach one of them a sandwich and
taught them how to play 500Rummy.
(30:17):
Oh boy Didn't speak to any ofthem.
None of us spoke English, butone guy had a cooler of drinks
and he came with his cooler ofdrinks.
So for the next five and a halfmonths every day I went out.
It was such a pleasure to getout of the office, to get out
there by the time it was over.
The colonel had told me that ifthey had sent me as the
(30:41):
peacekeeper, the war would havebeen over way before, because we
would put our weapon underneathour leg and play cards with
each other.
They would teach different cardgames to me and it was really
quite.
It was amazing, you good,really it was amazing, you know.
So at the end he told me that.
(31:01):
He told me a really nice thingin my going away party that the
country had sent their very best.
Jerry Allhands (31:06):
Oh yep, and so it begins.
Bosnia.
Debbie Miller (31:08):
Bosnia.
Wow, yeah, it did.
Jerry Allhands (31:11):
Where did you go from Bosnia?
Debbie Miller (31:13):
From Bosnia I went to.
I started going to Europe againI went to I think it was Italy.
Next I did.
I did Sigonella, I think it wasSigonella.
Jerry Clower (31:24):
No, yeah, it was.
Debbie Miller (31:25):
Sigonella Okay, it was Sigonella.
And then I did Germany.
Jerry Allhands (31:30):
Was that your reward for going from Bosnia?
Debbie Miller (31:33):
No, not really.
It really wasn't.
It was what I would choose Atthe beginning.
It was me getting to choose.
Jerry Allhands (31:38):
So my memories of Bosnia are not.
Debbie Miller (31:41):
Like that.
Jerry Allhands (31:42):
Somewhat of a pretty country.
Debbie Miller (31:45):
It was pretty.
The people were beautiful,weren't they?
Jerry Allhands (31:48):
It was Somalia to me was horrible.
Debbie Miller (31:53):
Oh yeah, I didn't get to go there.
Jerry Allhands (31:54):
Bosnia.
Yeah, yeah, the war itself, youknow, was what it was.
It was right.
Debbie Miller (32:03):
Were you there as well, then, I guess.
Then I went back to Kosovo.
Yeah, okay, okay.
So I got to do that one.
And then after that, I thinkKosovo was 90, I can't remember
91?
Yeah, no, not 91.
Early 90s.
Early 90s.
Yes, it was after I'd come backfrom Bosnia.
(32:24):
Then I went to Kosovo briefly.
And then I went to Germanyafterwards and I was on a Kosovo
mission in Stuttgart.
Okay, so, that was a reward.
I had nine months there andthen the next, right after that,
I got nine more months inGermany, and let me see what
(32:45):
else happened after that.
I'm operating on two hourssleep, so I'm a little bit crazy
here.
But then I did, which isnothing different than what I
did in the military operation,because I am a bad insomniac, so
you know, this is kind ofnormal.
Okay, then I did Germany andthen I did.
(33:11):
2004 is when I got this call andthey asked me to come to
England to do reserve management.
So I was like the head hunter Ihad done that in Stuttgart too.
I'd find the people, the intelpeople that they needed for
their different holes in theircommand.
And so I did that in Stuttgartand then I left.
And then they immediatelycalled me and asked me to go to
(33:33):
Molesworth, which had the samejob, and so I asked them how
long did they want me?
And they said for the rest ofyour natural life.
And I said okay.
So at that point I got myhusband to retire from his thing
, because he said if you go, andI said, if you don't retire
from your post office job rightnow, you will be left behind.
(33:56):
Oh, I also did some time in awhole summer from Bosnia.
That was my reward.
I got sent to Hawaii HickamWell, not Hickam, it was Camp
Smith and worked for this AirForce guy who didn't understand
the Navy way.
So he was always getting introuble and he was about to get
(34:17):
fired because the sink was, ofcourse, a four-star Navy Sure.
So I got brought in.
He was the country desk officerfor Russia, mongolia, russia
and Mongolia.
So I did that.
Jerry Allhands (34:29):
And this is all shortly after the wall has
fallen.
Debbie Miller (34:32):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, the.
Jerry Allhands (34:33):
Soviet Union has just collapsed.
It's become Russia, right?
Yes?
Debbie Miller (34:37):
So it was kind of that was a cool one, because my
unit guy who got me that set oforders told me that it had been
his college roommate who wasabout to get fired and he was an
Air Force guy, I won't mentionany names.
He was a nice man but justdidn't get it.
You know he would like take thething and he'd march it to the
(34:57):
four-star's office, but you knowit's like that's not how this
works in the Navy.
You've got a one-star, two-star, three-star and a four-star.
So they got me to and he saidyou can probably tell him the
ropes.
Anyway, you might have tobecause he's about to get fired,
so I did that for six monthsWow.
Jerry Allhands (35:15):
Saved his career .
Debbie Miller (35:16):
I did actually, but he got fired right after I
left.
It was sad, but then he gotsent to the.
Jerry Clower (35:22):
Pentagon and he was almost killed.
Jerry Allhands (35:23):
Oh, wow.
Debbie Miller (35:23):
He was standing.
He had just gotten fired bythat office and the officer that
was talking to him said packyour bags, you got to retire.
You can't figure this out, go.
So he was walking down the hallbags, you've got to retire.
You can't figure this out, go.
Jerry Allhands (35:38):
So he was walking down the hall and that
whole division got blown up.
Debbie Miller (35:41):
Oh my goodness, yes, man so yeah.
Jerry Allhands (35:42):
First time in his life he was happy to be
fired.
Exactly, I can understand that.
Debbie Miller (35:46):
Okay, wow, yeah, that should be the end of this
story.
Jerry Allhands (35:54):
Let's leave on a good note, debbie.
Yes, this is so interesting.
We may do this again afteryou've had another pot of coffee
.
Just something to eat?
Yeah, that would be nice too.
Yes, Listen, I reallyappreciate you so much.
Thank you so very much forspending some time with me today
Talking to the young women inour audience, who may not be
(36:14):
veterans yet, Maybe they're justyou know.
They're hearing our podcast forthe first time and considering
joining the military.
What would you say?
Jerry Clower (36:24):
I would say well, you see.
Debbie Miller (36:24):
I kind of put a plug in for my Navy, because to
me they treated we were justtreated with such respect.
It was wonderful, I mean, ifyou did your job.
If you did your job, the sky'sthe limit as far as they're
concerned.
And it was the most I wanted todo it all my life and it was
the best thing I ever did,absolutely.
And then next best other thanmy well, first best was my
(36:48):
family, but the next best in mycareer was the Navy and the next
thing was joining the AmericanLegion.
Jerry Allhands (36:55):
We're so glad to have you.
What are your future plans forthe Legion?
Debbie Miller (36:59):
Well, it looks like I've moved from executive
committeeman to commander, Imean to the District 7 commander
.
So I guess I'm moving alongthat way.
Jerry Allhands (37:10):
We're so glad to have you.
As the past departmentcommander myself, I welcome you
to the ranks and hope thatyou'll just keep moving right
along and enjoy yourself andbeing a good mentor to our
Legionnaires.
Debbie Miller (37:22):
Yeah, anything I can do to help, I will certainly
do.
Jerry Allhands (37:26):
Be sure to join me next week for more from the
American Legion Department ofMississippi Convention right
here in Natchez, mississippi.
And don't forget to hit thefollow button to subscribe to
this podcast and drop us a textmessage.
And, if possible, pleaseconsider supporting this show.
All the buttons are right hereon our page, so don't forget to
subscribe, sponsor and leave atext message.
(37:47):
Hey, we'll see you next time.
On the Veterans Sound OffPodcast, a production of All
Hands Media LLC, with offices inReno, mississippi.
All rights reserved.
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Jonathan Michael Fleming (00:02):
Hard, work, work.
Let's get it going.
Let's go Hard work work.
Jerry Allhands (00:06):
I'm your host, jerry Allhands, a veteran of the
US Air Force and US Army.
I'm a past Department ofMississippi Commander of the
American Legion and apaid-up-for-life member of the
VFW.
Each week, I invite you to joinme as we visit with members of
our veteran families and othergroups and organizations that
support military veterans.
This week, I attended theAmerican Legion Department of
(00:28):
Mississippi's annual convention,held in historic Natchez
Mississippi.
It was in the NatchezConvention Center, where the
coffee was always hot and thepeople were great.
Hey, speaking of coffee, thisseries is made possible by the
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Hey, we really appreciate yourhelp in making this program
possible.
I like that.
We are at the American LegionDepartment Convention in Natchez
(01:13):
, mississippi and talking withour local veterans today, and I
have the distinct privilege oftalking with a female veteran
today and I'm going to ask youto please identify yourself and
what position you might holdwith the American Legion.
Debbie Miller (01:28):
Okay, my name is Debbie Miller and I am my
post-adjutant, and I am also theincoming District 7 commander.
For the last five or six years,I was the district executive
committeeman, with the exceptionof two years when my husband
(01:49):
took it over for me to finish mydegree or get my degree.
So that's who I am.
Jerry Allhands (01:56):
Now, what post number is that?
Debbie Miller (01:58):
That's post 76, liberty Mississippi.
Jerry Allhands (02:00):
Liberty Mississippi?
Absolutely.
Where's Jerry Clower when Ineed?
Debbie Miller (02:03):
him?
I don't know, because I thinkhe's in heaven telling jokes to
everybody I hope, keeping theLord smiling.
Jerry Clower (02:11):
First of all, I want you to know that I come
from Route 4, liberty,mississippi.
Now, that's 12 miles west ofMacomb, mississippi, 65 miles
due northeast of Baton Rouge,louisiana, and 116 miles due
north of New Orleans, louisiana.
It was there that I first sawthe light of day out, at Amitt
(02:34):
County, september the 28th 1926.
I was born there.
Debbie Miller (02:40):
The funny thing is that if you go into our
little drugstore you'll find hiscoffee cups still there.
Oh, it's so sweet because theyhave the whole row of them.
Liberty Mississippi is God'scountry.
Jerry Allhands (02:51):
Oh hey, Look, all I can say is Jerry Clower
got me through many a long nighton guard duty.
Debbie Miller (02:58):
I know it.
Jerry Allhands (03:01):
Debbie, tell me about your military experience.
I understand that you werethinking about joining the
Marine Corps, but you decided todo something better and join
the Navy.
Debbie Miller (03:10):
Well, the thing is I come from a long line of
Navy veterans, or at least ashort line.
My dad was a Navy veteran andwhen I was nine I tried to join
the Navy.
The recruiter was really sweet.
He talked to me for like threehours and I wanted to join the
Navy.
The recruiter was really sweet.
He talked to me for like threehours and I wanted to join.
I wanted to sign up right thenand he said you've got to come
(03:32):
back when you're older.
My program that I wanted wasNavy nurse.
That's what I wanted.
So he said, well, gave me abusiness card which I looked at
recently.
Still have it Still have it.
I still have it.
Still have it, I still have it.
He wrote a famous Navy quotethat's on every evaluation, when
you're halfway decent, verymotivated individual.
(03:52):
I asked her to come back whenshe was 22.
So he took all day almost withme.
I never forgot that, exceptthat I waited till I was 34.
Never was a nurse yet, but Ijoined the Navy at 34 and
originally joined the Reserves,and so I joined in March 10th
(04:19):
1988.
And at the same time he myhusband, who was in the Navy
prior, because I was a Navy wifeto begin with.
He had been in eight years andhe did not want to join the Navy
anymore.
But the recruiter, he was lyingto me.
I was so shocked.
He said I'm only recruitingcouples, you've got to go get
(04:40):
your husband.
So I kept going home for liketwo years telling my husband how
he had to sign up becauseotherwise I couldn't join.
And so finally he was on the18th hole of the golf course and
he called me up one day and hesaid hey, I'm feeling good today
.
I said are you?
(05:01):
Because I got your paperworkfor you to sign up?
And he said I'm so tired ofhearing this, okay, if you can
get the paperwork over to me onthe 18th 19th hole, which was
the watering hole.
If you can get it over here,I'll sign up.
So I walked into my boss, whowas a Navy supply officer.
I said, sir, I need you becauseFreddie says he'll join now.
(05:24):
I need you to swear us in.
And the recruiter got all thepaperwork.
By the time I got to him wewere on the 19th hole and I
signed, him and us the two of usup under my headlights of my
car, and my husband was a littleinebriated.
(05:44):
So the next morning he said Ikeep having this dream and I
think I might have joined theNavy.
Last night I said no dream,sweetheart, we're both in you
drill in two weeks.
But now he thanks me every timehis paycheck gets here because
he ended up retiring as a Navychief, as I did, after 24 years
(06:05):
in both of us I got no.
1996 is when I started goingfull time, and so I went from 96
to 2010.
When I retired on December 10,2010, as an E7 in Molesworth,
(06:27):
england, raf Molesworth myhusband retired like three years
before me and he says don'tforget, I'm senior to you all
the time.
In fact, he begged me not tostay another two years because I
was really on a fast track forE8.
It's a very good possibility.
(06:48):
I was going to get it.
So he didn't want me to besenior.
So I just thought well, youknow, he doesn't ask for much,
poor man, I'll retire.
Jerry Clower (06:57):
So that's what happened with my Navy that close
.
Oh it was.
Debbie Miller (07:01):
Oh yeah, but anyway it was great.
I had the best Davy career ever.
I was a yeoman and that's anadmin person Okay To an intel
group, so I never left them.
They recruited me from thebeginning.
So my favorite thing to watchare things about CIA and you
(07:22):
know and people coming in withlie detector tests.
I remember that happening a lot,you know, but that was my thing
.
So when I retired I went backand got my degree.
I had never gotten my degreebefore, so I got it.
When I retired, after werestored a house down in Liberty
, I started college forbasically the first time and
(07:45):
went straight through.
Gi Bill was wonderful to me.
Jerry Allhands (07:50):
No wait now.
You got the GI.
See, I got the old.
We went from the GI Bill toVEEP the.
Veterans Education AssistanceProgram which was the biggest
ripoff to me.
I used a year of it.
Jerry Clower (08:04):
I think and financially.
Jerry Allhands (08:06):
I still kick myself because the GI Bill at
the time in the early 80s youcould have one or the other.
Debbie Miller (08:14):
Exactly.
Jerry Allhands (08:14):
And they pushed the VEAPs hard.
You know, for every dollar yougave they would give two or
three or whatever.
Kids today, young people todayin the military, have got it
made with the GI Bill and I wasactually remember.
Debbie Miller (08:30):
I was old but I was new, so I'm a Desert Storm
Desert.
I'm the Middle East DesertStorm.
Jerry Allhands (08:39):
So you got the new GI Bill, I got the GI Bill,
I got the.
Debbie Miller (08:41):
Gulf War GI Bill.
So I had the wonderful one thathad the.
Oh yeah, absolutely without adoubt, it was a wonderful,
wonderful one.
My time to be just a littlejealous, I know.
I mean I graduated from.
I did two years at SouthwestCommunity College.
Jerry Allhands (09:01):
Okay.
Debbie Miller (09:01):
And then I went on to Southern Miss straight
through community college andthen I went on to Southern Miss
straight through.
I'm a history um history majorand minor in geography and have
my degree as of 2020.
Now I kind of blame myself,because not hell didn't freeze
over in 2020, but a worldwideCOVID outbreak happened, so I
didn't get to walk across thestage until 2021.
Jerry Allhands (09:24):
I did, I stayed okay so you got to go across the
stage oh, absolutely.
Debbie Miller (09:29):
There was only like six of us that stick around
and did it yeah but I did it.
Jerry Allhands (09:33):
Oh, I do too absolutely man, I was talking
with our adjunct a while ago andshe got her her degree through
the community college of the airforce back in the day, yes, but
I didn't.
Debbie Miller (09:44):
You know, that's how I did it.
And then I joined.
Did you want to talk about whenI came into the Legion?
Yes, please, okay, I came in 13years ago.
I was recruited by Mary Tony.
Jerry Allhands (09:57):
Our National Executive Committeeman now, yes.
Former Department.
Debbie Miller (09:59):
Commander Right, I mean, I moved to town, we were
at an event, somebody had justintroduced us as the new people
of liberty and we came over fromengland.
I bought a house.
I was living eight years inengland working as a you know
navy chief eight years.
That was my last assignment andI came and they, when I opened
(10:22):
my, they thought I was supposedto be English and I said no, I'm
a New Orleanian.
But I found liberty.
Somehow.
It was inspired, heavenlyinspired.
And Murray came running up andfound out we were both veterans,
so he signed us up.
So we've been 13 years in.
Jerry Allhands (10:42):
Yes, so it's all Murray Toney's fault.
Debbie Miller (10:44):
It's Murray Toney's fault that I got here,
and I'm very grateful to him forit.
Jerry Allhands (10:51):
So has your Legion experience.
Has it been the whole time withLiberty?
Debbie Miller (10:55):
Yes, the post there yes.
Jerry Allhands (10:58):
How has your experience with the Legion
affected your?
Debbie Miller (11:02):
well, let's just say your life Well.
Well, I never lacked forpatriotism, because I really
have a hard time not crying fora lot of things when things
happen, especially because I wasin DC within 30 days of the
(11:23):
attack.
So that whole thing it justkind of reinforced it.
And then the four pillars ofthe American Legion has just
been really so.
It's just been a great thing.
Now we are trying really hardin our post to do more things
(11:43):
with the community.
But right now we do a MemorialDay program and a Veterans Day
program.
We do a lot of things withtomorrow and Wednesday we're
having a fundraiser for one ofour people in town who was
burned over 50% of his body andhe's not a veteran but he's a
(12:04):
community member.
So that doesn't have anybearing.
But we're doing two differentfundraisers this week to help
him have any bearing.
But we're doing two differentfundraisers this week to help
him.
And Legion is a really wonderfulway to go.
We've done a lot of recruiting.
In fact I have a what would youcall it?
It's a virtual wing of our unit, of our American Legion post.
(12:29):
They're my Navy chiefs andthey're all over the world.
So we do.
We have we call them the messmeetings once a month or when we
can get to them, becausesometimes we can't.
We all get together in allthese different time zones.
People in England I got likefour people still in England.
I've got them all over thecountry.
(12:49):
But you have to meet theseyoung folks where they are and
they're electronic.
So we get on and we do amessenger thing or we'll do a
Zoom meetings.
So we'll all get up there and wejust basically keep in touch
(13:11):
with each other.
So we're recruiting all thetime that way, because that's
where people that's what theywant to be.
They don't want to meet in ameeting with a bunch of
80-year-olds, they want to be.
You know, I say that becauseI'm 71, so my 80-year-olds but
I'm getting there.
But still they want to.
You have to beat people wherethey are, and so you know we're,
(13:35):
we're expanding all the timebecause they're they're taking
in the new chiefs that come inand they go.
Hey, you know why don't you dothis?
Jerry Allhands (13:43):
so if somebody wanted to join your post or join
your mess meetings how wouldthey do that?
Debbie Miller (13:48):
well, they would.
They would actually.
We're on facebook and we're onthe Messenger and you could just
email me.
My email address is DebsMillerD-E-B-S-M-I-L-L-E-R at yahoocom
If you wanted to join my group.
Jerry Allhands (14:06):
Let's do that again, because I'm slow.
It's okay, I'm sorry.
Debbie Miller (14:10):
I've been up a long time today.
Jerry Allhands (14:12):
Coffee hadn't kicked in yet, has it?
Debbie Miller (14:14):
No, I only have one cup today.
Okay, so it's Debs D-E-B-SMiller.
All one word at yahoocom.
Jerry Allhands (14:25):
Okay.
Debbie Miller (14:25):
And there's also a group, the mess group is
called Mama Chief and that's themessenger group and because
that's what I was called in thenavy at my last command and my
husband was papa chief, so youknow, that's what.
That's what they named it, mamachief, and that's where we get
(14:47):
on and we make appointments andwe decide when we're going to
get together.
And it's great I mean, itwasn't just chiefs, because I've
got a bunch of officers whohave just joined us too that I
was stationed with.
Jerry Allhands (14:58):
You let officers in the room, absolutely Okay.
Debbie Miller (15:01):
Because now they're out and we're all equal
yes.
Let them live it down, yeah wehave to, but anyway, that's my
story.
Jerry Allhands (15:12):
Let's pause for a moment to hear from some of
the people who have made thisseries possible.
It's like family when you werein the military.
We form a bond and you allwatch each other.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
That's the same with American Legion.
Jerry Allhands (15:24):
Every time I come here I meet somebody
different.
Jerry Clower (15:26):
I found the Legion to be welcoming from the time I
walked in the door.
You need something that guyover.
Jerry Allhands (15:31):
There is the guy .
That guy's an electrician, thatguy's a plumber.
Oh, you've been having troubleswith the VA.
That guy knows a good VSO.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's been fun.
I mean we do a lot of stuff forthe community, we do a lot of
support, we give out a lot ofmoney.
I really like that.
We go out and do volunteer workwhen we can we do.
People that are involved arepassionate about helping
veterans, helping their familiesand their communities.
I don't have family that livesin Anchorage, but the Legion is
my family.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
What better way to meet people when you're new to
an area and also meet people whohave a shared experience with
you.
I think it's an incredibleorganization and I'm proud to be
a member of it and honored andhappy because it really serves
my joy.
To be here Thanksgiving andChristmas and doing walks, I
think, is a big impact.
Picnics in the summertime,fourth of July, memorial Day
(16:20):
it's more family-orientated now.
It may sound cheesy but youknow, I feel like it's a place
to belong.
I enjoy the company.
I enjoy the mentorship that Iget here.
Debbie Miller (16:30):
Searching for that Brotherhood and I found it
here in the Legion and it givesme a sense of security that
Brotherhood can't be replacedanywhere else.
There's a respect and there'san understanding that we are a
group of people that are herefor the community, for our
veterans and for their families.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I want to come and get some peace and quiet.
Oddly enough it's at the Legion.
I'd say that for their families.
I want to come and get somepeace and quiet.
Oddly enough it's at the Legion.
I'd say that for many others,it's given a fantastic face to
this organization.
Jerry Clower (16:57):
I learned some very valuable information about
what family means to veteransand to each other.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I feel accepted and people want to know what's going
on.
I want to know what's going onwith them.
You feel like you're part of afamily, part of a community, and
it's really awesome to see thediversity in the room too.
I believe we're the future ofthe American Legion.
We want to be out there.
We need to be out there.
It's exciting.
Jerry Allhands (17:25):
For more information on joining the
American Legion, go to legionorgforward slash, join or call
601-352-4986.
Again, that's 601-352-4986.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Nothing hurts my mom, but she showed anyway.
Debbie Miller (17:50):
She'd always say you do what you need to do to
take care of yourself.
But she thought that meant shehad to do it on her own.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
We were trained to help others, but there's
strength in finding help foryourself too.
Debbie Miller (18:08):
We're in this together.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
We're in this together.
Even the toughest of us mightnot know where to go to get a
little support.
Encourage women who have servedto learn more about the VA care
and benefits they've earned.
The VA Women Veterans CallCenter connects veterans with
personalized information on VAservices that can make a
difference.
Call 1-855-VA-WOMEN or visitwwwwomenshealthvagov.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
You can join in the mission to remember our fallen
heroes, honor those whocurrently serve and their
families, and teach youngergenerations about the value of
freedom.
A $17 donation to WreathsAcross America sponsors a fresh
balsam remembrance wreath.
These wreaths have become asymbol of America's respect for
those who have served and nolonger walk with us.
(19:02):
Sponsor a wreath today, Visitwreathsacrossamericaorg or call
877-385-9504.
Jerry Allhands (19:10):
And now back to our visit with the Department of
Mississippi's American LegionConvention in Natchez,
Mississippi.
Debbie Miller (19:17):
But anyway, that's my story.
A little strange.
I've been married 54 years.
I got married at 17.
It wasn't supposed to last.
Jerry Allhands (19:26):
Look at you.
Yeah, I know we're going strong.
Yeah, yes, so on your militarytours, was England it Well?
Debbie Miller (19:35):
no, no, I started .
I went active duty.
I ended up with about 14 yearsof active duty out of the 23 or
24.
No, I was stationed in well, my96th.
They sent me to Bosnia, whichwas a whole lot of fun.
96 they sent me to Bosnia,which was a whole lot of fun.
I almost got shot by a Turkishtorrent because I was getting
(19:59):
pulled in the woods by twoBosnians who had killed the
police and they had stolen a carand they had their uniforms on.
And I was running down the roadwith some of the SAS people in
our unit and I was training withthem and they had promised they
weren't going to leave mebehind.
But I hit this mud puddle and Ihad a bad knee, so they didn't
(20:21):
realize I got left behind, so ano-man-left-behind kind of thing
.
Well, they were circling backwhen this police car green and
white police car pulled up andthese two guys were trying to
pull me off into the woods.
They had already killed twopolicemen and so I knew the guys
on the Turkish tank.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Sorry.
Debbie Miller (20:42):
Yeah, it was Turkey, yes, the Turkish tank.
And they screamed to me no,problem, sergeant M.
We got him in the sights and Iturned around and screamed
problem, sergeant M.
We got him in the sights and Iturned around and screamed no,
you'll kill me.
They didn't even realize thatthey were trying, they were just
.
They didn't know what to dobecause they couldn't leave
their tank.
So I stood there and stayed inthe mud and one guy was pulling
(21:03):
one way, the other was the otherway, and I said they're too
stupid to kill me, don't worryabout it.
So then came back the SAS andthey came and got me.
So that was kind of funny,because my husband had asked me
never, please, when you go toBosnia, don't leave the camp.
And I said right, I can't dothat.
So I was a bodyguard on thethird day to the colonel,
(21:25):
british colonel.
So I've had a lot of adventuresin my naval career.
So I've had a lot of adventuresin my naval career.
Jerry Allhands (21:32):
The company you were keeping, british Special
Air Service which is the specialforces of the British Army.
Debbie Miller (21:39):
Right.
Jerry Allhan (21:40):
Bosnia-Herzegovina yes, in Sarajevo.
Debbie Miller (21:44):
I landed at the.
If I can tell you one morequick story, at the time I got
called from my unit and unit andthey said, hey, can you be in
Bosnia on Monday, sarajevo onMonday.
I said I don't know, can I beon Bosnia on Monday because it's
like Friday afternoon.
And so he said I think we canget you there.
(22:06):
I said, all right, sure I can.
I go home and, of course, myhusband's having stroke because,
see, he never did get mobilizedin those last many years and he
wanted me to become a cook likehim.
But I could, you know I didwhat I was going to be, you know
.
So anyway, um, I ended up therein, but when I landed I didn't
(22:29):
have time to get all my bankingstuff in order.
This was 96.
And I told him, as I wasleaving out the door, I'll just
use my ATM card until I geteverything going right, not
thinking clearly.
Until I landed at the Sarajevoairport and it was a building.
All the glass was gone and itwas a metal frame building and I
(22:49):
said to myself I can't use thisATM card here anyway.
So, and then there was nobodypicking me up, because I showed
up three days early.
So I talked the French ForeignLegion into a ride to my camp,
which was called the ARC, theAtlantic Rapid Reaction Team.
So I that's how I got there,but I only could speak a few
(23:14):
words of French, growing up inNew Orleans, enough to make them
understand that I needed help.
So I'm going through sitting inthe back of a deuce and a half,
I think they call them becauseI was Navy and this is a bunch
of Army.
Well, whatever the foreignLegion is, I was with them and
I'm in the back of theirequipment holding on while we're
(23:37):
hitting the bumps in sarajevoand I'm looking, we write down
suicide alley and I'm thinking,okay, if my friends could see me
now, because they were tellingme not to join to begin with.
And so I.
That's how.
That was my first thing.
I never stopped being on activeduty, pretty much from the rest
of it, wow, my whole time.
But I've just had a good bunchof adventures.
Jerry Allhands (23:56):
That would just about top them all right there.
And that was just the beginning.
Debbie Miller (24:00):
That was the beginning of it.
Yeah, it was the beginning.
Jerry Allhands (24:04):
How long were you in?
Debbie Miller (24:04):
Bosnia.
I was there six months.
Jerry Allhands (24:06):
Six months.
Debbie Miller (24:08):
I stayed with them, Okay and oh, and I left.
When I left, 55 days into mytour, the last 55 days we were
going to be, the Americans werecoming to take over the camp and
we were at the place where theOlympics were held.
That's where we were.
Intel was so there were somefunny stories about that too
(24:29):
like a big old, because theydon't have the British are not
very shy about things Like inthe female dorms they had naked
men on the walls in posters.
Well, there was one poster thatwas in a bad position because I
couldn't really see it well, soI went to move it and it was a
hole about that big in the wall.
This was August.
It was covering up that big oldhole.
(24:50):
So I thought, well, I guess Ican't enjoy that poster.
So I put it back.
And then we were all justlaughing about my silliness.
But you know I'm that's mynature, I'm quite silly.
So anyway.
But then I had to get used toyou walking through departments
and they, one guy had a fullblown up size of his wife on the
wall and it was like audiovisual and I thought, okay, well
(25:14):
, you, it's a good thing.
I'm not like really shy andeasily because I'm in another
command.
Sure, I'm in the Brits, I'mwith the Brits, so that was
pretty hilarious to me.
But there was a lot of thingsLike you had a.
They were out of everythingwhen I got there because it was
(25:34):
the end of their tour.
Jerry Allhands (25:35):
Now you were in the Muslim sector or the
Christian sector.
Debbie Miller (25:38):
No, I was in the Muslim sector, oh my goodness.
Yeah, it was Sarajevo section,but the French were supposed to
be in charge of us but really Iwas with the Brits, which we
were all together.
It was the NIC, so the NationalIntelligence things, and I was
always making up new ones.
You know, like the Philip,because it had a big bunch of
mailboxes up and it had the GE,the German, no, it was the GE,
(26:02):
the G-NIC and all the differentNICs.
So I started making up new ones.
I put the Philippine Islands,it was the picnic you know I
just made just to amuse myselfwhen you do a 14-hour shift and
you have to do things.
So it was always pretty comical.
They never knew what I wasgoing to do next to make them
laugh.
But the last 55 days theincinerator went down.
(26:23):
My colonel who I had been hisbodyguard, said will you stay
behind, since you came in thesame day?
That I did late because theyhad been there 18 months, this
poor group.
So I come in to kind of relievethem.
So he said to burn all the, getall the secret documents from
(26:44):
everybody and get rid of them inthe incinerator.
Little did I know that on thesecond day the incinerator went
totally down.
The second day the incineratorwent totally down and I was up
on the roof in a blizzard for 55days because it snows like
crazy there with burning secretdocuments.
I'd already done all the thingand matching everything, so I
(27:05):
was burning in a 55-gallon drumeverything.
Jerry Allhands (27:08):
With the mesh grill across the top, right with
the thing.
Yeah, Right.
Debbie Miller (27:12):
So you know.
But there was hilarious otherthings about it.
One is when he made me the okay, my husband said do not go off
the camp.
I laughed and said whatever themission goals, I'm doing Right.
He looked at me and shook hishead and said say goodbye to
your mommy because I'm not sureshe's coming back this time.
(27:32):
Of course I'm coming back.
Well, anyway, the colonel, theBritish colonel who had just
gotten there the same day I didon the same well, the next day.
Sorry, is this going?
Jerry Allhands (27:43):
too long.
No, no, you're fine, you'refine.
Debbie Miller (27:47):
He said he came into his office with all of his
British people.
It was all his little corpsmen,not corpsmen, corporals and
everything.
And he said to me to them, Ineed someone to get the weapons
out the armory.
And I was the armorer.
And he said sign them out.
And we got to go out with thefactions and you'll meet on the
(28:08):
hill with the factions.
Nobody got up and so he repeatedhimself His name he's Colonel
Barr.
He is a sir now.
But anyway, he, he repeatedhimself, he cleared his throat
and nobody, none of them got up.
So I looked up at him and Isaid sir, do you do you would
(28:31):
like me to be your body?
He said I need a bodyguard andhe said.
I said do you have an objectionto me being your bodyguard?
And he said not at all.
So I, and of course I hadchanged, I had put on the board,
because when I first arrivedthe day before the petty officer
thing that was in the Navy,they wanted me to go clean all
(28:53):
the toilets and I was outranking everybody.
So I became the Sergeant M ofthe group.
It was like no, no, no, I wasnot his sentient for that, you
know.
So we took care of that onejust by having me become
Sergeant M.
So he said Sergeant M, I wouldappreciate it.
So I got in the car with himand sat there while they met for
like five hours and we had adifferent location every day.
(29:16):
So his first words to me werein the car, as we, as I'm
driving.
The British, uh, cannot drivethemselves.
They have to have a, anenlisted person, it's oh, yeah,
yeah officers.
so he says to me um, I'm reallyconfused by your country.
Do you have children?
(29:36):
I said I have three and I havea husband.
Why would they send you here?
And I said well, sir, we don'tdiscriminate against our
soldiers, and if that personagrees to do it, they don't just
send you home because you'refemale.
They will let you do it.
So he said okay, I understand.
(29:57):
So the next day when I went out, I decided I was way too bored.
So I got a deck of cards and Imet the other bodyguards and I
brought sandwiches and I gaveeach one of them a sandwich and
taught them how to play 500Rummy.
(30:17):
Oh boy Didn't speak to any ofthem.
None of us spoke English, butone guy had a cooler of drinks
and he came with his cooler ofdrinks.
So for the next five and a halfmonths every day I went out.
It was such a pleasure to getout of the office, to get out
there by the time it was over.
The colonel had told me that ifthey had sent me as the
(30:41):
peacekeeper, the war would havebeen over way before, because we
would put our weapon underneathour leg and play cards with
each other.
They would teach different cardgames to me and it was really
quite.
It was amazing, you good,really it was amazing, you know.
So at the end he told me that.
(31:01):
He told me a really nice thingin my going away party that the
country had sent their very best.
Jerry Allhands (31:06):
Oh yep, and so it begins.
Bosnia.
Debbie Miller (31:08):
Bosnia.
Wow, yeah, it did.
Jerry Allhands (31:11):
Where did you go from Bosnia?
Debbie Miller (31:13):
From Bosnia I went to.
I started going to Europe againI went to I think it was Italy.
Next I did.
I did Sigonella, I think it wasSigonella.
Jerry Clower (31:24):
No, yeah, it was.
Debbie Miller (31:25):
Sigonella Okay, it was Sigonella.
And then I did Germany.
Jerry Allhands (31:30):
Was that your reward for going from Bosnia?
Debbie Miller (31:33):
No, not really.
It really wasn't.
It was what I would choose Atthe beginning.
It was me getting to choose.
Jerry Allhands (31:38):
So my memories of Bosnia are not.
Debbie Miller (31:41):
Like that.
Jerry Allhands (31:42):
Somewhat of a pretty country.
Debbie Miller (31:45):
It was pretty.
The people were beautiful,weren't they?
Jerry Allhands (31:48):
It was Somalia to me was horrible.
Debbie Miller (31:53):
Oh yeah, I didn't get to go there.
Jerry Allhands (31:54):
Bosnia.
Yeah, yeah, the war itself, youknow, was what it was.
It was right.
Debbie Miller (32:03):
Were you there as well, then, I guess.
Then I went back to Kosovo.
Yeah, okay, okay.
So I got to do that one.
And then after that, I thinkKosovo was 90, I can't remember
91?
Yeah, no, not 91.
Early 90s.
Early 90s.
Yes, it was after I'd come backfrom Bosnia.
(32:24):
Then I went to Kosovo briefly.
And then I went to Germanyafterwards and I was on a Kosovo
mission in Stuttgart.
Okay, so, that was a reward.
I had nine months there andthen the next, right after that,
I got nine more months inGermany, and let me see what
(32:45):
else happened after that.
I'm operating on two hourssleep, so I'm a little bit crazy
here.
But then I did, which isnothing different than what I
did in the military operation,because I am a bad insomniac, so
you know, this is kind ofnormal.
Okay, then I did Germany andthen I did.
(33:11):
2004 is when I got this call andthey asked me to come to
England to do reserve management.
So I was like the head hunter Ihad done that in Stuttgart too.
I'd find the people, the intelpeople that they needed for
their different holes in theircommand.
And so I did that in Stuttgartand then I left.
And then they immediatelycalled me and asked me to go to
(33:33):
Molesworth, which had the samejob, and so I asked them how
long did they want me?
And they said for the rest ofyour natural life.
And I said okay.
So at that point I got myhusband to retire from his thing
, because he said if you go, andI said, if you don't retire
from your post office job rightnow, you will be left behind.
(33:56):
Oh, I also did some time in awhole summer from Bosnia.
That was my reward.
I got sent to Hawaii HickamWell, not Hickam, it was Camp
Smith and worked for this AirForce guy who didn't understand
the Navy way.
So he was always getting introuble and he was about to get
(34:17):
fired because the sink was, ofcourse, a four-star Navy Sure.
So I got brought in.
He was the country desk officerfor Russia, mongolia, russia
and Mongolia.
So I did that.
Jerry Allhands (34:29):
And this is all shortly after the wall has
fallen.
Debbie Miller (34:32):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, the.
Jerry Allhands (34:33):
Soviet Union has just collapsed.
It's become Russia, right?
Yes?
Debbie Miller (34:37):
So it was kind of that was a cool one, because my
unit guy who got me that set oforders told me that it had been
his college roommate who wasabout to get fired and he was an
Air Force guy, I won't mentionany names.
He was a nice man but justdidn't get it.
You know he would like take thething and he'd march it to the
(34:57):
four-star's office, but you knowit's like that's not how this
works in the Navy.
You've got a one-star, two-star, three-star and a four-star.
So they got me to and he saidyou can probably tell him the
ropes.
Anyway, you might have tobecause he's about to get fired,
so I did that for six monthsWow.
Jerry Allhands (35:15):
Saved his career .
Debbie Miller (35:16):
I did actually, but he got fired right after I
left.
It was sad, but then he gotsent to the.
Jerry Clower (35:22):
Pentagon and he was almost killed.
Jerry Allhands (35:23):
Oh, wow.
Debbie Miller (35:23):
He was standing.
He had just gotten fired bythat office and the officer that
was talking to him said packyour bags, you got to retire.
You can't figure this out, go.
So he was walking down the hallbags, you've got to retire.
You can't figure this out, go.
Jerry Allhands (35:38):
So he was walking down the hall and that
whole division got blown up.
Debbie Miller (35:41):
Oh my goodness, yes, man so yeah.
Jerry Allhands (35:42):
First time in his life he was happy to be
fired.
Exactly, I can understand that.
Debbie Miller (35:46):
Okay, wow, yeah, that should be the end of this
story.
Jerry Allhands (35:54):
Let's leave on a good note, debbie.
Yes, this is so interesting.
We may do this again afteryou've had another pot of coffee
.
Just something to eat?
Yeah, that would be nice too.
Yes, Listen, I reallyappreciate you so much.
Thank you so very much forspending some time with me today
Talking to the young women inour audience, who may not be
(36:14):
veterans yet, Maybe they're justyou know.
They're hearing our podcast forthe first time and considering
joining the military.
What would you say?
Jerry Clower (36:24):
I would say well, you see.
Debbie Miller (36:24):
I kind of put a plug in for my Navy, because to
me they treated we were justtreated with such respect.
It was wonderful, I mean, ifyou did your job.
If you did your job, the sky'sthe limit as far as they're
concerned.
And it was the most I wanted todo it all my life and it was
the best thing I ever did,absolutely.
And then next best other thanmy well, first best was my
(36:48):
family, but the next best in mycareer was the Navy and the next
thing was joining the AmericanLegion.
Jerry Allhands (36:55):
We're so glad to have you.
What are your future plans forthe Legion?
Debbie Miller (36:59):
Well, it looks like I've moved from executive
committeeman to commander, Imean to the District 7 commander
.
So I guess I'm moving alongthat way.
Jerry Allhands (37:10):
We're so glad to have you.
As the past departmentcommander myself, I welcome you
to the ranks and hope thatyou'll just keep moving right
along and enjoy yourself andbeing a good mentor to our
Legionnaires.
Debbie Miller (37:22):
Yeah, anything I can do to help, I will certainly
do.
Jerry Allhands (37:26):
Be sure to join me next week for more from the
American Legion Department ofMississippi Convention right
here in Natchez, mississippi.
And don't forget to hit thefollow button to subscribe to
this podcast and drop us a textmessage.
And, if possible, pleaseconsider supporting this show.
All the buttons are right hereon our page, so don't forget to
subscribe, sponsor and leave atext message.
(37:47):
Hey, we'll see you next time.
On the Veterans Sound OffPodcast, a production of All
Hands Media LLC, with offices inReno, mississippi.
All rights reserved.
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