I don't see how anyone, as they sit down before Thursday's feast and try to give a simple "thanks" for one blessing after another, can ignore those who fight to keep our country free. So this year, as you remember our troops, allow me to add a singular name of a man who just died a couple of weeks ago.

Lewis L. Millett was a soldier who once went AWOL (absent without leave) and, at the time he did it, the crime was punishable by death. But when he will be buried with highest honors in California next week, he will wear the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest award of any kind, in my way of thinking in the whole, wide world, and it is to his memory I'll add to my toasts on Thanksgiving Day.

He came from hearty New England stock, born to a family in Maine that had fought in all the big ones -- The Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I. His family moved to Massachusetts where he was raised and, after a thorough soaking of a love for the country and a devotion to duty as a child, he was among the very first in the late 1930s to join the Maine National Guard before transferring to the Army Air Corps.

But when President Roosevelt vowed no American would die on foreign soil due to Hitler’s impending mess, Lewis hitch-hiked to Canada and joined the Canadian Army so he'd be assured of getting into the thick of it. Years later he joked but in an honest way, "I wanted to fight."

In 1942 America declared war and, after Millett had been fighting under the maple leaf for over a year, he transferred back to the U.S. Army, where he was soon court-martialed for desertion. The trial was speedy and thus became part of his legend; "I was fined $50, given 30 days of hard labor and immediately promoted to second lieutenant!"

So he fought, oh, did he ever. After World War II he went to Bates College and got his degree but the Korean War drew him back to active duty. On Feb. 7, 1951, he was leading a routine patrol near Osan with the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, when suddenly his platoons fell prey to heavy fire from atop a desolate hill we know only as Hill 180.

With one platoon pinned down, Lewis ordered his remaining men to fix their bayonets. He knew their ammo would never last and, screaming like a banshee, the mustachioed giant called to his men, "C'mon, you SOBs, and fight!"

The GIs, led by the great warrior, scrambled to the top of the frozen hill and, using their bayonets in a way one military historian called "the most complete bayonet charge by American troops since the Civil War battle of Cold Harbor," Lewis Millett and his boys took the heavily-armed and fortified hill.

The citation later read by President Harry Truman said, in part, "Capt. Millett, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small-arms, automatic, and antitank fire.

"Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the two platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted two enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement.

"Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured."

This Thursday, as you sit before the warm fire, you need to know that of the 851 who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, half died as they earned it. When Col. Millett died that left just 92 recipients who are still alive but, mind you, still a total of 851 hearts who will always give cause to fill our glasses in grateful thanksgiving.

Lewis Millett died as the only Colonel who was ever court-marshaled for desertion. Next week he will be remembered instead for his valor, along with his fervent belief, "If you believe in freedom, you've got to serve."

And that is as American as Thanksgiving itself.

royexum@aol.com