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[LEFT]In 1958 Major Millet formed the 101st Recondo School, an extensive course in patrolling, airborne ranger tactics and field leadership. He wore a handlebar moustache when no one was authorized to have facial hair. He was an advocate of extreme hardship training. He did not smile and he inspired a 'grit your teeth/snake eyes' leadership style that was adopted by many NCOs, including MSG/1SG George Conrad (later established the Ranger RIP program) who completed the course in 1964. Many of the phrases and routines experienced in Conrad's RIP training are from the
original 101st Recondo school where about 100 started and only 10 would graduate and another 15 complete the course. If you have done pushups underwater in the snow, and been given another 50 for not sounding off UNDER water, then you know something of Lewis Lee Millet. He believed in VICTORY and trained for nothing less than VICTORY on the battle field.
A 16mm movie was made and shown on the first day of Recondo School where Millet gave his introduction...the segment was also used in a 'Big Picture' segment that was shown on television with Walter Conkrite narrating. The movie may be archived at Fort Campbell. It is worth locating and viewing. If you want to see a Ranger leader in action, then view that film.
Lewis Lee Millet remains my most respected military leader. I last saw him in the Fort Wolters officer's club in the early 1970's. He was sitting alone at a table having lunch. I noticed him while with other junior officers and pointed him out and explained who he was. Although an officer, I went to his table, placed my tray down, stood in front him and loudly saluted, "Sir Recondo Conners." He looked up, didn't smile but gave that 'another of my men' looks and said 'Drive on! [/LEFT]