Ira Ellis McMillian
Born(1908-08-03)August 3, 1908
Prescott, Arkansas
DiedApril 22, 1987(1987-04-22) (aged 78)
California
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Years of service1930-1958
Rank Rear Admiral
Commands heldUSS Newcomb (DD-586)
USS Magoffin (APA-199)[1]
Battles/warsWorld War II
• Pearl Harbor
Korean War
Awards Navy Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Spouse(s)Francys Ellen Goss

Ira Ellis McMillian (3 August 1908 – 22 April 1987), was a decorated commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[2] McMillian was the Gunnery Officer on the USS Hull (DD-350) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.[3]

Captain McMillian was the president of the court-martial of Disbursing Clerk Seaman Jimmie L. Henderson, the last sailor to be sentenced to death for murder. Seaman Henderson was sentenced for the murder of a commissioned officer aboard the USS Uvalde (AKA-88).[4] The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment by President John F. Kennedy.[5] "This is the only known death sentence to be awarded by a naval service court-martial and affirmed on appeal through the U.S. Court of Military Appeals since the enactment of the UCMJ."[6]

Admiral McMillian had proposed to Richard Nixon in August 1970 that he could possibly bring the Vietnam War to an end though his personal contact with Lê Duẩn. McMillian then claimed that he was kidnapped and taken to Bethesda Naval Hospital and held there incommunicado for four weeks.[7] Admiral McMillian was named the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon, claiming "[that they] and others conspired to kidnap an admiral because he knew of a way to end the Vietnam war two years before Nixon did."[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Amphibious Attack Transport APA/LPA-199 Magoffin". NavSource Naval History. 1944-06-20. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  2. ↑ "Ira McMillian - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  3. ↑ "05 Dec 1973, Page 5 - The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "16 Oct 1957, Page D15 - Oakland Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ WELT (2011-11-16). "Death Sentence: Bush approves military execution of army private". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  6. ↑ The JAG Journal. Office of the Judge Advocate General, Department of the Navy. 1980. p. 54. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  7. ↑ "17 Nov 1973, Page 15 - The Salt Lake Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "04 Jul 1976, Page 16 - Pacific Daily News (Agana Heights, Guam) at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "27 Jun 1974, Page 6 - Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pennsylvania) at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.


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