Joseph D. McMillan
CWO3 Joseph David McMillan
12 SEP 1940 – 18 AUG 2022
Joe was 81
Formally of Kearny, passed away on August 18, 2022 in Hudson, FL.
Joe was a firefighter for the Town of Kearny. He served both active and reserved status for The U.S. Army between 1959 until 1993. He was very proud of his service with the 7th Group Special Forces in The Jungles of Central and South America. Joe loved to read about military history and his Irish Culture. He was a dedicated member of The 19th Special Forces Association.
He was formally married to Louise (nee Trent) and was the father of Gregory (his wife Maureen) and Keith (his wife Connie). He is survived by his siblings; Jackie, Jill, Jeanie and Jimmy, his grandchildren; Stephanie, Ryan, Taylor, Chase, Molly, Gregory and Gavin along with his great grandchildren; Donovan, Tyber, Bon and June.
CW3 Joseph D. McMillan enlisted in the U.S. Army on 6 February 1959 at Newark, N.J. After training in the Field Artillery branch he was assigned in the Federal Republic of Germany, where his unit maintained a high level of training and readiness. This was the mid cold war when the U.S. was anticipating a
military confrontation with the Warsaw Pact over the City of Berlin.
At the age of 19, CW3 McMillan graduated the 7th U.S. Army’s NCO Academy
and served in junior leadership positions until his discharge from the active duty forces at Ft. Bragg, N.C. in April of 1962.
CW3 McMillan entered the 11th Special Forces Group (Abn) in 1964 at Camp
Kilmer, N.J. serving with B Company until the reorganization of the 11th Special
Forces in 1966 when his unit was redesignated Detachment B-2, this unit later became B company of the 1st Battalion From which CW3 McMillan entered the active duty Special Forces in 1984.
While serving on A Detachments over twenty years CW3 McMillan earned the
Expert Field Medic Badge, The Master Parachutist Badge and British Parachutist Wings. He graduated at the top of his Special Forces Operations and Intelligence School Class in 1971 and served as Team Operations Sergeant for both ODA 123 and ODA 125 prior to his entry to active duty in 1984.
Upon CW3 McMillan’s entry on active duty as a Master Sergeant in February 1984, he was assigned as Chief Instructor to Phase III of the Special Forces Qualification Course Assuming the role of Resistance Leader in multiple ”Robin Sage” Exercises, he led a team of twelve instructors in the qualification effort of The Special Warfare Center until his promotion to Chief Warrant Officer in June of 1985. While serving at Ft. Bragg, NC he achieved a Baccalaureate in history with honors. He also graduated USMC Command and Staff College. CW3 McMillan was awarded the Honduran Parachutist badge in 1986.
Continuing on active duty until February of 1988, CW3 McMillan held assignments as both the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Detachment 761, Company C, 2nd Battalion 7th Special Forces Group (Abn), leading that detachment in multiple overseas deployments in Central America and the Caribbean area until his return to the 11th Special Forces in 1988.
Since 1988, CW3 McMillan has served in a wide variety of staff positions. He was called to active duty during DESERT STORM and served for five months as an Operations Officer with Special Forces Command during that period; simultaneously working Operation PROVIDE COMFORT issues and deployments.
Over the last five years of his enlistment CW3 McMillan served in three major Joint Assignments, in SOCLANT, SOCSOUTH and SOCKOREA and was identified as key to the success of the major exercises performed by those commands.
Assigned once more to the 11th Special Forces in February 1993, CW3 McMillan has served with Company A, 2nd Battalion at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.
Viewing:
Thursday, 01 SEP 2022
Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home
596 Belgrove Drive
Kearny, NJ 07032
Phone: (201) 991 0657
15:00 – 19:00 hrs
Website:
http://armitagewiggins.com/obituaries/2022/8/18/joseph-d-mcmillan
Will supply times as soon as I get them.
Be advised:
Pallbearers are being requested, if you can only attend only one day, try to make it Friday, 02 SEP 2022
Burial:
Friday, 02 SEP 2022
The funeral home will again open on Friday morning at 09:30 hrs and his funeral service will begin at 10:00 hrs. in the funeral home. Graveside prayers and military honors will follow at Arlington Cemetery in Kearny.
Arlington Cemetery
748 Schuyler Ave.
Kearny, NJ 07032
Phone: (201) 991-1611
Website:
In lieu of flowers kindly consider a donation to The A.,S.P.C.A.
