Fred McMillan: Discovery of a National Treasure

Fred McMillan: Discovery of a National Treasure

This post was originally intended to be a Bat signal post requesting information and assistance locating anyone connected to the deceased. Instead, I am happy to say that it is a testament to the power of the interwebs and the comforting knowledge that there are those who DO still give a damn.

Just last week a gentleman in the Dallas area was mowing his yard, a seemingly innocuous and mundane chore, when he came upon what should be considered a treasure to us all: the marker of a veteran’s grave. Though broken into four pieces, this serendipitous find was fortunately (or divinely) still legible.





Within a few days of the photograph’s posting, the following information was obtained and a grandson of his located:

Birth: Jul. 30, 1895
Death: Sep. 15, 1961

Texas
Private

U.S Army
World War I

Name: Fred Mcmillan
Event Date: 15 Sep 1961
Event Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Gender: Male
Race (Original): Negro
Age (Formatted): 66 years
Birth Year (Estimated):
Birth Date: 30 Jul 1895
Birthplace: Centerville, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name:
Father’s Name: Billy Mcmillan
Father’s Birthplace:
Mother’s Name: Lucy Horn
Mother’s Birthplace:
Occupation: Serv. Sta. Attendant
Residence Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Cemetery (Original): Shady Grove Cemetery
Burial Place: Centerville, Leon, Texas
Burial Date: 20 Sep 1961
Informant’s Name (Original):
GS Film number: 2116791
Digital Folder Number: 4166597
Image Number: 3148
Reference ID: cn 50553

Further reading on ancestry.com reveals that Mr. McMillan’s son, Bruce, applied for the headstone when he passed away in a VA hospital in 1961.

Whether broken by accident, vandalism, or natural disaster, I am struck that a five decades-old headstone was found in such pristine condition that the veteran’s family was able to be located so expeditiously. I am also reminded that this is the headstone of a veteran of the Great War who died an attendant at a gas station. A black man in 1961, a service station attendant- and we are afforded the opportunity to show gratitude for his service nearly a century later.

If that isn’t a reminder to treat others with respect and take no one for granted, I don’t know what is. You don’t know what roads he may have traveled.

Written by

Obsessively grammatically correct and unapologetically politically incorrect Mom, friend, mad scientist, Papist, and bibliophilic conservative hippie with an internet connection.

2 Comments
  • Dbie says:

    Most excellent!

    I hate that it was stolen, but am very glad we know where he is buried and a little about the man.

  • joshua says:

    Is the family in a financial position to have the stone replaced at Private MCMillan’s grave? If not, please provide an update where grateful Americans can contribute. Thanks. Joshua, Master Sergeant, Marine Corps, Active

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