Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame - 1SG Leonard J. Miller

First Sergeant Leonard J. Miller was born 12 September 1930 in Wilson, Kansas. His military service began with his joining Battery C, 130Th Field Artillery, Kansas Army National Guard on 2 February 1949. In keeping with the traditions of National Guard Service as our Founding Fathers had planned, First Sergeant Miller would retire form this same unit some 35 years later on 6 August 1984. Shortly after his enlistment and assignment as Assistant Gunner on a Howitzer Section, his leadership skills and ability to motivate soldiers was recognized and he was promoted ahead of his peers to Gunner then Chief of the Howitzer Section. First Sergeant Miller proved to be an outstanding military instructor and had the ability to impart the intricacies of Field Artillery Gunnery to younger soldiers. His keen sense of duty and clear understanding of the mission made him an invaluable trainer. He also demonstrated the ability to motivate young people to join the National Guard and exercise their patriotic duty. Once in the National Guard unit, he had a personal agenda to assure each one was fully trained and dedicated to reach their maximum potential. He was responsible for scores of enlistments in the battery, which was split between Great Bend and Ellsworth, Kansas. His penchant for training and energizing the soldiers is legendary in his unit.

First Sergeant Miller continued his career within the battery. Through several reorganizations over the years, he remained in the same unit although it was to become an element of three different battalions. Upon enlistment, the 130th Field Artillery, then later the 1st Battalion, 130th Field Artillery and then the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery. Finally, in 1983, the unit again came under the flag of the 130th Field Artillery as a unit of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery. During these years of transition, on man provided the steadfast continuity required assuring that the unit remained a viable national defense asset at the highest possible state of readiness. It was this battery that won the gunnery competition at Fort Riley, Kansas against active component counterparts. First Sergeant Miller was a core reason for these accomplishments.





			1SG LEONARD J. MILLER
	First Sergeant Leonard J. Miller was born 12 September 1930 in Wilson, Kansas. His military service began with his joining Battery C, 130Th Field Artillery, Kansas Army National Guard on 2 February 1949. In keeping with the traditions of National Guard Service as our Founding Fathers had planned, First Sergeant Miller would retire form this same unit some 35 years later on 6 August 1984. Shortly after his enlistment and assignment as Assistant Gunner on a Howitzer Section, his leadership skills and ability to motivate soldiers was recognized and he was promoted ahead of his peers to Gunner then Chief of the Howitzer Section. First Sergeant Miller proved to be an outstanding military instructor and had the ability to impart the intricacies of Field Artillery Gunnery to younger soldiers. His keen sense of duty and clear understanding of the mission made him an invaluable trainer. He also demonstrated the ability to motivate young people to join the National Guard and exercise their patriotic duty. Once in the National Guard unit, he had a personal agenda to assure each one was fully trained and dedicated to reach their maximum potential. He was responsible for scores of enlistments in the battery, which was split between Great Bend and Ellsworth, Kansas. His penchant for training and energizing the soldiers is legendary in his unit. First Sergeant Miller continued his career within the battery. Through several reorganizations over the years, he remained in the same unit although it was to become an element of three different battalions. Upon enlistment, the 130th Field Artillery, then later the 1st Battalion, 130th Field Artillery and then the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery. Finally, in 1983, the unit again came under the flag of the 130th Field Artillery as a unit of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery. During these years of transition, on man provided the steadfast continuity required assuring that the unit remained a viable national defense asset at the highest possible state of readiness. It was this battery that won the gunnery competition at Fort Riley, Kansas against active component counterparts. First Sergeant Miller was a core reason for these accomplishments. During his long and credible career as a Traditional Guardsman, First sergeant Miller was also employed in the private sector at the Journeyman level. He and his wife Betty raised eight children and five stepchildren, which well credits him as a family man. He also found time to be active in the community. He is a Deacon and Trustee for his church in Great Bend, Kansas. He serves as an Executive Council Member with the American Legion of Great Bend and participates in the senior Citizen Food Distribution Program and Meals on Wheels. First Sergeant Miller is also a Charter Life Member of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Kansas. He attended every State Conference since the association began in 1970. He remains active in the association and has served on numerous committees through the years. His dedication to the enlisted soldiers is clearly demonstrated through his extra service to this association. His decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Hourglass Devices, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, NCO professional Development Ribbon, Armed Services Ribbon, the Kansas National guard Service Medal with three Sunflower Devices, the Kansas Emergency service Ribbon and the Expert Rifle Marksman Badge. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame, 1 November 1998.