James Francis Miley – Colonel, United States Army

James Francis Miley, 80, an Army Corps of Engineers Colonel who retired in 1977 and became general services manager of Potomac Electric Power Co. before retiring again in 1988, died May 16, 2007, at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. He had respiratory failure.

Colonel Miley was a native of Des Moines and graduated in 1953 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he was on the sailing and pistol teams. In 1959, he received a master’s degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University.

His military assignments included command of an engineer combat battalion in Vietnam. His final active-duty assignment was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as chief of war plans.

His decorations included two awards of the Legion of Merit and two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal in addition to the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal.

Since the mid-1970s, he had lived in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ruth Laurent Miley of Fairfax County; five children, Frances Miley Hudson of Vero Beach, Florida, and Buffalo, Patricia Rehberg of Renick, West Virginia, Susan Murphy of the Alexandria part of Fairfax County and Mark Miley and Matthew Miley, both of Richmond; a sister; and four grandchildren.

JAMES FRANCIS MILEY (Age 80)
U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.)

Passed away on May 16, 2007, in Alexandria, Virginia. Colonel Miley is survived by a large and loving family.

He was the beloved husband of Ruth Laurent Miley for 54 years. He had five children, Francis Miley Hudson, Mark Laurent Miley, Patricia Miley Rehberg, Susan Miley Murphy, and Matthew Laurent Miley. He is also survived by his grandchildren Brendan, Patrick, Carolyn, and Sean Murphy; his sister Toni Shivers of Des Moines, Iowa; as well as sons-in-law William Hudson, Paul Murphy, and Neal Rehberg; and daughter-in-law Caitlin Faia Miley.

Colonel Miley proudly served his country for over 28 years in the Army Corps of Engineers, that was followed by 11 years at the Potomac Electric Power Company.

In his free time, he enjoyed sailing and skiing, and was known as an excellent marksman.

Funeral services with Full Military Honors will take place on August 16, 2007 at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard