James Wilbourne Milner – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

James Wilbourne Milner, 83, an Army colonel who served with the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency after his military retirement, died February 4, 1999 at Powhatan Nursing Home in Falls Church. He had Parkinson’s disease.

Colonel Milner joined the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency after retiring from the Army in 1967. His work included the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and service as a member of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty delegations. He received a Meritorious Honor Award and a Distinguished Achievement Award. In 1990 he retired but continued to consult for the agency in retirement.

A resident of Arlington, Colonel Milner was born in McLennan County, Texas. He attended Baylor University and graduated in 1940 from the U.S. Military Academy. He received a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan.

During World War II, Colonel Milner commanded a field artillery unit in Europe, and he participated in combat operations in the Battle of the Bulge and other campaigns. He received a Silver Star for gallantry in action and the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Postwar service included duty in Germany during the Berlin Airlift.

He later graduated from the National War College in Washington, taught at West Point and at the Army’s artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served in Korea. He was director of special weapons in the office of the Army’s chief of research and development, and he served in the State Department’s bureau of international scientific and technological affairs.

He was an elder of National Presbyterian Church and a trustee of National Presbyterian School. In 1978, he received the Religious Heritage Award for Outstanding Community Service.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Margaret Wiebusch Milner of Arlington; a daughter, former Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Margaret Milner Richardson of Washington; a brother; and a granddaughter. A son, James W. Milner Jr., died in a swimming accident in 1965.

MILNER, JAMES WILBOURNE, COL. U.S.A., (Ret.)

On Thursday, February 4, of Arlington, VA; beloved husband of Margaret W. Milner; father of Margaret Milner Richardson; father-in-law of John L. Richardson; brother of W.D. Milner of Tyler, TX. Also survived by one granddaughter, Margaret L. Richardson of San Francisco, CA. He was preceded in death by a son, James Wilbourne Milner, Jr. Friends may call at The National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016 on Wednesday, February 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the The National Presbyterian Church on Thursday, February 11 at 10 a.m. Interment with full military honors will be at 1 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The National Presbyterian Church.

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