HM2 Charles Luke Milam
Died: September 25, 2007

26, of Littleton, Colo.; assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 25 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

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Colorado corpsman killed in Afghanistan Columbine grad following dream, his brother says

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
September 27, 2007

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Charles Luke Milam was following a family tradition when he joined the Navy in 1999.

"I was in the Navy and so was his grandfather," said his brother, Keith Milam, of Nashville, Tenn.

The 26-year-old petty officer, of Littleton, was killed Tuesday during combat in the Helmand province in Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Keith Milam said this was his brother's fourth deployment overseas, having served three tours in Iraq in the past six years.

He was sent to Afghanistan a few months ago.

Born in Albuquerque, Milam moved with his family to Colorado in 1992.
He graduated from Columbine High School in 1999 - the year two fellow students attacked the school, killing 12 students and a teacher - and joined the Navy on June 14 that year.

"He was following his dream, doing what he wanted to do," said Keith Milam.
In May 2005, Charles Milam was assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. It was not clear Wednesday when he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion.

Keith Milam said his brother had planned to make the Navy his career.
"He loved the guys he worked with and he loved his family," he said.
Keith Milam said he last talked to his brother about a month ago.
"We talked on the phone as often as we could," he said.

Even though his parents moved to Washington in 2001, Milam still considered Colorado home, his brother said.

One of his favorite pastimes was riding his mountain bike, Keith Milam said.
Charles Milam was awarded the Purple Heart, two Combat Action ribbons, two Good Conduct medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment ribbons.

In addition to his brother, Milam is survived by his parents, Michael and Rita Milam, of Lake Forest Park, Wash; a sister, Jaeme Milam, and another brother, Andrew Milam, both of Denver.

Services are pending, but the family is arranging to have Milam buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

 

Columbine graduate killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

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LITTLETON, Colo. - A Columbine graduate who joined the Navy two months after the 1999 school shooting has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

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The Defense Department said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Charles Luke Milam of Littleton, a decorated Navy corpsman, died Tuesday in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. The 26-year-old was assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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Keith Milam said his brother, who was known as Luke, wasn't shot at or wounded at Columbine. But he thinks the shootings, which left 12 students and a teacher dead, may have inspired him to become a corpsman and treat fellow service members for everything from everyday pain to combat injuries.

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He said his brother had served three tours in Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan.

"He felt it was his duty to do whatever he could to help people in the military. He was a hero in every sense of the term," said Keith Milam, who also served in the Navy as did his two grandfathers.

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Milam was awarded the Purple Heart and named special operations commander of the year, his family said.

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Petty Officer Second Class Charles L. Milam of Littleton, Colo., graduated from Columbine High School in 1999, the year two fellow students attacked the school, killing 12 students and a teacher, and joined the Navy on June 14 that year.

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He was following his dream, doing what he wanted to do and had planned to make the Navy his career. Serving in the Navy was a family tradition. His brother was in the Navy and so was his grandfather.

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Born in Albuquerque, Charles moved with his family to Colorado in 1992. Even though his parents moved to Washington in 2001, he still considered Colorado home.One of his favorite pastimes was riding his mountain bike.

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He was awarded the Purple Heart, two Combat Action ribbons, two Good Conduct medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment ribbons.

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This was his fourth deployment overseas, having served three tours in Iraq in the past six years and he died while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan at age 26.