Sad News August 14, 2025:
David Bonello writes: “Morgan died while recovering from surgery at the San Diego VA Hospital on Tuesday morning, August 12th, at 03:30. Apparently, he had an unrelated cardiac event.”
Mike Billow writes:
“We will certainly miss Morgan!
“Morg was our primary Cobra Maintenance Officer in A 3/17 during our time at DiAn and our complete relocation to Quan Loi.
“He was definitely a hands-on expert that ensured that our aircraft maintained a high level combat readiness.
“During the latter part of his Vietnam tour he was welcomed into the Cobra Aircraft Commander role as Silver Spur 37.
“I was fortunate that I was able to maintain close contact with Morgan as did Silver Spur 38 Dave Tela.
“A couple of years ago, with the help of Dave and minor suggestions from me, Morgan penned the book and personal memoir of “Drafted” which became a best seller.
“Our very best wishes and condolences to his wife Virginia and family.
“Great memories of a great man!”
Mike Billow
CW5 (Ret.)
Spur 38 70-71
Update 2/18/2026 from Spur 3, Chuck Oualline:
The VHPA Aviator October-November-December 2025 issue lists this in the Taps Section:
“Miller, Henry M. USA; Flight Classes: 69-31, 69-29; 70-71 A/3/17 CAV, 71-72 BS(2), AM w/V, VUA (Cambodia); Callsigns: SPUR 8A/SPUR 37.”
“Award winning author and Army helicopter pilot H. Morgan “Morg” Miller III of Borrego Springs, CA, died early Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 3:30 AM local time at the San Diego VA Hospital. He was recovering from abdominal surgery when he came down with COVID which, a few days later, was followed by a fatal cardiac event.”
The obituary goes on to say that in 2023 his book, Drafted: My Year in Vietnam, was published and became the best-selling book ever for the publisher, W. Brand Publishing. He was drafted into the Army in 1968 at age 25. Other details of his life are included.
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News Flash March 7th 2024!
Morgan’s book Drafted! – Finalist in the War & Military Category!!
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We’re proud to announce that Spur 37, Morgan Miller’s book ‘Drafted! My Year in Vietnam’ is now available on Amazon, Linkedin & GoodReads! Reviews below:
‘Drafted’ by Morgan Miller – 2023
Morgan and I both served in the very same unit, and his memoir brought back many powerful memories for me. Our tours overlapped for eight months, so many of the events described in Drafted! coincided with my own, especially the losses of the brave young men serving with A Troop, 3/17th Air Cavalry.
Morgan’s memoir captures not only that bond, but also the profound bravery and sacrifices made. Ultimately, we fought for each other. We are truly a special Band of Brothers that time and space cannot separate!
Salute!
Roger “Bear” Young
Silver Spur Scout Crew Chief & Scout Line Chief
1969-1970
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“Drafted tells the story of Henry Morgan Miller’s year in Vietnam at the invitation of Lyndon B. Johnson. It is the story of a meat-cutter—wannabe commercial airline pilot—whose life was rudely interrupted by being inducted into a war that he considered someone else’s battle for a lost cause. It’s a story that could describe many of the almost 300,000 men drafted in 1968 along with Morgan, or, for that matter, the 1.85 million drafted between 1964-73. It is the story of your brother, your son, your friend—some who came home safe and sound, and others who perished, or were no longer whole.
“In his book, Morgan also exposes a major mechanical issue with Vietnam-era Cobra helicopters; so serious that had they been Ford cars they would have been subject to a major recall. He suggests that Cobra helicopter pilots were guinea-pigs for aircraft plagued with serious, not to mention deadly, hydraulic problems.
“Drafted is for readers who want to experience what it was like, on a day-to-day basis, to go through basic training, learn to fly gunships, and then be shipped out to the Vietnam war zone. What it’s like to be shot at and shot down. To serve your country honorably, while fighting a war you don’t believe in, only to return and be ostracized by a misguided faction of the general public.”
Video footage provided by Sgt. Phil Taylor & Morgan Miller
Update February 2025:
A report to share with the Silver Spurs on the success of Drafted: My Year In Vietnam.
In the early Summer of 1970 there was no way to know that 53 years after meeting Morgan Miller a photo that I had taken of him smiling in the front seat of a Silver Spur Cobra would be in his very own award winning Vietnam memoir. His writing started in earnest over a decade ago and when it was ready to hit the printing press in late 2023 it represented the memory harvesting of many audio recordings, discussions and conversations with Spurs who shared his journey.
After assisting with the restoration and editing of photographs, and helping with a final copy edit I knew it would be a book worthy of sharing amongst the families and friends of the Silver Spurs. Many Spurs contributed photographs, remembrances and perspective to Morgan’s efforts and the final product makes an additional lasting contribution to the Silver Spur legacy.
On December 18, 2024 JuLee Brand from W. Brand Publishing of Nashville, Tennessee wrote to me that “His (Morgan’s) book is our top bestseller of all time!” That is just one year after its sales began.
Within a few months of its December 19, 2023 release the book had won two 2024 awards: the Ben Franklin Gold Award for the publisher; a Silver Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award for Morgan and then he was selected as a Finalist in the 2024 Next Generation Indies Book Awards. An impressive performance for a first-time author.
His book has been offered for sale by many independent bookstores/sellers as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Harvard Book Store. Currently, sales are over 2,600 and continue rising with reader feedback being excellent.
Dave Tela – Silver Spur 38 (69-70)
