The Service of Remembrance for SFC Raymond Keen McMillian, MIA/POW will be held on Saturday March 26, 2016 at 3:00 pm in One Accord Baptist Church on Kings Mountain Road. Rev. Phillip Woods, and Pastors Eddie Hawks and Dean Ashby will lead the services. The family will receive friends for two hours prior to the service at the Church, and there will also be a visitation on Friday March 25, 2016 at the Church from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. SFC McMillian's interment will be at Roselawn Burial Park after the services on Saturday the 26th, with full military honors conducted by the U.S. Army.

SFC McMillian was born in Axton on September 14, 1930 to the late Clarence and Viola Keen McMillian. He had three brothers, Daniel McMillian, Leon McMillian, and Joe McMillian, and one sister, Molly McMillian who have also passed away. Raymond is survived by two aunts, nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

SFC McMillian joined the U.S. Army November 1, 1948 and was assigned to the Army Medical Service. He deployed to Korea where he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. While SFC McMillian was attending to wounded soldiers close to the battlefield, the Chinese counterattacked and surrounded SFC McMillian's position. He was taken prisoner by the Chinese on February 12, 1951, and was later transferred to a North Korean POW camp where he died of injuries he received from his captors on or about February 19, 1954. SFC McMillian's remains have only been positively identified in recent years using DNA samples from family members living in this area. Pat Ross of the Bassett Historical Center was instrumental in helping find family members to supply DNA samples for comparison and positive identification.

For his sacrifice and service to his country, SFC McMillian was awarded the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, Combat Medical Badge, United Nations Medal, Republic of Korea-Korean War Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

SFC McMillian was a "true American Hero" for his willingness to stay with his wounded comrades in the face of a far superior enemy force that was surely going to kill or capture him and the wounded soldiers in his charge. There are no words that can adequately describe the valor and perseverance displayed by SFC Raymond Keen McMillian.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of SFC McMillian be made to Salem VA Medical Center, ATTN: Volunteer Service, 1970 Roanoke, Blvd., Salem, VA 24153.
Online condolences may be entered at www.roselawnchapelfuneralhome.com.