BRET T. MILLER, LT, USN
Bret Miller '01
Lucky Bag
From the 2001 Lucky Bag:
Bret Miller
East Troy, Wisconsin
'BT, Tiiiight...1’m not scrawny, I’m nice...Rancid Milk!...BT is working’ out...But, Grandma says...What took us so long...thumbs up...Taps Bandits...Acapulco Nights...do the Eagle...to his retarded girlfriend, may she still win the race...Toke is ours...Seal Team Sasebo...Bed Wars and Lifestyles...I didn’t know you wanted COLD beer...why your banana no happy?...soapy slip and slide...No food for you... tequila poppers...Big Moe (6X6)...NICE...grass skirt...that’s another burger in the bag...Neighbor Wars...Nagasaki knows how to party...I dee bung hoe...Bopit Champions...Mr. Bojangles in your bag...I’m doing work tonight (watching basketball)...Cam, you were at that party too...80’s guitar jump...M.B. is not aware that D.R. is stankin, and Adam don’t think that’s too tiiiight...flag football forever...squad members are my friend...fight night at St. John’s.,.quit playin with your junk...Panama City (Is she still in high school!!!?)...Rule Japan Man...O’Canada ...Brad’s on the porch...Ringers in Rec Hall (PSU)...BT’s grocery store. -AOT, SMK, SJW, CCM, SAE, GCH, RDH, FDC
Bret Miller
East Troy, Wisconsin
'BT, Tiiiight...1’m not scrawny, I’m nice...Rancid Milk!...BT is working’ out...But, Grandma says...What took us so long...thumbs up...Taps Bandits...Acapulco Nights...do the Eagle...to his retarded girlfriend, may she still win the race...Toke is ours...Seal Team Sasebo...Bed Wars and Lifestyles...I didn’t know you wanted COLD beer...why your banana no happy?...soapy slip and slide...No food for you... tequila poppers...Big Moe (6X6)...NICE...grass skirt...that’s another burger in the bag...Neighbor Wars...Nagasaki knows how to party...I dee bung hoe...Bopit Champions...Mr. Bojangles in your bag...I’m doing work tonight (watching basketball)...Cam, you were at that party too...80’s guitar jump...M.B. is not aware that D.R. is stankin, and Adam don’t think that’s too tiiiight...flag football forever...squad members are my friend...fight night at St. John’s.,.quit playin with your junk...Panama City (Is she still in high school!!!?)...Rule Japan Man...O’Canada ...Brad’s on the porch...Ringers in Rec Hall (PSU)...BT’s grocery store. -AOT, SMK, SJW, CCM, SAE, GCH, RDH, FDC
Loss
Bret was lost on October 28, 2009 when the T-34 he was aboard crashed in the Gulf of Mexico. He was a member of Training Squadron (VT) 27.
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
Lt. Bret Travis Miller, 30, of East Troy, died Wednesday while flying a training mission over the gulf coast of Texas. He was born the son of Rick & Judy (Neumann) Miller, the youngest of three children. Bret grew up in East Troy. He graduated from East Troy High School with the class of 1997. He was well known for his academic and athletic achievements. He was a National Honor Society Scholar as well as the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball. Bret was a four time varsity letter winner in golf and basketball and graduated with high honors. Bret earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he graduated with the class of 2001. He continued to play basketball and earned a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering. Upon graduation from USNA in 2001, Bret discovered his love of naval aviation. He attended primary flight training at VT-28, followed by advanced multi-engine training at VT-31, where he earned his Wings of Gold. Following additional training at the [fleet replacement squadron], he reported to the War Eagles of VP-16 for his fleet tour. Bret earned qualifications as patrol plane commander, [functional check flight] pilot, mission commander and instructor pilot and successfully completed two deployments. Bret was a leader and a professional in every sense. He essentially held every qualification in the T-34.
Bret married the true love of his life, Brianne M. Voss, on Oct. 8, 2005, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, WI. While serving in Jacksonville, FL, they welcomed their first son, Chase, in February 2007, and patiently awaiting the arrival of their second son in March 2010. Bret was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. He is survived by his wife, Brianne; son, Chase; parents, Rick and Judy Miller of East Troy, WI; mother-in-law, Twila Voss of Elkhorn, WI; a sister, Tara (Gary) Grocholski of North Prairie, WI; a brother, Chad (Laura) Miller of Watertown, WI; two nieces, Hailey and Grace Grocholski; a nephew, Noah Miller; a brother-in-law, Braidon Voss of Elkhorn, WI; two sisters-in-law, Brittney Voss of Menomonie, WI and Brooke Voss of Elkhorn; grandparents, Elaine (Alex) Gamez of Pewaukee, WI and Shirley Williams Bohrman of Oconomowoc, WI. Bret was preceded in death by his father-in-law, David Voss; grandparents, Harold Neuman, Harry "Ozzie" (Shirley) Miller and Jack "Buck" Bohrman.
From the Victoria Advocate on November 17, 2009:
Lt. John Joseph Houston of Houston [TX] and Lt. Bret Travis Miller of East Troy, Wisc., left Naval Air Station Corpus Christi on a routine training mission Oct. 28 in the area of Rockport-Aransas County Airport. The pilots lost communication with the base tower and a search-and-rescue effort began soon after.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Bret earned honorable mention for all-State Wisconsin basketball and was a three-time All Southern Lakes Conference player. He made five 3-pointers in a March 1997 game against Union Grove. As a 6’ 2” senior guard, he was being courted by UW-Parkside and a host of other schools. His game-high of 18 points came in a game against Westosha.
Remembrances
From the Naval Academy Alumni Association's "In Memoriam" page:
My heart aches for those thoughts that Bret must have had about our sons, one of which he never got to meet. Brianne Miller
Related Articles
LT John Houston '02 was also killed in this crash.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
