A1C Millard Lehman was the armory technician for Binh Thuy AB. My first contact with him was when I arrived on base and reported to the armory to check out weapons and ammo. Since Bình Thủy was still a new Air Base most of the weapons were new and still sealed in the factory package, complete with cosmoline coating. When Lehman slid the Smith and Wesson Combat Masterpiece across the counter to me I promptly returned it to him and announced that I wanted a "real" side arm. I had carried a Colt 45 semi state side at Randolph AFB in law enforcement. After he calmly explained to me that I wasn't in Randolph AFB and that was all I was going to get, I accepted.
      I then reported to the Devil Flight barracks and discovered the lower bunk that was open happened to be right below A1C Lehman's. That worked out fine, he worked days, I work nights as did all of Devil Flight.
      Airman Lehman would come out at night, around mid-night, and help with chow relief for those who wanted to eat at the chow hall. Most of us preferred C-rations. Anyway, on 8 July 1966 he was doing just that, helping with relief (on his own time). He was relieving A1C John Sharp in the entry control point on the South East corner of the compound, the gate closest to the AP barracks. Also the guard shack with the batteries for the siren in it. That day was one of the few times I actually went to the chow hall.
      A group of us had just left the mess building when the first round came over us. The siren started to scream, then just quit. A1C Lehman had taken a direct hit from a 75 mm recoilless rifle. The final count of incoming that night was between 75 and 80 rounds.

We built a memorial for Airman Lehman by the Chapel/Theater.

  

The Memorial photo was taken on the East side of the Base Chapel/Theater, which has a nice color photo in Bình Thủy's Photos at Binh Thuy Photos, 1969-70, by Wayne D. Dezarn. It is nice to see that his memorial was carried on and shared with other brother AP's.
      At the theatre building, we watched our two favorite cartoons, Road Runner and Combat!, staring Vic Morrow. At the time of his death, Lehman had a small daughter. He was one of the quieter of the bunch of us and kept pretty much to himself. His death brought a real sense of what we had been trained for. Also we all grew up a lot that night and the respect for life became a reality.

Years later, I found A1C Millard Lehman's name on one of The Moving Walls. Although it was almost 100 degrees, it might as well have been raining, as the eyes did not focus too well.