John Millsap
John Franklin Millsap (Sept. 9, 1920 – April 3, 1945) was a soldier from Oneida killed in Germany during World War II.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born Sept. 9, 1920, in Rockwood, Tenn., John F. Millsap was the son of Ira Millsap and Gracie Mae Fox. His siblings included Iva M. Millsap, Christine Millsap, Reba Millsap, Ruth Millsap, Charles K. Millsap, Betty L. Millsap and Barbara S. Millsap.
While the Millsap family was originally from Rockwood, they moved to Oneida prior to 1930, and Ira worked locally as a machinist in a machine shop.
John married Sarah Louise Millsap and they moved to Alabama. While John listed his residence as Oneida when he registered for the draft in 1942, he was working for Western Union in Atlanta, Ga. He registered for the draft in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
World War II
Sgt. Millsap enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 12, 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. He was assigned to the 465th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He was killed in Germany on April 3, 1945.
Capt. Thomas R. Atkinson, a U.S. Army chaplain, wrote to his wife: “Captain Vonderau, Commanding Officer of C Battery, expressed deep regret to me at the loss of Sergeant Millsap. He rated him as one of his most valuable men. Sergeant Millsap was extremely well liked by all, and his loss will be keenly felt. I counted him as one of my best faithful church members and a very fine man and faithful Christian. We could always count on him at our Protestant Services in C Battery. Sgt. Millsap had received three Bronze Stars for meritorious achievement and a Divisian Citation.“
Aftermath
Sgt. Millsap was originally interred in Holland, but his body was later returned to Scott County for burial at Cooper Memorial Gardens in West Oneida, where his parents are also buried.
He received three Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart award. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.