Milton A. Bang

Milton was born on October 12, 1918, in Lake Mills, IA to parents Andrew and Millie Dahl Bang. He was Baptized and Confirmed at Salem Lutheran in Lake Mills, and has been a 50-year member of First Lutheran in Albert Lea. He graduated from Lake Mills Public School in 1937, and was the first Eagle Scout in Winnebago County, IA. He attended Iowa State University, Valley Forge Military Academy PA, Yale University CT, Oxford University in England, and graduated from Roosevelt College in Chicago, IL. Milton married Opal Field on September 29, 1942, and 12 days later left for WWII, not returning for three years. He served in the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, and participated in the Air Offensive of Europe, Normandy Utah Sector, Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes and Rhineland Campaigns. He was awarded numerous medals and ribbons, including one silver and two bronze battle stars. He invented the Trip Rod which allowed bombs to be dropped one at a time, instead of in clusters, improving target accuracy. He received the Bronze Star for that contribution. Milton also wrote the training manual on bombsite maintenance. Milton was recalled into the Military during the Korean Crisis. He was assigned duty as Associate Professor of Air Science and Space Tactics at Washington University, St. Louis, MO. He retired as a Lt. Colonel, and has been a life member of the Reserve Officers Assn. of the U.S. Milton was employed during his career at International Harvester, Mason City, IA; as a Chief Clerk at Interstate Power Co., Spring Valley, MN, where he supervised installation of power lines and stations across S. MN to Fulda. He was a loan/collections officer at Albert Lea Savings and Loan; and a Senior Project Engineer at Queen Products. He designed the Scotsman flaked ice machine still used today. Milton had a special gift of music. He sang with a deep, rich bass, and played the piano with a velvet touch. He was a composer with ten copyrighted songs. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Opal, and their daughters Connie and her husband Keith Smeby of St. Paul, Melinda and her husband Ross Brown of Orono, and cherished grandchildren Jason Brown, Edina, Elizabeth Brown, Minneapolis, Jonathan Smeby, St. Paul, Jarrett and Beth Smeby, Eagan, and Joel and Jennifer Smeby, St. Paul. Milton will be remembered for his stoic courage and dignity, in the face of illness, gentleness, humor, love, and devotion to his family. He was a member of the "Greatest Generation."