The Navy has honored Hospital Corpsman Luke Milam of Littleton, who was killed during a fierce battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan in September 2007, by naming a 504- bed, $60 million “Homeport Ashore” barracks for him at Naval Station Everett in Washington.
The building named in Milam’s honor was dedicated Friday.
“While we know that Luke would absolutely hate the fuss made over him, we’re sure that he would love the building and the wonderful apartments,” said his father, Michael.
In October 2007, hundreds of mourners packed a Littleton church for services for Milam, where the Columbine High School graduate was honored for being a “warrior.” Those who spoke said Milam was both an exemplary Navy corpsman and an excellent combat fighter.
They also said he was an exceptional human being, driven by compassion.
“Luke was an ordinary kid who fell in love with the Navy as an 8-year- old,” his father said. “He early enlisted at 17 years old, left for boot camp two weeks after high school graduation and never looked back.”
In addition to apartments, the building also features seven lounges available to sailors for viewing movies, studying or playing a variety of games, including pool, pingpong, air hockey and video games.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
