<p>
Unlike many others that arrived at the Academy on July 3, 1956,<em> Dyson Ramsey Conklin ‘Dyke’ Miller</em> knew something of West Point, as his brother, Richey, graduated with the Class of 1955. Having survived New Cadet Company 6, he joined Company M-1 as a South Area runt. One could easily say that this company was far different from anything he experienced in his home state of Nebraska. During his cadet days, he proved himself both devoted and capable and gained many friends with his amiable personality. In his own words, he “jostled” with the Academic Departments, but he always pulled through with confidence and satisfaction.</p>
<p>
Two days after graduation, in 1960, he married his soulmate, Jill Patricia Dalness. They had 21 years of active service, which included troop and staff assignments, service schools, Command and General Staff College, graduate school, two tours in Vietnam, Office of Personnel Management Service Study Group in the Military Personnel Center, and two brief years in the Department of Engineering, United States Military Academy. The last assignment proving that those in the bottom 100 of a class do have “hive” potential!</p>
<p>
Dyke would note that that there were two assignments that were the highlights of his career. The first was as the commanding officer of the 2nd/5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division and sharing the lineage of the unit that included Robert E. Lee. Dyke found it easy to imagine drinking from the same punch cup of that great general. The second, as any Armor officer can attest, was being part of the M1 Abrams Tank Program Office.</p>
<p>
In 1981, at the age of 45, Dyke found that while Duty, Honor, Country were still very much a part of his life, he was missing something in the relationship with his family and God. He needed to reset his priorities and get his life back into a fruitful balance. Thus, they retired and moved to Austin, TX with their three daughters: Michele Dorene, Holly Marie, and Dana Lynn.</p>
<p>
Additionally, Holly Marie was diagnosed at age 11 with a degenerative brain disease of unknown origin, which eventually required full-time care. Jill and Dyke became her caregivers, which reoriented their lives. Holly passed away in January 2008, a month short of her 45th birthday. No one expects a child to pass before his or her parents. Those who have lost a child know that a part of you dies when this happens, a wound that does not fully heal, even though one has been surrounded by an outpouring of love and support of family, classmates, and friends. Dyke was thankful to God that they had the opportunity to care for her.</p>
<p>
With a helpful introduction to IBM by classmate Roy O’Connor, Dyke started over as a first-line manager, IBM-speak for squad leader! Dyke often said: “What goes around comes around, as the saying goes.” Thus, this brought him to the fact that no matter how much change we experience in life, what matters most tends to remain the same…for all of us…family and God.</p>
<p>
We are sure that Dyke misses his bride of 53 years, his two married daughters, two grandsons, two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren. However, we believe that he has already hugged Holly in their joyful reunion in Heaven. Dyke and Jill were missed at the 55th reunion; however, Jill attended the M-1 mini-reunion. It was a joyful time to visit with our sister in arms; yet, those present missed Dyke immensely as he was a great friend and brother runt. As Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Dyson Ramsey Conklin Miller was such a man!</p>
<p align="left">
<em>— Jill, wife,<br />
and ‘Deacon,’ companymate</em></p>