Funeral services for Milton A. Bang will be held 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20 at St. John’s Lutheran Home Chapel.

The Rev. Daniel Baker will officiate.

Interment will be in the Salem Cemetery, Lake Mills, Iowa.

Military honors will be accorded by area servicemen’s organizations.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at St. John’s, Tuesday.

To sign the guest book, goto www.bayviewfuneral.com

Milton passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 at his home.

Milton A. Bang was born Oct. 12, 1918, in Lake Mills, Iowa to 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, Iowa.

He attended Iowa State University, Valley Forge Military Academy, Penn., Yale University, Conn., Oxford University in England, and graduated from Roosevelt College in Chicago, Ill.

Milton married Opal Field Sept. 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.

Milton 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 Assoc. of the U.S.

Milton was employed during his career at International Harvester, Mason City, Iowa; as a Chief Clerk at Interstate Power Co., Spring Valley, Minn., where he supervised installation of power lines and stations across southern Minn. to Fulda.

He was a loan/collections officer at Albert Lea Savings and Loan; and a Senior Project Engineer at Queen Products.

Milton designed the Scotsman flaked ice machine still used today.

Milton had a special gift for music.

He sang with a deep, rich bass, and played the piano with a velvet touch.

He was a composer with ten copyrighted songs.

Milton 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 of Edina, Elizabeth Brown of Minneapolis, Jonathan Smeby of St. Paul, Jarrett and Beth Smeby of Eagan, and Joel and Jennifer Smeby of 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 &uot;Greatest Generation.&uot;