Shipboard Boilerman First Class Milam was a crew member aboard the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) in Korean waters. He was Killed in Action while engaged with the enemy when his ship struck a mine on 12 June 1951.

Milam was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.