Jack Miller, USMC
Encyclopedia
Jack Miller was a United States Marine Corps
officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for his heroic actions as one of Carlson's Raiders during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II
.
on 2 April 1920. He earned a Bachelor's degree
in Commerce from Southern Methodist University
(SMU) in 1941. While at SMU, Miller was the captain of the swim team. Three weeks before graduation, Miller signed up to join the Marine Corps, and reported for duty three weeks after graduation.
, at Quantico, Virginia
, 1 November 1941, he volunteered for "Carlson's Raiders" and went to the Pacific Ocean
Theatre.
which had the point at Guadalcanal
, he daringly led a flank attack on a strong enemy combat patrol engaged by his battalion
at the summit of the hill. Realizing the advance of his platoon was being held up by hostile machine gun
fire, he dauntlessly led the assault on the Japanese
gun position, acquiring wounds from which he died the following day. He was buried beside the road on Guadalcanal.
Lt. Miller was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
.
was named in his honor. She was launched 10 January 1944, by Brown Shipbuilding
Co., Houston, Texas
; sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Miller, mother of Lt. Miller; and commissioned 13 April 1944, Lt. Comdr. J. W. Whaley in command.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his heroic actions as one of Carlson's Raiders during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Jack Miller was born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
on 2 April 1920. He earned a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Commerce from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
(SMU) in 1941. While at SMU, Miller was the captain of the swim team. Three weeks before graduation, Miller signed up to join the Marine Corps, and reported for duty three weeks after graduation.
Marine Corps career
Miller served in the Marine Corps Reserve as a Second Lieutenant from 19 May to 31 October 1941. Commissioned First Lieutenant, USMCUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, at Quantico, Virginia
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
, 1 November 1941, he volunteered for "Carlson's Raiders" and went to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
Theatre.
Navy Cross action
On 3 December 1942, as commanding officer of a platoonPlatoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
which had the point at Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, he daringly led a flank attack on a strong enemy combat patrol engaged by his battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
at the summit of the hill. Realizing the advance of his platoon was being held up by hostile machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
fire, he dauntlessly led the assault on the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
gun position, acquiring wounds from which he died the following day. He was buried beside the road on Guadalcanal.
Lt. Miller was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
.
Namesake
USS Jack Miller (DE-410)USS Jack Miller (DE-410)
USS Jack Miller was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket...
was named in his honor. She was launched 10 January 1944, by Brown Shipbuilding
Brown Shipbuilding
The Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1942 as a subsidiary of Brown and Root by brothers Herman and George R. Brown to build ships for the US Navy during World War II....
Co., Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Miller, mother of Lt. Miller; and commissioned 13 April 1944, Lt. Comdr. J. W. Whaley in command.