John H. Miller

John Harrison Miller (born April 16, 1925) is a highly decorated retired lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, Miller completed his career as commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.[1]

For the fictional character of the same name, see Saving Private Ryan.

John Harrison Miller
LTG John H. Miller, USMC
Born	(1925-04-16) April 16, 1925 San Angelo, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1943–1946 1949–1984
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Develop. and Education Command 2nd Force Service Support Group 1st Battalion, 8th Marines
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Okinawa Korean War Battle of Chosin Reservoir 1951 Counteroffensive Battle of the Punchbowl Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart (3)

Early career

John H. Miller was born on April 16, 1925, in San Angelo, Texas, and graduated from the Axtell High School in June 1942. He then entered the Texas A&M University, where he was active in football team and also was a member of ROTC unit. Miller left the university in order to enlist the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1943 and following the boot camp and service stateside, he took part in the Battle of Okinawa as Radar Repair Technician in May 1945.[1][2]

Following the War, Miller participated in the Occupation of Japan and returned to the United States with the rank of staff sergeant. He was released from active duty in April 1946 and returned to the Texas A&M University in order to complete his education. Miller graduated in May 1949 with Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He married his high school love, Virginia Lee Campbell on August 31, 1947.[1][3][4][5]

Miller decided for the career in the Marines and was commissioned second lieutenant on June 3, 1949. He was subsequently ordered to the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, for officer training, which he completed in June 1950. Miller then joined the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and embarked for Korea as commander of the light machine gun platoon in "I" Company. He led his unit during the combat operations in Chosin Reservoir and was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1951.[1][4]

He subsequently participated in the 1951 Counteroffensive in May and in the Battle of the Punchbowl in September of that year and earned two Bronze Star Medals with Combat "V". He was wounded three times during his tour in Korea and received three Purple Hearts for each of his wounds.[4]

Miller was ordered back to the United States in early 1952 and after brief leave home, he assumed duty as executive officer, Naval Ammunition Depot, McAlester, Oklahoma. He remained in that capacity until March 1953, when he was transferred to the 1st Provisional Marine Guided Missile Battalion at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California and promoted to captain in July of that year.[1]

He served as assistant operations officer of the battalion until July 1954, when he was ordered to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he graduated in July 1957 with Master of Science degree in Electronics Engineering.[1][2]

Miller then returned to the China Lake and assumed duty as executive officer, Marine Corps Guided Missile Test Unit. He was promoted to major in January 1959 and was transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in July of that year. Miller served as Guidance Missile/Ordnance Officer in the Logistics Division until July 1962, when he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California for duty as executive officer, Materiel Supply and Maintenance Battalion, 1st Force Service Regiment.[1]

In September 1963, Miller departed for Okinawa, Japan, where he assumed duty as Operations officer (S-3), 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He remained there until October 1964, when he was transferred to Hawaii, where he joined the headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under famous lieutenant general Victor H. Krulak as Plans Officer in logistics section. While in this capacity, Miller was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1965.[1][2]

He was ordered back to the continental United States in August 1967 and served as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina until July 1968, when he was sent to the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.[1]

Vietnam War

Miller graduated in June 1969 and departed for South Vietnam shortly thereafter. He assumed command of Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Force Service Regiment, Force Logistics Command under Brigadier General James A. Feeley Jr.. This command, stationed in Da Nang, served as the main logistics support component for the III Marine Amphibious Force and included Medical, Dental, Engineer, Supply, Maintenance and Military Police Battalions.[6]

As the commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Miller ran the day-to-day operations within the headquarters of Force Logistics Command (FLC) and coordinated the work of personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics and communications sections of the FLC. He held that command until the beginning of December 1969 and received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service with FLC.[3]

He was subsequently ordered to Okinawa, where he assumed duty as chief of staff, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler under future Commandant, Robert H. Barrow. Miller was promoted to colonel in January 1970 and served on Okinawa until the end of 1972. He was decorated with second Legion of Merit for his service at Camp Butler in connections with support operations during the later phase of Vietnam War.[3][2]

General's duty

Upon his return to the United States, Miller was appointed deputy director of development, Office of the Chief of Research and Development, Department of the Army in Washington, D.C., and remained in that capacity until his promotion to brigadier general on July 2, 1974. He received the Meritorious Service and Joint Service Commendation Medals for his service in the Department of the Army.[1]

His first general's billet was the capacity of deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) with headquarters at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Miller served as deputy to Lieutenant General Robert L. Nichols and was co-responsible for the Marine landing force that was spread across the Atlantic Ocean and on the East Coast of the United States.[1]

In May 1975, Miller was appointed commanding general, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and commanded all independent units under FMFLANT such as support artillery units, antiaircraft artillery units, military police battalions, separate engineer units and other miscellaneous force units. Since February 1976, he also held additional duty as Commander 2nd Force Service Support Group, Atlantic.[1]

Miller was promoted to major general on May 3, 1976, and transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as deputy chief of staff for operations and training until May 1978. He was then transferred to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he succeeded Joseph C. Fegan Jr. as commanding general, Marine Corps Development and Education Command.[2]

While in this capacity, Miller held the responsibility for several training facilities (The Basic School, Officer Candidates School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and others) and oversaw the Marine Corps Officer training until October 1, 1980. While at Quantico, he was promoted to lieutenant general on June 13, 1979.[1]

Miller was then transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps and served under his old superior, now Commandant of the Marine Corps, Robert H. Barrow as deputy chief of staff for plans, policies and operations. He assumed his final assignment in July 1982, when he relieved Adolph G. Schwenk as commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.[1]

While in this capacity, Miller held additional duty as commanding general, II Marine Amphibious Force and retired from the Marine Corps after 38 years of active service on September 1, 1984. He was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal during his retirement ceremony.[1][3][2]

Retirement

Following the retirement from the Marine Corps, Miller settled in College Station, Texas, and was active in the Marine Corps Historical Foundation. He also helped his granddaughters with their Cat Spring Yaupon Tea business strategy. His beloved wife Virginia died of cancer on January 30, 2012, at the age of 87. They have three children: John H. Jr., Danny and daughter Melissa.[7][5][8]

Miller was inducted into Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2019.

Decorations

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:[3]

1st Row	Navy Distinguished Service Medal				Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and one ​^5⁄16" Gold Star				Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and one ​^5⁄16" Gold Star				Meritorious Service Medal
2nd Row	Joint Service Commendation Medal				Navy Commendation Medal				Purple Heart two ​^5⁄16" Gold Stars				Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars
3rd Row	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation				American Campaign Medal				Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two 3/16 inch bronze service stars				World War II Victory Medal
4th Row	Navy Occupation Service Medal				National Defense Service Medal with one star				Korean Service Medal with four 3/16 inch silver service stars				Vietnam Service Medal with two 3/16 inch bronze service stars
5th Row	Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation				Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation				United Nations Korea Medal				Vietnam Campaign Medal

See also

• 2nd Force Service Support Group

Military offices
Preceded by Adolph G. Schwenk	Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic July 1, 1982 - September 1, 1984	Succeeded by Alfred M. Gray Jr.

References

1. "John H. Miller Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
2. "Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets – Lieutenant general John H. Miller". corps.tamu.edu. Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
3. "Valor awards for John H. Miller". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
4. "Texas A&M University, Association of former students – John H. Miller". aggienetwork.com. Texas A&M University, Association of former students Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
5. "Virginia Lee Miller Obituary". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
6. Smith, Charles. U.S. Marines In Vietnam: High Mobility And Standdown, 1969 (PDF). USMC Military History Division. pp. 345–7. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
7. "Tea Time – Texas A&M Foundation". spirit.txamfoundation.com. Texas A&M Foundation Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
8. "Fortitudine Volume 14, Part 2" (PDF). marines.mil. Marine Corps Websites. Retrieved 25 January 2015.