World War II Honoree

John Bruce Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Eunice, Louisiana

Honored By

Carl J. Wittfeld, Jr.

Relationship

Friend

JOINED THE 16TH BOMB SQUADRON, 27TH BOMB GROUP AT BARKSDALE ARMY AIR BASE IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, AUGUST 1940. UNIT TRANSFERRED TO SAVANNAH ARMY AIR BASE, GEORGIA IN JANUARY 1941. SAILED ON THE USS PRESIDENT COOLIDGE TO PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. ARRIVED AT MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON NOVEMBER 20, 1941. CAPTURED ON BATAAN BY JAPANESE ARMY ON APRIL 9, 1942. MADE BATAAN DEATH MARCH. SUFFERED STARVATION, DISEASE AND TORTURE IN CAMPS O'DONNELL AND CABANATUAN. SHIPPED TO JAPAN AND FORCED TO WORK IN COAL MINES IN OSAKA. LIBERATED BY U.S. MILITARY FORCES AND RETURNED TO EUNICE, LOUISIANA ON OCTOBER 25, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED MARCH 28, 1946.