World War II Honoree

Lee DeBoer Miller, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Woodmere, New York

Honored By

Paul, Michael, William, Robert & Dorothy

Relationship

Sons & Wife

JOINED OCTOBER 29, 1942. ASSIGNED TO 29TH CAVALRY, FORT RILEY, KANSAS, 1942-1944. U.S. ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 12180718. PLATOON SERGEANT. TESTED EXPERIMENTAL ARMORED CAR WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. MOTOR POOL SERGEANT. VOLUNTEERED TO JOIN 70TH INFANTRY DIVISION, COMPANY D, 275TH REGIMENT, HEAVY MACHINE GUNS, CAMP ADAIR, OREGON, 1944-1945. EMBARKED FOR MARSEILLES, FRANCE DECEMBER 1944; FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF VOSGES MOUNTAINS, RHINELAND, ALSACE, FRANCE, DECEMBER 1944 TO FEBRUARY 1945. 25,000 AMERICAN TROOPS FACED 332,000 GERMAN TROOPS, IN OPERATION NORDWIND, ATTACKING THE ALLIED LINES FROM THE EAST IN THE ARDENNES FOREST. WOUNDED IN ACTION, EARLY MORNING, FEBRUARY 23, 1945 DURING BATTLE WITH GERMAN TANKS, 6TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION, MEDICALLY EVACUATED TO PARIS AND UNDERWENT TWO MONTHS OF FACIAL RE-CONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY. THEN SENT TO MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA FOR ONE YEAR RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON POINTS, FEBRUARY 1946. AWARDED PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN AWARD, AMERICAN SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THREE MEDALS BY THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE FOR FIGHTING ALONGSIDE FRENCH SOLDIERS, ON FRENCH SOIL, TO LIBERATE FRANCE FROM A FOREIGN INVADING AND OCCUPYING ARMY.