World War II Honoree

James Wesley Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Altoona, Alabama

Honored By

Family

4TH MARINES, COMPANY H, 2ND BATTALION, 23RD REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 19, 1944, DAY 4 OF SAIPAN INVASION, AGE 22 YEARS. TRAINED AT CAMP PENDLETON IN OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA AS AN EXPERT MARKSMAN. HE SPECIALIZED IN THE USE OF FLAMETHROWERS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 4TH MARINES, COMPANY H, 2ND BATTALION, 23RD REGIMENT. IN JANUARY 1944, THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO FOR THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, ROI NAMUR IN THE KWAJALEIN ATOLL. OPERATION FLINTLOCK WAS THE FIRST OBJECTIVE FOR THE DIVISION. SIX HOURS AFTER LANDING ON FEBRUARY 1, 1944, ROI ISLAND WAS DECLARED SECURED, AND NAMUR ISLAND WAS SECURED JUST 24 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST TROOPS LANDED. THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION SET THREE NEW RECORDS ON ITS FIRST OPERATION: IT BECAME THE FIRST DIVISION TO GO DIRECTLY INTO COMBAT FROM THE STATES; IT WAS THE FIRST TO CAPTURE JAPANESE MANDATED TERRITORY IN THE PACIFIC; AND IT SECURED ITS OBJECTIVE IN A SHORTER TIME THAN ANY OTHER IMPORTANT OPERATION SINCE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.