World War II Honoree

James O. Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Dayton, Ohio

Honored By

Diane E. Miller

Relationship

Wife

GUAM, MONDAY JULY 23, THE USS IDAHO, ONE OF THE NAVY'S OLD 'BATTLE WAGONS' FIRED HER 10,000TH 14-INCH SHELL OF WAR AT OKINAWA AND KEPT UP HER RECORD OF PARTICIPATION IN ALL CENTRAL AND NORTH PACIFIC INVASIONS. PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS CREDITED THE 26 YEAR OLD MODERNIZED BATTLESHIP WITH FIRING 1500 TONS OF SHELLS AT JAPANESE POSITIONS IN OKINAWA, SHOOTING DOWN 9 JAPANESE PLANES, DESTROYING SEVERAL TORPEDO 'SUICIDE' BOATS AND SINKING A CARGO SHIP THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLEE NAHA HARBOR. FIVE OF THE PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN IN 3 MINUTES, 42 SECONDS OF A WILD KAMIKAZE ATTACK. THE IDAHO WAS AT HALFJORD, ICELAND WHEN THE WAR STARTED. SHE JOINED THE PACIFIC FLEET IN JANUARY 1942. AFTER A YEAR OF PATROL OPERATIONS, SHE STEAMED NORTH TO SUPPORT THE ATTU INVASION. SHE WAS THEN IN ACTION AT MAKIN, KWAJALEIN, KAVIENG, NEW IRELAND, SAIPAN, GUAM, PELELIU, ANGUAR, IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. SHE HAD BOMBARDED 13 ISLANDS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN 8 OPERATIONS.