World War II Honoree

E. M. 'Al' Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Twin Falls, Idaho

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LEXINGTON (CV-2). AT 1120 HOURS ON MAY 8, 1942, WHILE ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA, HIS SHIP WAS STRUCK BY A TORPEDO ON THE PORT SIDE, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BY ANOTHER ABREAST THE BRIDGE. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY HIT BY 3 BOMBS FROM JAPANESE DIVE BOMBERS. ALTHOUGH DAMAGE CONTROL PARTIES CONTROLLED THE FIRE AND DAMAGE AND ALLOWED THE SHIP TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS, AN IGNITION OF GASOLINE VAPORS BELOW DECKS CAUSED A TREMENDOUS INTERNAL EXPLOSION AND FIRES RANGED OUT OF CONTROL. AT 1707 HOURS, THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP WAS GIVEN. THE 2,735 MAN CREW WAS QUICKLY PICKED UP BY OTHER NAVY SHIPS. A NAVY DESTROYER THEN FIRED 2 TORPEDOES INTO THE SHIP'S HULL AND THE LEXINGTON SANK AT 1956 HOURS. LATER, SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER ABOARD THE ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS BOGUE (CVE-9). HIS SHIP SERVED AS THE NUCLEUS OF THE PIONEER AMERICAN ANTI-SUBMARINE HUNTER-KILLER GROUP IN THE ATLANTIC FLEET. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.