World War II Honoree

Thomas J. Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Toledo, Ohio

Honored By

Bernie Scott

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE IN TOLEDO, OHIO IN 1942 TO BE A FIGHTER PILOT, BEING A LICENSED PILOT ALREADY. SEVERE ILLNESS DURING TRAINING CAUSED THE MILITARY TO SWITCH HIM TO BECOME A RADIO DIRECTION FINDER OPERATOR, LATER ASSIGNED TO NARSARSSUAK, GREENLAND. MONITORED 5 RADIOS IN A RADIO SHACK NEAR THE MILITARY BASE FOR 6 HOUR SHIFTS, 7 DAYS PER WEEK. ALERTNESS TO HEARING THE RADIOS LED HIM TO SAVE 24 AIRMEN ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. RECEIVED TRAINING IN RADIO AND CODE COMMUNICATIONS. DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER 1945 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL, 137TH ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM SQUADRON. HIS RADIO/ CODE TALKING SKILLS EARNED HIM 3 CITATIONS.