World War II Honoree

Horace J. Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HIS SQUADRON WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 14TH AIR FORCE IN CHINA IN EARLY 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) AREA, WITH THE 374TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (HEAVY), 308TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP. HIS B-24 ‘LIBERATOR’ BOMBER SQUADRON WAS BASED AT CHENGKUNG AIRFIELD IN CHINA FROM MARCH, 1943 AND FLEW THE AIRLIFT ROUTE OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN RANGE (THE 'HUMP') BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA TO SUPPLY GASOLINE, BOMBS, SPARE PARTS AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR AND SUSTAIN COMBAT OPERATIONS. THE SQUADRON SUPPORTED CHINESE GROUND FORCES BY ATTACKING AIRFIELDS, COAL YARDS, DOCKS, OIL REFINERIES AND FUEL DUMPS IN FRENCH INDOCHINA. THE UNIT ALSO MINED RIVERS AND PORTS, BOMBED MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND DOCKS AT RANGOON, BURMA AND ATTACKED JAPANESE SHIPPING IN THE EAST CHINA SEA, THE FORMOSA STRAITS, THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, AND THE GULF OF TONKIN OFF INDOCHINA. STAFF SERGEANT MILLER WAS INITIALLY REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION (MIA). HIS STATUS WAS REVIEWED AFTER A YEAR AND A PRESUMPTIVE FINDING OF DEATH (FOD) WAS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 13, 1946, AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.