World War II Honoree

Ival Lee Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE FEBRUARY 9, 1942, SOME 2 MONTHS AFTER THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. SERVED OVERSEAS WITH THE 327TH ORDNANCE COMPANY IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, INITIALLY IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA), AND THEN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTOUSA). HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST TROOPS SENT TO CASABLANCA, MORACCO. WHILE SAILING FROM ORAN, ALGERIA, HIS SHIP WAS TORPEDOED OVER THE COURSE OF 5 HOURS, AND SANK. THE RAFT HE WAS ON WAS RESCUED BY AN ITALIAN FISHING BOAT AND TAKEN TO SICILY. HIS COMPANY SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED AT NAPLES ON THE WESTERN COAST OF ITALY, AND WAS IN ROME AT THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 28, 1945, WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY RESERVE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.