World War II Honoree

Thomas James Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Belton, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 6, 1942 with induction at Houston, Texas. He completed basic training with the Eighth Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. Following infantry training, he served as a Rifle Team Leader with the Twenty-Eighth Marine Regiment, an element of the Fifth Marine Division Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima and occupation (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Saturday, March 3, 1945 he was reported missing in action, during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. Later his missing in action status ultimately, to read killed in action March 4, 1946. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.