Andrew Miller (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Miller was a United States Army
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
—for his actions in World War II
.
, and by November 16, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company G, 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. On that day, at Woippy
, France
, he single-handedly captured two German
machine gun positions. The next day, outside of Metz
, he stayed behind while his platoon withdrew and then destroyed another enemy machine gun nest. He again distinguished himself in Metz from November 19 to November 21, when he led his men in the capture of dozens of Germans and disabled two more enemy machine guns. He was killed eight days later, on November 29, while leading his squad in a fight with German forces outside of Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany. For this series of actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on September 1, 1945.
Miller was buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
in Saint-Avold
, France.
cargo ship
, was named in his honor on October 31, 1947. Miller Barracks, a U.S. military facility in Germany, was also named in his honor. In his home of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
, the Andrew Miller U.S. Army Reserve Center is named for him, and the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans
organization is named Andrew Miller Chapter 24. In 2003, the 95th Division formed "The Sergeant Andrew Miller Club" in memory of Miller's actions.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
—for his actions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Miller was inducted into the Army in June 1942 from Two Rivers, WisconsinTwo Rivers, Wisconsin
Two Rivers is a city in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,712 at the 2010 census. It is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae...
, and by November 16, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company G, 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. On that day, at Woippy
Woippy
Woippy is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he single-handedly captured two German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
machine gun positions. The next day, outside of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, he stayed behind while his platoon withdrew and then destroyed another enemy machine gun nest. He again distinguished himself in Metz from November 19 to November 21, when he led his men in the capture of dozens of Germans and disabled two more enemy machine guns. He was killed eight days later, on November 29, while leading his squad in a fight with German forces outside of Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany. For this series of actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on September 1, 1945.
Miller was buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, is located just outside of Saint-Avold, Moselle, France. It covers and contains the largest number of graves of any American World War II cemetery in Europe. Those interred died mostly in the autumn of 1944 during the Drive to the Siegfried Line and...
in Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is situated twenty-eight miles east of Metz and seventeen miles southwest of Saarbrücken....
, France.
Medal of Honor citation
Staff Sergeant Miller's official Medal of Honor citation reads:For performing a series of heroic deeds from 16 to 29 November 1944, during his company's relentless drive from Woippy, France, through Metz to Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany. As he led a rifle squad on 16 November at Woippy, a crossfire from enemy machineguns pinned down his unit. Ordering his men to remain under cover, he went forward alone, entered a building housing 1 of the guns and forced 5 Germans to surrender at bayonetBayonetA bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
point. He then took the second gun single-handedly by hurling grenades into the enemy position, killing 2, wounding 3 more, and taking 2 additional prisoners. At the outskirts of Metz the next day, when his platoon, confused by heavy explosions and the withdrawal of friendly tanks, retired, he fearlessly remained behind armed with an automatic rifleAutomatic rifleAutomatic rifle is a term generally used to describe a semi-automatic rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge, capable of delivering both semi- and full automatic fire...
and exchanged bursts with a German machinegun until he silenced the enemy weapon. His quick action in covering his comrades gave the platoon time to regroup and carry on the fight. On 19 November S/Sgt. Miller led an attack on large enemy barracks. Covered by his squad, he crawled to a barracks window, climbed in and captured 6 riflemen occupying the room. His men, and then the entire company, followed through the window, scoured the building, and took 75 prisoners. S/Sgt. Miller volunteered, with 3 comrades, to capture GestapoGestapoThe Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
officers who were preventing the surrender of German troops in another building. He ran a gauntlet of machinegun fire and was lifted through a window. Inside, he found himself covered by a machine pistol, but he persuaded the 4 Gestapo agents confronting him to surrender. Early the next morning, when strong hostile forces punished his company with heavy fire, S/Sgt. Miller assumed the task of destroying a well-placed machinegun. He was knocked down by a rifle grenadeRifle grenadeA rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
as he climbed an open stairway in a house, but pressed on with a bazookaBazookaBazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
to find an advantageous spot from which to launch his rocket. He discovered that he could fire only from the roof, a position where he would draw tremendous enemy fire. Facing the risk, he moved into the open, coolly took aim and scored a direct hit on the hostile emplacement, wreaking such havoc that the enemy troops became completely demoralized and began surrendering by the score. The following day, in Metz, he captured 12 more prisoners and silenced an enemy machinegun after volunteering for a hazardous mission in advance of his company's position. On 29 November, as Company G climbed a hill overlooking Kerprich Hemmersdorf, enemy fire pinned the unit to the ground. S/Sgt. Miller, on his own initiative, pressed ahead with his squad past the company's leading element to meet the surprise resistance. His men stood up and advanced deliberately, firing as they went. Inspired by S/Sgt. Miller's leadership, the platoon followed, and then another platoon arose and grimly closed with the Germans. The enemy action was smothered, but at the cost of S/Sgt. Miller's life. His tenacious devotion to the attack, his gallant choice to expose himself to enemy action rather than endanger his men, his limitless bravery, assured the success of Company G.
Other honors
The USAT Sgt. Andrew Miller, a United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
, was named in his honor on October 31, 1947. Miller Barracks, a U.S. military facility in Germany, was also named in his honor. In his home of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 82,887. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The United States Census Bureau's Manitowoc Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Manitowoc County.-Government:...
, the Andrew Miller U.S. Army Reserve Center is named for him, and the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
organization is named Andrew Miller Chapter 24. In 2003, the 95th Division formed "The Sergeant Andrew Miller Club" in memory of Miller's actions.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II