Daniel J. Miller
Encyclopedia
Colonel Daniel J. Miller was born in Stony Point, New York
. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II and was a navigator in a B-24 Liberator
. During the Korean War, he flew various aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre
jet fighter. In the late Korean War
and throughout the Vietnam War
, he flew helicopter rescue missions. He was awarded the Silver Star
during the Korean War
in the 3rd Rescue Squadron. He braved heavy enemy fire in low visibility to rescue USMC Major Frank H. Presley. Immediately after rescuing Presley, his P-51 fighter escort was shot down, and he once again braved the fire to attempt to rescue USAF Captain Willis R. Brown, but Brown had failed to eject and had perished. In addition, he was also awarded the Cheney Award
for a rescue in February 1951, when he rescued six wounded soldiers behind enemy lines in three attempts despite snow and enemy fire. During Vietnam
, he flew rescue missions and commanded a light reconnaissance squadron, the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron.
Stony Point, New York
Stony Point is a triangle-shaped town in Rockland County, United States. Rockland County is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The town is located north of the town of Haverstraw, east and south of Orange County, New York, and west of the Hudson River and Westchester County. The population...
. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II and was a navigator in a B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
. During the Korean War, he flew various aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
jet fighter. In the late Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and throughout the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he flew helicopter rescue missions. He was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in the 3rd Rescue Squadron. He braved heavy enemy fire in low visibility to rescue USMC Major Frank H. Presley. Immediately after rescuing Presley, his P-51 fighter escort was shot down, and he once again braved the fire to attempt to rescue USAF Captain Willis R. Brown, but Brown had failed to eject and had perished. In addition, he was also awarded the Cheney Award
Cheney Award
The Cheney Award is an aviation award presented by the United States Air Force in memory of 1st Lt. William Cheney, who was killed in an air collision over Italy in 1918...
for a rescue in February 1951, when he rescued six wounded soldiers behind enemy lines in three attempts despite snow and enemy fire. During Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, he flew rescue missions and commanded a light reconnaissance squadron, the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron.