LIEUT. MAURICE M. MILLER
LIEUT. MAURICE M. MILLER
telegram from the U. S. War department was received by Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Miller of Terril, notifying them of the tragic death of their eldest son, Lieut. Maurice M. Miller.
The telegrams stated that Maurice had been accidentally killed at sea on Thursday, December 11. A letter just previously received from Maurice, who was in the air service, stated he had flown a bomber to Miami, Fla. On Tuesday he started his return flight and when motor trouble developed he was forced to return to the Pan American airport at Miami. Repairs were to be made to the ship possibly by Wednesday and he planned to then return to Porto Rico.
Sunday afternoon the Dickinson County Red Cross wired an inquiry to national headquarter seeking information regarding the accident and a wire early Monday morning stated the desired information would be forth coming.
On Tuesday morning a second telegram was received by Mr. miller from war department which stated that the bomber Maurice was flying had exploded in mid-air and was lost at sea.
Memorial services will he held at the Methodist church in Terril next Sunday morning at 11:oo am. Rev. Harvey Nelson will officiate.
Maurice M. Miller, eldest son of Mr.and Mrs. Ben W. Miller of Terril, Iowa, was born January 3, 1915. at Lodgepole, S. D.. He came to Terril with his parents in 1915. His school work at home was completed in 1932 when he graduated for the Terril High School. The next three years he spent attending Coe college in Cedar Rapids. In the fall of 1935 Maurice received an appointment to West Point U.S. Military Academy, where he played as a member of the Army football team, and graduated with the class of 1939.
Following the completion on of Maurice's military education he entered the air force of the U.S, Army as a First Lieutenant. His basic training was received at Kelly and Ranloloh Fields in Texas. During the summer of 1940 he last visited home, and was then stationed with the 10th Bombardment Squadron at Borinquen Field in Porto Rico, where he remained until his fatal accident.
He leaves behind his parents, four brothers, Walter , who is stationed with the U.S. Army at the Portland Air Base, Portland, Ore.; Donald, Franklin and Kenneth at home Four sisters, Charlotte at Milford, Rose at Sioux City, and Ruth and Marjorie at home.
Maurice is well remembered by many people throughout the county because of his participation in athletics while attending the Terril school. His life is one that his parents, bothers and sisters, as well as the entire county and country can well be proud of. Every year of his life as his record clearly shows, wss spent in gaining knowledge , going ahead, becoming a better citizen, and training to be the protector of his country, for which he gave his life. To acquire all this was no easy task, but Maurice was capable and filled with the disire. Yet, with all his ambitions, and attainments, his home was was never forgotten. News from him was regularly received and every member of the family of which he was a part, was always in his mind.
The entire community extends sympathy to the bereaved family. The memory of Maurice M.Miller will (The rest is unreadable.)
From Milford Mail December 18, 1941
