Sgt. Oliver O. Miller, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond D. Miller, Route 1, Council Bluffs, Ia., has been assigned to duty with The Rough Raiders, a medium bomber-strafer squadron which is taking an important part in the current southwest Pacific offensive according to word received here.
Sergeant Miller is an armorer-gunner on a combat crew and comes to his new squadron from a light attack-bomber unit in the southwest Pacific area. He is a graduate of aerial gunnery school at Laredo, Texas, and armament school at Lofry Field, Denver, Col. He has been in the army since October, 1942 and was formerly employed as a carpenter at Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, October 28, 1943, Page 5
PROMOTED
Oliver O. Miller, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond D. Miller, Route 1, has been promoted from sergeant to technical sergeant with The Rough Raiders, a crack low-level attack unit in the southwest Pacific area. An aerial gunner on one of his unit’s strafers, Sgt. Miller has participated in several recent large-scale raids on Jap bases and airdromes. He is a graduate of aerial gunnery school at Laredo, Tex., and has been in the army since October, 1942. He formerly worked for his father as a carpenter.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Monday, November 08, 1943, Page 6
Awarded Medal by Air Forces
Sgt. Oliver O. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Miller, route No. 1, has been awarded the air force medal at the 5th air force headquarters in recognition of courageous service and cited for “meritorious achievement” while participating in fight over Rabaul, New Britain.
The Millers have another son in the service, Raymond, jr., in the signal corps at Camp Pinedale, Calif.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tuesday, February 08, 1944, Page 5
MILLER REPORTED KILLED in ACTION
S. Sgt. Oliver O. Miller, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond D. Miller, route 1, was killed in action over New Ireland on Feb. 15, according to word received by his parents Wednesday from the war department. The telegram states a letter will follow.
S. Sgt. Miller had recently just been awarded the air medal at the 5th air force headquarters in recognition of courageous service. In a letter from the commanding general to his father, he was cited for “meritorious achievement while participating in flight over Rabaul, New Britain.”
S. Sgt. Miller was a tail-gunner on a Fortress which successfully carried out its mission although the fighter escort was forced to turn back due to inclement weather.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, February 24, 1944, Page 8
Plan Memorial for Oliver Miller
Memorial services will be held at St. Paul’s Evangelical church of Dumfries, seven miles southeast of Council Bluffs, Sunday at 2:30 p. m. for S. Sgt. Oliver Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond D. Miller, who was killed in action over New Ireland on Feb. 15.
The Rev. G. B. Bauman of Minden, assisted by the Rev. Louis E. Watson of the Broadway Methodist church in Council Bluffs, will officiate at the ceremony. Grenville
M. Dodge Post No. 737 of the American legion Post 430 of Silver City, of which the youth’s father was a member, and the V. F. W. will be represented at the service.
S. Sgt. Miller is also survived by one brother, Pfc. Raymond D. Miller, jr., who is now home on a furlough from Fresno, Calif., where he is stationed with the army signal corps; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William L. Miller of near Council Bluffs; one cousin, Cpl. Clifford Santi of the army air corps in New Guinea; and several other cousins. S. Sgt. Miller is a nephew of Police Capt. and Mrs. John N. Reynolds of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday, March 10, 1944, Page 7
Because roads to Dumfries are muddy, memorial services for S. Sgt. Oliver O. Miller will be held Sunday at 3 p. m. at the Tyler funeral home. Plans originally called for the rites to be held at Dumfries. The change in location was made late Saturday night. L. H. Tyler said men will be stationed at Dumfries to direct individuals to Council Bluffs. Rites were originally set for 2:30 p.m.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Sunday, March 12, 1944
NOTE: There is a memorial stone for both S/Sgt. Oliver O. Miller and his brother Pvt. Raymond D. Miller, Jr. at the Saint Paul’s Evangelical Country Church Cemetery, Dumfries, Iowa.
Sgt. Oliver Oscar Miller is buried in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, KY.
Source: ancestry.com
