426:
Commanding the 442d
Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 92d Infantry Division, on 29 October and 7 November 1944, in France, and on 10 April 1945, in Italy. When his troops were halted by a large enemy force defending well dug in positions on a strategic hill in the combat team's four-day battle to rescue the "Lost Battalion," Colonel Miller exposed himself to the hazards of intense artillery, mortar, and small arms fire to personally direct the assault of his companies. On 7 November 1944 in the vicinity of La Croisette, France, when the enemy infiltrated in strength and threatened the entire flank of a battalion, he proceeded to one of the company areas and directed a skillful maneuver which prevented the encirclement of a friendly battalion, Again on 10 April 1945 in the vicinity of Massa, Italy, Colonel Miller proceeded to a company operating on the rearward slope of Cle Tecchione, under concentrated shelling from hostile coastal guns and mortars. Disdaining sporadic shellfire, he inspected the condition of the company, encouraged the troops, and gave the company commander specific instructions on the plan of attack. Colonel Miller's complete disregard for personal safety in repeatedly exposing himself to the hazards of hostile fire in his desire to obtain maximum coordination between the different elements of his command was a constant source of inspiration to the officers and men of his organization and reflects high credit on the traditions of the United States Army.
275:
751:
699:
717:
660:
637:
710:
733:
644:
136:
111:
742:
605:
626:
385:
days of combat, the Combat Team made contact and rescued the men of the "Lost
Battalion". The 442nd, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Miller, had lost approximately three times more men (over 800 casualties) than the 211 that were eventually saved. Because of intense German attacks, there was little time to celebrate the rescue together. The 442nd were ordered to pursue the Germans and the "Lost Battalion" men were given a hot meal and put on the lines again. 442nd Regimental Commander
727:
611:
93:
334:. In June 1943, Miller was named Executive Officer of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The team included the 442d Infantry Regiment, the 522d Field Artillery Battalion, the 232d Combat Engineer Company, the 206th Army Ground Forces Band and the 100th Infantry Battalion from Hawaii's National Guard. The unit was mostly composed of Nisei, second generation Americans of Japanese ancestry who were drafted into service. Some of these men had family members who were still interned in
620:
596:
887:
693:
686:
679:
672:
654:
401:
472:. The German stronghold, contained machine gun nests which produced deadly interlocking fire upon the Allied forces. On April 5, 1945, Col Miller, and 3rd Battalion Commander, LtCol Alfred A. Pursall planned a pincers attack at dawn with the surprise element of an all-night climb of a 3,000-foot (910 m) mountain face in the dark with full fighting gear, to get in position for an assault.
342:
873:
384:
at a terrible cost of men and material. The 442nd Combat Team was badly battered and without reinforcements, however they were committed to their mission of reaching the 1st
Battalion, 141st Infantry of the 36th Division which became known as the "Lost Battalion". Finally, on October 30, after five
479:
alerted the
Germans and a fierce battle followed. The Gothic Line was cracked after a full day of fighting and by the end of the day, the last ridge link, Mount Cerreta, finally fell. Miller then led the 442nd in the capture of Mt. Fologorito, Massa, a German Naval Base at La Spezia (where they
33:
425:
The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry), Virgil Rasmuss Miller (ASN: 0-15487), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while
389:
Charles W. Pence, was replaced by Lt. Col. Miller who was promoted to
Colonel. On January 5, 1945, Miller was named Commanding Officer of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment, but he declined the assignment on January 17 because he preferred to continue with the 442nd Combat Team.
250:, the capital city of the island, when his father Dr. Paul Gerard Miller, was appointed Commissioner of Education, a position which the senior Miller held until 1921. Miller and his siblings received their secondary education at El Caribe High School in San Juan. During
523:
The sacrifice made by our comrades was great. We must not fail them in the fight that continues, in the fight that will be with us even when peace comes. Your task will be the harder and more arduous one, for it will extend over a longer
491:
Col. Miller relinquished his command of the 442nd in June 1945. Among the many decorations which Miller's 442nd
Regimental Combat Team including the 100th Infantry Battalion and its members earned were: 21
1328:
1067:
365:
In
October 1944, the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry of the 36th Division, made a push down a long heavily wooded ridge that extended southeast and dominated the valley of
373:
from
Biffontaine to La Houssiere. The 1st had overextended itself behind enemy lines and had been cut off by strong enemy forces. The 442nd, under the leadership of
1283:
576:. The Honor Guard carried the 442nd Regimental Colors which was sent by the 442nd Regiment from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the assistance of Senator
1333:
959:
1338:
1278:
1323:
1288:
818:
1046:
497:
349:
Among the campaigns in which Miller participated as either
Executive Officer or Regimental Commander of the 442nd RCT were the Rome-Amo,
1050:
468:
had directed the construction of fortifications, drilled out of solid rock and reinforced with concrete, in the rugged mountains of the
1308:
829:
1343:
1293:
905:
501:
211:
1303:
925:
444:
303:
227:
290:
in 1924. He married Ann McGoughran the following year and in 1926 returned to Puerto Rico where he served with Puerto Rico's
1318:
1313:
1298:
1253:
374:
1228:
1205:
1186:
930:
516:(5 earned in one month). It is believed by many that the 442nd is the most decorated unit in U.S. military history.
274:
1000:
856:
750:
513:
1245:
834:
809:
799:
354:
255:
915:
223:
1238:
Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own
910:
519:
At a memorial service held on May 6, 1945, for the men of the 442nd RCT, Col. Miller was quoted as saying:
335:
974:
1155:
573:
79:
546:
254:, he served in the Puerto Rico Home Guard, a local militia. In 1920, he received an appointment to the
845:
726:
619:
191:
1127:
500:(including 19 Distinguished Service Crosses which were upgraded to Medals of Honor in June 2000), 1
765:
377:
Miller, was ordered into the line of combat in an effort to relieve pressure on the 1st Battalion.
283:
698:
804:
243:
52:
692:
685:
678:
671:
653:
554:
327:
291:
1156:"U.S. Army Awards of the Silver Star for Conspicuous Gallantry in Action during World War II"
1042:
900:
580:. Miller was survived by his widow Ann, two sons William and Richard and his daughter Julia.
247:
429:
General Orders: Headquarters, 92d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 94 (October 4, 1945)
1273:
1268:
475:
At the dawn of April 6, Miller's men proceeded on their advance, however the explosions of
1141:
1022:"Dr. Arthur Yager; Served as Governor of Puerto Rico for 8 years After 1913" (obituary)".
973:(2). Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy: 132–133. Summer 1969. Archived from
8:
565:
381:
68:
716:
659:
636:
557:. Miller retired from the Army in 1954 and as a civilian became a research associate at
892:
345:
Col. Vigil R. Miller (bottom row, third from left) in 1945 442nd Regimental Staff photo
311:
207:
116:
1249:
1241:
1224:
1217:
1201:
1182:
1175:
785:
550:
465:
181:
709:
246:, which is located on the western coast of the island. In 1915, his family moved to
878:
789:
732:
577:
569:
542:
538:
509:
135:
839:
780:
643:
323:
186:
177:
741:
1110:
493:
295:
1262:
1098:
920:
462:
533:
Miller served in Italy until 1947 and then served as an Infantry advisor in
1085:
813:
625:
604:
380:
On October 26, the 442nd launched its attack and at times had to engage in
331:
263:
219:
155:
998:
775:
610:
505:
448:
350:
251:
173:
595:
360:
282:
Miller graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned a
259:
1008:
266:(1858–1941), who served as Governor of Puerto Rico from 1913 to 1921.
481:
476:
469:
447:
and spearheaded a diversionary assault on the western sector of the
400:
302:, where he served with the 21st Infantry Brigade and later with the
1177:
Just Americans: How Japanese Americans Won a War at Home and Abroad
366:
287:
32:
588:
Among Miller's military awards and decorations are the following:
432:
Action Date: 29 October & 7 November 1944, and 10 April 1945.
386:
341:
200:
534:
370:
299:
231:
485:
456:
215:
218:" (second generation Americans of Japanese descent), during
452:
307:
1043:"Patriots Under Fire: Japanese Americans in World War II"
561:, a position which he held until his retirement in 1963.
558:
230:, in the forests of the Vosges Mountains in northeastern
512:
for a second award),more than 4,000 Purple Hearts and 7
1068:"Section IV: The Battle of Bruyeres – "Lost Battalion""
1007:. New York: The University Society, Inc. Archived from
960:"Be Thou at Peace: Virgil Rasmus Miller, Class of 1924"
361:
The Battle of Bruyeres (Rescue of the Lost Battalion)
1329:
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
868:
443:
In April 1945, the 442nd RCT came to the aid of the
1216:
1174:
999:Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (1940).
210:officer who served as Regimental Commander of the
206:(November 11, 1900 – August 5, 1968) was a
1260:
1062:
1060:
1142:"Final Victory – the 442d RCT returns to Italy"
1005:Puerto Rico: A Guide to the Island of Boriquén
819:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
451:on the Peninsula Base Section Staging Area at
1148:
1057:
1047:United States Army Center of Military History
1284:United States Army personnel of World War II
564:Colonel Miller died on August 5, 1968, in
31:
1334:Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Italy)
1113:. Japanese American Veterans Association.
583:
438:
1078:
1036:
1034:
1015:
992:
340:
273:
222:. He led the 442nd in its rescue of the
1172:
1103:
1088:. Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment.
1040:
906:List of Puerto Rican military personnel
393:
1339:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
1261:
1214:
1195:
1122:
1120:
954:
952:
950:
948:
946:
926:Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal
1324:United States Military Academy alumni
1289:Puerto Rican people of German descent
1031:
418:Regiment: 442d Regimental Combat Team
214:(RCT), a unit which was composed of "
1279:People from San Germán, Puerto Rico
1117:
1053:from the original on June 23, 2013.
943:
13:
1166:
1072:The Story of the 442nd Combat Team
399:
336:Japanese American internment camps
269:
14:
1355:
1309:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
931:German immigration to Puerto Rico
298:. In 1940, he was transferred to
1173:Asahina, Robert (May 18, 2006).
1041:Shenkle, Kathryn (May 1, 2006).
1026:. December 25, 1941. p. 25.
885:
871:
749:
740:
731:
725:
715:
708:
697:
691:
684:
677:
670:
658:
652:
642:
635:
624:
618:
609:
603:
594:
420:Division: 92d Infantry Division
134:
109:
91:
1134:
857:Army Presidential Unit Citation
317:
1344:University of Michigan faculty
1294:Puerto Rican military officers
1128:"442nd Regimental Combat Team"
1092:
835:National Defense Service Medal
810:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
800:American Defense Service Medal
528:
330:and the United States entered
256:United States Military Academy
237:
1:
1304:Recipients of the Silver Star
936:
916:Puerto Ricans in World War II
498:Distinguished Service Crosses
1086:"Former Commanding Officers"
911:Puerto Ricans in World War I
147:442nd Regimental Combat Team
7:
1319:United States Army colonels
1314:United States Army officers
1299:Puerto Rican Army personnel
1240:; by : Greg Boudonck;
864:
574:Arlington National Cemetery
514:Presidential Unit Citations
502:Distinguished Service Medal
416:Company: Commanding Officer
306:stationed on the island of
212:442d Regimental Combat Team
80:Arlington National Cemetery
10:
1360:
855:
830:World War II Victory Medal
764:
547:Pennsylvania State College
242:Virgil Miller was born in
1198:U.S. Samurais in Bruyeres
848:(War Merit Cross) -Italy
846:Croce al Merito di Guerra
844:
838:
833:
828:
817:
808:
803:
798:
784:
779:
774:
748:
602:
593:
322:On December 7, 1941, the
192:Croce al Merito di Guerra
169:
151:
143:
130:
122:
102:
86:
74:
58:
39:
30:
23:
842:w/ Silver Star (France)
766:Combat Infantryman Badge
537:. He was a Professor of
1196:Moulin, Pierre (1993).
805:American Campaign Medal
244:San German, Puerto Rico
53:San German, Puerto Rico
1215:Steidl, Franz (1997).
840:French Croix de Guerre
584:Awards and decorations
555:University of Michigan
526:
445:92nd Infantry Division
439:The Po Valley Campaign
435:
404:
346:
304:24th Infantry Division
292:65th Infantry Regiment
279:
228:36th Infantry Division
159:The Battle of Bruyeres
1158:. Home of Heroes.com.
901:List of Puerto Ricans
568:. He was buried with
521:
411:Virgil Rasmuss Miller
403:
398:
344:
278:At West Point in 1924
277:
204:Virgil Rasmuss Miller
123:Years of service
25:Virgil Rasmuss Miller
1181:. New York: Gotham.
1111:"Po Valley Campaign"
1099:Silver Star Citation
570:full military honors
394:Silver Star citation
224:Lost Texas Battalion
1144:. HomeofHeroes.com.
980:on February 8, 2012
566:Ann Arbor, Michigan
382:hand-to-hand combat
69:Ann Arbor, Michigan
893:Puerto Rico portal
414:UNITED STATES ARMY
405:
375:Lieutenant Colonel
347:
312:Schofield Barracks
280:
208:United States Army
165:Po Valley Campaign
117:United States Army
862:
861:
821:w/4 bronze stars
757:
756:
551:Lehigh University
510:Oak Leaf Clusters
466:Albert Kesselring
284:second lieutenant
198:
197:
50:November 11, 1900
1351:
1234:
1222:
1211:
1192:
1180:
1160:
1159:
1152:
1146:
1145:
1138:
1132:
1131:
1130:. June 16, 2020.
1124:
1115:
1114:
1107:
1101:
1096:
1090:
1089:
1082:
1076:
1075:
1064:
1055:
1054:
1038:
1029:
1027:
1019:
1013:
1012:
1011:on July 7, 2000.
996:
990:
989:
987:
985:
979:
964:
956:
895:
890:
889:
888:
881:
879:Biography portal
876:
875:
874:
790:oak leaf cluster
759:
758:
753:
744:
735:
729:
719:
712:
701:
695:
688:
681:
674:
662:
656:
646:
639:
628:
622:
613:
607:
598:
591:
590:
578:Daniel K. Inouye
539:Military Science
138:
115:
113:
112:
104:
97:
95:
94:
65:
49:
47:
35:
21:
20:
1359:
1358:
1354:
1353:
1352:
1350:
1349:
1348:
1259:
1258:
1231:
1219:Lost Battalions
1208:
1189:
1169:
1167:Further reading
1164:
1163:
1154:
1153:
1149:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1126:
1125:
1118:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1097:
1093:
1084:
1083:
1079:
1066:
1065:
1058:
1039:
1032:
1021:
1020:
1016:
997:
993:
983:
981:
977:
962:
958:
957:
944:
939:
891:
886:
884:
877:
872:
870:
867:
781:Legion of Merit
737:
736:
730:
703:
702:
696:
689:
682:
675:
664:
663:
657:
630:
629:
623:
586:
531:
494:Medals of Honor
441:
436:
422:
419:
417:
415:
413:
409:
396:
363:
351:North Apennines
320:
272:
270:Military career
240:
190:
187:Croix de Guerre
185:
180:
178:Legion of Merit
176:
164:
163:North Apennines
162:
160:
158:
126:1920–1954
110:
108:
92:
90:
82:
75:Place of burial
67:
63:
51:
45:
43:
26:
17:
16:US Army officer
12:
11:
5:
1357:
1347:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1257:
1256:
1254:978-1497421837
1235:
1229:
1212:
1206:
1193:
1187:
1168:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1147:
1133:
1116:
1102:
1091:
1077:
1056:
1030:
1024:New York Times
1014:
991:
941:
940:
938:
935:
934:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
897:
896:
882:
866:
863:
860:
859:
854:
850:
849:
843:
837:
832:
827:
823:
822:
816:
812:w/ one bronze
807:
802:
797:
793:
792:
783:
778:
773:
769:
768:
763:
755:
754:
746:
745:
738:
724:
723:
722:
720:
713:
705:
704:
690:
683:
676:
669:
668:
667:
665:
651:
650:
649:
647:
640:
632:
631:
617:
616:
615:
600:
599:
585:
582:
530:
527:
440:
437:
406:
397:
395:
392:
362:
359:
319:
316:
296:Camp Las Casas
271:
268:
239:
236:
196:
195:
171:
167:
166:
153:
149:
148:
145:
141:
140:
132:
128:
127:
124:
120:
119:
106:
100:
99:
88:
84:
83:
78:
76:
72:
71:
66:(aged 67)
62:August 5, 1968
60:
56:
55:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1356:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1266:
1264:
1255:
1251:
1247:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1232:
1230:0-89141-727-3
1226:
1221:
1220:
1213:
1209:
1207:2-9599984-0-5
1203:
1199:
1194:
1190:
1188:1-59240-198-8
1184:
1179:
1178:
1171:
1170:
1157:
1151:
1143:
1137:
1129:
1123:
1121:
1112:
1106:
1100:
1095:
1087:
1081:
1073:
1069:
1063:
1061:
1052:
1048:
1044:
1037:
1035:
1025:
1018:
1010:
1006:
1002:
995:
976:
972:
968:
961:
955:
953:
951:
949:
947:
942:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
921:65th Infantry
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
898:
894:
883:
880:
869:
858:
852:
851:
847:
841:
836:
831:
825:
824:
820:
815:
811:
806:
801:
795:
794:
791:
787:
782:
777:
771:
770:
767:
761:
760:
752:
747:
743:
739:
734:
728:
721:
718:
714:
711:
707:
706:
700:
694:
687:
680:
673:
666:
661:
655:
648:
645:
641:
638:
634:
633:
627:
621:
612:
606:
601:
597:
592:
589:
581:
579:
575:
571:
567:
562:
560:
556:
552:
548:
544:
540:
536:
525:
520:
517:
515:
511:
507:
503:
499:
495:
489:
487:
483:
478:
473:
471:
467:
464:
463:Field Marshal
460:
458:
454:
450:
446:
434:
433:
430:
427:
421:
412:
402:
391:
388:
383:
378:
376:
372:
368:
358:
356:
352:
343:
339:
337:
333:
329:
325:
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
276:
267:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
235:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
202:
193:
188:
183:
179:
175:
172:
168:
157:
154:
150:
146:
142:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
118:
107:
101:
98:United States
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
61:
57:
54:
42:
38:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1237:
1223:. Presidio.
1218:
1197:
1176:
1150:
1136:
1105:
1094:
1080:
1071:
1023:
1017:
1009:the original
1004:
994:
984:February 19,
982:. Retrieved
975:the original
970:
966:
814:service star
587:
563:
532:
522:
518:
506:Silver Stars
490:
474:
461:
442:
431:
428:
424:
423:
410:
407:
379:
364:
348:
328:Pearl Harbor
321:
318:World War II
281:
264:Arthur Yager
241:
220:World War II
203:
199:
156:World War II
152:Battles/wars
64:(1968-08-05)
18:
1274:1968 deaths
1269:1900 births
1001:"Education"
786:Bronze Star
776:Silver Star
529:Later years
480:captured a
449:Gothic Line
357:Campaigns.
252:World War I
238:Early years
182:Bronze Star
174:Silver Star
1263:Categories
1246:1497421837
937:References
477:land mines
260:West Point
87:Allegiance
46:1900-11-11
508:(plus 28
482:submarine
470:Apennines
355:Po Valley
326:attacked
1051:Archived
967:Assembly
865:See also
853:4th Row
826:3rd Row
796:2nd Row
772:1st Row
553:and the
367:Bruyeres
324:Japanese
288:infantry
248:San Juan
189:(France)
161:Rome-Amo
144:Commands
103:Service/
1200:. CPL.
788:w/ one
543:Tactics
408:Colonel
387:Colonel
332:the war
286:in the
226:of the
201:Colonel
194:(Italy)
139:Colonel
1252:
1244:
1227:
1204:
1185:
762:Badge
614:
608:
535:Turkey
504:, 560
484:) and
371:France
300:Hawaii
232:France
170:Awards
114:
105:branch
96:
978:(PDF)
963:(PDF)
524:time.
496:, 52
486:Turin
457:Italy
308:Oʻahu
262:from
216:Nisei
1250:ISBN
1242:ISBN
1225:ISBN
1202:ISBN
1183:ISBN
986:2012
541:and
453:Pisa
353:and
131:Rank
59:Died
40:Born
572:at
559:MIT
545:at
310:at
294:at
258:at
184:(2)
1265::
1248:;
1119:^
1070:.
1059:^
1049:.
1045:.
1033:^
1003:.
971:28
969:.
965:.
945:^
549:,
488:.
459:.
455:,
369:,
338:.
314:.
234:.
1233:.
1210:.
1191:.
1074:.
1028:.
988:.
48:)
44:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_at_West_Point_in_1924.png)