Ralph R. Miller Jr.

Cpl. Ralph Miller poses wearing T-4 Parachute and Riddel Helmet at Fort Benning, GA

NAME: Ralph R. Miller Jr.

ASN: O-1283116

PLACE OF BIRTH: Youngstown, Mahoning County, OH

DATE OF BIRTH:

DATES OF SERVICE: ?? ??? ???? - 15 Aug 1944

UNIT ASSIGNED:

F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR

HHC 509th PIB

B CO 509th PIB

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and five campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation, British Parachutist Badge, British Red Beret, French 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

It is unclear when exactly Lt Ralph Miller joined the unit. He is not listed on 504th PB rolls so it is possible that he trained with the 503rd PB and was transfered over when the redesignation happened

24 Feb 1942 - 504th Parachute Battalion is redesignated 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment

29 Mar 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Benning, GA to Fort Bragg, SC

01 Jun 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Bragg, SC to Fort Dix, NJ

03 Jun 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Dix, NJ to Cunard Line Docks to board the Queen Elizabeth

04 Jun 1942 - Departed US for European Theater of Operations (ETO) on board the Queen Elizabeth

10 Jun 1942 - Arrived in ETO - Glasgow, Scotland. Is transported ashore by ferry in the river Clyde

10 Jun 1942 - 1550 hrs - Arrived at the rail station

10 Jun 1942 - 1750 hrs - Train departs south bound

10 Jun 1942 - 2100 hrs - Train pulls into Edinburgh for a two hour layover

11 Jun 1942 - 1430 hrs - Train arrives at Hungerford, Berkshire and the battalion is greeted by British Major General F.A.M. Browning then were trucked the two miles to Chilton Foliat

16 Jun 1942 - Major General F.A.M. Browning visits the battalion and addresses them

04 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR celebrated Independence Day by conducting a 23 mile march

20 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR received orders to move out to the Combat Training Area at Mortehoe

21 Jul 1942 - 0530 hrs - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR departed by train for Tauton

21 Jul 1942 - 0930 hrs - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR off loaded from the train and met Lt Col. Raff who proceeded to lead them on a march to Mortehoe (45 miles)

21 Jul 1942 - 2230 hrs - Raff stopped the battalion to allow them to rest for the night after marching 35 miles

22 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR marched the rest of the way to Mortehoe

30 Jul 1942 - 2-503rd PIR completes training by going through the British Assault Course at Woolacombe with its live machine fire over the barbed wire and exploding pits it scared the hell out of the Soldiers but gave them an experience that was the closest thing to real combat. That afternoon they went through the British Confidence Course. With training complete, Captain Doris Simpson of the A.T.S. arranged a well-deserved party for the Americans.

05 Aug 1942 - Returned to Chilton Foliat this time on trucks and were warmly welcomed by the locals.

17-30 Aug 1942 - Day and night jumps were conducted in preparation for future mass tactical field training exercises with the British.

01 Sep 1942 - Al Jolson USO Show

00 Oct 1942 - First Lady Elenor Roosevelt visits the 2nd Battalion 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment at Chilton Foliat

02 Nov 1942 - 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment while in England per AG 320.2 (11-3 42)

08 Nov 1942 - 2nd Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Youngstown, OH participates in Operation TORCH (VILLAIN) the airborne invasion of Oran, North Africa on Plane: 9 Seat: 11 Combat Weight: 242 lbs

Sprains ankle on jump

15 Nov 1942 - 2nd Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Youngstown, OH participates in the Airborne Invasion of Youks les Baines

26 Dec 1942 - 2nd Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Youngstown, OH goes on flight to El Djem as OIC for Supply Drop. They take off in C-47 at 1030 from Masion Blanche and fly to Ferenac to meet up with the team for the mission. At 2100 final brief. At 2205 three C-47s depart for ElDjem. Kicked out several bundles and headed home

11 Mar 1943 - 2nd Bn 509th PIR departs Boufarik for Kairouan

06 Jun 1943 - Award of British Airborne Red Beret to 509th PIR

05 Sep 1943 - 2nd Bn 509th PIR moved from Kairouan, North Africa to Sicily by air.

14 Sep 1943 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr O-1283116 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Rear Det in Sicily

09 Nov 1943 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr O-1283116 2nd Bn, 509th PIR participates in combat operations vicinity of Venafro, Italy

10 Dec 1943 - 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment redesignated 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, Venefro, Italy. Unit will continue to be organized under T/O 7-35 (2-17 42)

14 Dec 1943 - 2nd Bn 509th PIR is withdrawn from Venafro, Italy and returns to Naples, Italy for R&R

22 Jan 1944 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr O-1283116 2nd Bn, 509th PIR participates in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion on Anzio, Italy

06 Feb 1944 - Award of French 3rd Zouaves Regiment to 509th PIR

01 Apr 1944 - 2nd Bn 509th PIR is withdrawn from Anzio, Italy and returns to Naples, Italy for R&R

10 Apr 1944 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 HHC, 509th PIB GO 5 The following named Officers and Enlisted Men of Companies indicated having fulfilled all requirements as set forth in Par #3. a&b, Section I, WD Circular #269, dated 27 October 1943, are hereby announced as Combat Infantrymen and are entitled to wear the badge as specified in WD Circular above

17 Apr 1944 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 509th PIB SO 26 Assigned as Battalion Assistant S-3

24 Jul 1944 - 1st Lt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283166 B Co 509th PIB Company Commander Listed on jump manifest for Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY) Bn Plane: 21, B Co Plane: 1, Seat: 1

15 Aug 1944 - Capt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 B Co, 509th PIB participates in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY FORCE) the airborne invasion of Southern France

15 Aug 1944 - Capt. Ralph R. Miller Jr. O-1283116 B Co, 509th PIB Youngstown, OH MIA or Buried at Sea Rhone Am Cem, Draguignan, France Bronze Star, Purple Heart Page 389 in the book Stand in the Door Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart

Listed on Page 15, 28, 38, 47 Book: First Airborne Task Force by Michel De Trez

Back of photo reads, "Company Officers. The one on the left (Standing) is my Commanding Officer (Capt. Ralph 'Bing' Miller) from Youngstown (Ohio)."

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