William Miller: Military service

World War II changed, then shaped, Brother Miller's life. He had graduated from Hanes High School in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1942, and was working six days as week at Silvers store in that city when he was drafted. Here's what he wrote of his military career:

I served my country in the United States and Europe as a forward observer (intelligence NCO) in the Coast Artillery attached to infantry. What at I remember most about those years is the homesickness at first, camaraderie with fellow soldiers, some fun, many hardships. My favorite leaders were Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, who were ideal for those times. I am by nature an optimist; I seldom worry about anything. I never worried about being killed in battle, only about being disabled.

Brother retired from the Army on Sept. 30, 1968, after serving in Vietnam.

Brother Miller helped set up an excellent military section at the Goodhue County (Minn.) Historical Society Museum in Red Wing, Minn.

He was drafted on June 11, 1942, and after World War II again enlisted on Nov. 1, 1951. When he retired, his rank was chief warrant officer (CW2) in the Army's military intelligence branch. His serial number was W2 313 518. Before that, he was a sergeant first class (SFC), with an enlisted serial number of RA 34 776 586. His retirement was for length of service, not disability, though after retiring he was classified as 10 percent disabled because of hearing and heart problems.

During his service, he was awarded these medals: Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters (four awards), Good Conduct Medal with four knots (five awards), American Theater Service Medal, European/African/Middle East Service Medal with two battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster (two awards), Vietnam Campaign Medal with three battle stars, Vietnam Service Medal (Foreign Award).