Navy Badge
  • Name: John Melvin Miller
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: November 4, 1924
  • Date of Death: December 7, 2008
  • Parents: John Miller & Sadie (Estes) Miller
  • High School and Class: 1941 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College:
  • Highest Rank:
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: 1942
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: October 23, 1945
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: John Melvin Miller
    Race: White
    Age: 20
    Birth Date: November 4, 1924
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: October 30, 1945 (after discharge)
    Employer: Unemployed
    Weight: 140
    Height: 5-11
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Brown
    Other characteristic: Scars left eye, left forehead
    Next of Kin: Mrs. S. M. Miller, Los Angeles, CA

    Newspaper article: Itasca Iron News, Coleraine, MN - 1944 – “A letter comes from Johnny Miller who came back to his old home town of Coleraine from Los Angeles, just before he enlisted. He, too, has a San Francisco overseas address. ‘Dear Mrs. Cratty: I received your birthday card and the money order just two days late this year, which isn’t bad considering I was not at that address. Thanks very much for remembering me as one of the ‘Coleraine Boys.’ I can remember last year when the same greeting reached me and I must say I was rather in doubt if I was going to be fortunate enough to spend that dollar. I didn’t, and this one will join it in my wallet until I reach good old Coleraine again – there I shall cash it and spend it, for that is where it came from at a time when a thought from home was everything. Once again, thank you for all you are doing for me and others like me – we really do appreciate it. I was wondering if you would change my address on my copies of The Iron News – it is at the heading of this page. Just before I moved the last time, I got about 12 or 15 copies in a period of three days. Some of them were very old, but still well worth reading. I came across one little item of interest to me. In fact, I was rather disappointed when I knew it was only wishful thinking. It said I would ‘possibly return this fall.’ Sure would have liked to, but I guess we would all like to come home no matter how long it has been. I might make it in four or five more months. Mom sent me a picture of Jim, with Ed, Harry, Lee and the Hawkenson [sic] girls. He looks fine, and I may run into him somewhere out here. Mother gets a big thrill out of all the kids from there remembering her and dropping in while out there. It’s kinda early for me to be sending Christmas greetings, but since I never know where I’ll be or when I will write again, I will wish you and all the ones in the Home Service Club the best in the way of Season’s Greetings. Thanks and keep up the excellent work. Sincerely, Johnny.”

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    John Miller married Margaret McKinley in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. He was employed by Medtronic in Minnesota, retiring in 1986.

    John died in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 34). He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marge; six children, John (Mimi), Jim (Leslie), Tom, Jayne, Rob, and Bill; twelve grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, John Miller, Sr.; his mother, Sadie Estes Miller; his brother Curtis Miller, who was killed on Iwo Jima; and his sister, Marge Bush.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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