John A. Miller Jr. was born July 20, 1918 in Canada to John A. Miller (1874-1939) and Hazel Isola Hand (1887-1955). Although born in Canada, John was still a U.S. citizen. His parents were married on December 21, 1914 in Harrington, Delaware. His dad was a farmer and originally from Illinois. His mom was a school teacher from New York. The 1925 NY State Census recorded the family lived at 105 Mill Creek Road, Otego, NY. Mill Creek is one of those roads that sits squarely between two school districts which probably explains why John's older sister Mabel graduated from Oneonta High School and his younger brother Leland graduated from Otego High School. At the time of this writing I was unable to determine John's school history. The family lived in Otego until at least April 1935. By 1940, the U.S. Census records show the family had moved to Luther St. in Oneonta and mom was working as a Housekeeper at the Tuberculosis Hospital in Oneonta, NY (Homer Folks). Dad had passed away by then. 

John enlisted in the Army Air Corp and was eventually assigned to the 28th Material Squadron, 20th Air Base Group stationed at Nichols Field, the Philippines. In 1940, the Material Squadrons were formed to maintain aircraft and provide administrative support to the flying squadrons. By the time the war started in the Pacific, much of the equipment for the 20th Group was still enroute. The Japanese attacked the Philippines beginning on Dec 8, 1941 (coinciding with the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941). By the end of December 1941, all American forces were being withdrawn to the Bataan Peninsula. Much of their supplies and equipment were abandoned during the withdrawal leaving them critically short of supplies, especially food and medical supplies. Malaria, dysentery and malnourishment became rampant.

On April 9, 1942, the Americans surrendered to the Japanese and the members of the 28th Material Squadron became prisoners of war. They were marched about 60-70 miles in grueling heat and weather conditions to the POW camps. This march became known as the Bataan Death March because of the severe conditions and the physical abuse inflicted by the Japanese. Pfc Miller survived the march and was imprisoned at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp #1 which was about 85 miles north of Manila. On December 1, 1942 Pfc Miller died "of dysentery" while a POW. He received the POW Medal and the Purple Heart.

Author's Note: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has an ongoing project to assess historical evidence concerning Cabanatuan POW cases. This long-term project aims to account for the missing through a comprehensive review of all files, including X-files, as well as the collection of genealogical data and Family Reference Samples (FRSs) from viable donors.

If you have any details, photos or corrections for this story, please email Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.

Sources

Delaware. Delaware Vital Records. Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.

Find a Grave record for John A. Miller Jr., accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231014158/john-a-miller, February 11, 2023.

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Pfc John A. Miller, # 6977636, National Archives, St. Louis, MI.

Moore, Edwin, Oneonta Gold Star Registry, Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta, NY.

New York State Archives; Albany, New York;State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 02; Assembly District:01; City:Otego; County:Otsego; Page:7

Oneonta City Directory, 1941-42, pg 92.

Philippine Island Death Record, JA-191 1942, pg 46. #1173.

U.S. Casualties and Burials at Cabanatuan POW Camp #1, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, accessed at https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/WWII/Cabanatuan; February 13, 2023.

Willis, Lt. Grant T., Donnelly, 2nd Lt. Brendan H., The Provisional Air Corps Regiment at Bataan, 1942: Lessons for Today's Joint Force, accessed at https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/2743809/the-provisional-air-corps-regiment-at-bataan-1942-lessons-for-todays-joint-force/; February 12, 2023.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Otsego, Otsego, New York; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0040; FHL microfilm: 2341371

Year: 1940; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02717; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 39-44

Supporting Files