Individual 76: Miller, John Leslie (Jack)

Individual Record 76

Name} Miller, John Leslie (Jack)

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Fam 27 Aug 1919

Place} Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey

Marr.: Date}

Place}

Death: Date} Exa 12 Mar 1945

Place} San Jose, Mindoro Island, Philippines

Burial: Date} Exa 13 Mar 1945

Place} Armed Forces Cemetery, San Jose, Mindoro Island, Philippines

Burial: Date} Exa 4 Nov 1948

Place} Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles, California

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	12 = Family notes
Source 2}	39 = Address list
Source 3}	50 = Family history
Source 4}	52 = Interview
Source 5}	2154=Birth record
Source 6}	2152=Church record
Source 7}	469 = 1920 USA cen
Source 8}	749 = 1930 USA cen
Source 9}	627 = Newspaper
Source 10}	633 = Photograph

Parents: } Peter John Miller & Evelyn Mae Baldwin
Relationship No.} 3

1st Household No.} 222 = Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey

Occupation 1} Military pilot
Occupation 2}

Religion/Church} Presbyterian

Spouses: Prime}
Total Number of} None

Source 11} 634 = Photograph
Source 12} 249 = Photograph
Source 13} 1249=Photograph
Source 14} 1265=Photograph
Source 15} 563 = School record
Source 16} 571 = Diary
Source 17} 1258=Letter
Source 18} 640 = Photograph
Source 19} 599 = Bible record
Source 20} 1334=1940 USA cen
Source 21} 632 = Photograph
Source 22} 636 = Photograph
Source 23} 1972=Military rec
Source 24} 865 = Military rec
Source 25} 572 = Newspaper
Source 26} 583 = Letter

Source 27} 631 = Photograph
Source 28} 581 = Photograph
Source 29} 626 = Heirloom/Mem
Source 30} 635 = Photograph
Source 31} 580 = Newspaper
Source 32} 586 = Military rec
Source 33} 639 = Photograph
Source 34} 638 = Photograph
Source 35} 637 = Photograph
Source 36} 630 = Photograph *
Source 37} 585 = Photograph
Source 38} 1257=Letter
Source 39} 582 = Letter
Source 40} 578 = Telegram
Source 41} 2155=Military rec

Source 42} 189 = Military record
Source 43} 577 = Letter
Source 44} 573 = Newspaper
Source 45} 579 = Letter
Source 46} 1256=Letter
Source 47} 574 = Newspaper
Source 48} 1251=Insurance
Source 49} 575 = Newspaper
Source 50} 584 = Letter
Source 51} 576 = Memorials
Source 52} 587 = Heirloom/Mem
Source 53} 1266=Photograph
Source 53} 1094=Cemetery rec
Source 55} 179 = Cemetery rec
Source 56} 1983=Cemetery rec

Notes: John Leslie Miller was born 27 Aug 1919 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey to Peter John and Evelyn Mae Baldwin. At a very young age, he became known by his nickname "Jack".

In the 1920 U.S. census, John Miller, 4 months, was living with his parents, Peter J. Miller, 20 and Evelyn, 23, at 228 Sherman Road, Perth Amboy. His father was a bookkeeper for a bank. Also living with them were Chris Miller, 55, his wife Anna, 53, and son August 16, all born in Denmark. Chris was a carpenter and August was a clerk.

Jack's first trip to church was probably September 18, 1919, when he was enrolled in the Cradle Roll at the First Presbyterian Church, Perth Amboy. He was baptized that same year. Jack was soon joined by a brother Robert (Bob), sister Frances (Fran), and brothers Alfred (Al) and Wilfred (Will). The family moved almost every year, usually living in houses, but sometimes in small flats over store shops. In 1926, when Alfred was born, they were living in Plainfield, Middlesex, New Jersey.

In the 1930 U.S. census, Jack, 10, was living with his family in Georgia. His mother Evelyn Miller, 33, was renting a home at 220 N. Farrington, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia. His siblings were Robert, 8, Frances, 6, Alfred, 4, and Wilfred, 10 months. His father, Peter J. Miller, 31, was an inmate in the U.S. Federal Penitentiary, in South Bend District, Fulton, Georgia.

His family returned to New Jersey, and in January 1931, were readmitted to the First Presbyterian Church in Perth Amboy. Their address was 205 Patterson Street, Perth Amboy. The 1931 Perth Amboy City Directory lists his father as a credit manager for Reynolds Bros Inc.

Jack became a member of Boy Scout Troop 6, seen at left. In 1933 and 1934, he attended the Monmouth Council summer camp at Camp Burton-at-Allaire, Raritan, NJ. He also was a paper boy for the Perth Amboy Evening News, and went to Washington D.C. in March 1933 with other newspaper boys, including his brother Bob. He attended Perth Amboy High School, seen at right.

On 5 Oct 1935, his family left for California traveling by car with all of their possessions, camping as they traveled by way of the Southern route. They settled in Wilmar (now Rosemead) at 2912 South Stevens Street. Jack attended Alhambra High School, graduating on 18 Jun 1936.

On 28 Oct 1938, Jack set out on a cross-country trip from Wilmar, California, to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He traveled from California, through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, to Florida, arriving in Jacksonville on 8 Nov 1938, after 2714 miles. He then traveled up the eastern coast, through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, to New Jersey, arriving in Perth Amboy on 12 Nov 1938. Jack had a good sense of humor. On a postcard showing the jail in Juarez, Mexico, he writes "Just a line to let you know that I have skipped the country & am in Mexico this sunny Sunday morn." He traveled a total of 3,874 miles, visiting 188 towns. A telegram to his parents early on 12 Nov 1938 says: =DEAR FAMILY, ARRIVED 5:00 AM. FEELING FINE. MISSED YOU. HITCHHIKING HARD. MADE FOUR THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE SEND MONEY ORDER. HOPE DAD BETTER. WILL WRITE. LOVE=JACK.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Jack, was living with his family at 2912 Stevens Avenue, Wilmar, Los Angeles, California. He was 20 years old, and working as an apprentice for a brick mason. He had 4 years of high school, and had earned $320. in 1939. His parents, Peter J. Miller, 41, and Evelyn, 43, had both completed 8th grade, and his father was an accountant for a drug store, with an income of $1680. They owned their home. His siblings were Robert, 18, 4 years high school; Frances, 16, 2 years high school; Alfred, 14, 1 year high school; Wilfred, 10, 5th grade; and Ruth J., 3 months.

Jack Leslie Miller, 21, registered for the World War II draft on 16 Oct 1940. He was living at 4627 W. 147 St., Lawndale, Los Angeles, CA. (His mailing address was his parents on Stevens Ave., Wilmar). He was working for Northrop Aviation Corp on Prarie Ave., Hawthorne, and was described as 5'7½ ", 148 lbs., with blue eyes, blonde hair and light complexion.

Jack trained or prepared for the Army Air Force with the assistance of the Cadet Selection Committee of the Sunshine Valley Post VFW. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces as a private on 28 Aug 1942. He was described as 5'7", weighing 137 lbs. He spent five weeks with the ground division of the Air Force in Utah, before transfering to Santa Ana, California, for pilot training. He was the first soldier to visit Alhambra's USO in November 1942.

Jack's long-time girlfriend was Bea Burley. At left, they are seen having dinner at the Hotel Claremont in Berkley, California, on 13 Jun 1944. They made at least one trip to Lake Tahoe. Jack also traveled to Badger Pass in Yosemite National Park, California, to ski with friends Bob Studer and Dough Bogh. Jack is seen at right in the ski fashion and equipment of the day.

In October 1942, Jack was stationed at Mather Field, Sacramento, California. Here he took out a $10,000 life insurance policy, and wrote his Last Will and Testament, giving the proceeds of the policy equally to his parents. In March 1943, Jack completed a course of flight training at Cal-Aero Flight Academy, Ontario, California. He is seen at right with "Whitney, my Instructor, Bill, me". He was commissioned in September 1943 at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona. He spent some time at Morris Field in North Carolina, where he sold his car to a John F. Shannon, who later wrote to Jack's parents. He was sent overseas on June 23, 1944. The photograph on the left shows Bea Burely with Jack on the day before he left.

Jack was stationed in the East Indies. In February 1945 he took a month's leave in Sydney, Australia. He wrote of the photograph at right, "What a droopy jerk behind that wheel! This is the little Morris 10 which I drove all during this leave."

Jack flew an A-20 Havoc bomber. He was in the 417th Bombardment Group, which was assigned to the Fifth Air Force. It had begun combat in Mar 1944, operating in support of ground forces on New Guinea, and striking airfields, bridges, personnel concentrations, installations, and shipping. The 417th Bombardment Group operated from Noemfoor from September to December 1944, attacking airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and western New Guinea. The Group moved on to San Jose, Mindoro in the Phillipines in Dec 1944 at the end of the New Guinea campaign. His squadron provided the overwhelming air power that kept loss of life at a minimum during the invasion. Jack participated in the invasion of Luzon in the Philippines. According to one of his friends, he had just been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, and had flown 37 missions before his crash.

Jack had been promoted to flight commander and received the Air Medal just shortly before his death. The telegram with the notification of Jack's death arrived at the home of his parents the same day as the letter announcing the award of the Air Medal.

A letter of condolence from his commanding officer, William T. Douthwaite, Jr., Captain, Air Corps, stated: "He was killed on 12 March 1945, when the plane of which he was the pilot, met with accident at San Jose, Mindoro Island, Philippines. John was on an administrative courier flight at the time of the accident. Shortly after taking off for a neighboring air base, he returned to the home field with engine trouble and attempted an emergency landing. He was unable to reach the field and went down approximately three miles west of the runway."

"John was laid to rest in the Armed Forces Cemetery at San Jose, Mindoro Island, Philippines, by the officers and enlisted men of the squadron, with full military honors, on 13 March 1945."
John Leslie Miller was awarded the Purple Heart. The letters and certificates, signed by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S Truman, and by General Douglas MacArthur, are in the possession of Karen Hancock. The Purple Heart was originally in the possession of Al Miller, his brother. Jack was a flight officer — A.S. No. G-1639.

Jack was held in high regard by all those he met, as is shown by the letters written to his parents after his death.

On 22 Sep 1948, the remains of 3536 World War II veterans who lost their lives in the Pacific Theater were returned to the United States aboard the United States Transport Sgt. Morris E. Crain. Six, including Jack, were returned to Alhambra. They had originally been interred in temporary cemeteries in San Jose, Manila and Saipan.

Funeral services for Jack were held 4 Nov 1948 at the Little Stone Chapel of Turner, Stevens & Turner in Alhambra, pictured at right. Rev. James F. Nelson, former pastor of Garvalia Community Church officiated. Ernest Burley, the father of his girlfriend Bea, was the soloist. He was reburied at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Parkview Lawn, in Whittier, California.

His parents established the Jack Miller Memorial Library in the First Presbyterian Church, Alhambra, in memory of their son Jack.