Edwin S. Miller papers

Edwin swain Miller was born in Missoula, Montana, November 15, 1910, son of George and Louise (Basler) Miller. He was graduated from Missoula County High School and spent one year at the University of Montana prior to entering the u. s. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from his native state in 1929. Graduated and commissioned ensign on June 1, 1933, he advanced to the rank of rear admiral, his date of rank May 1, 1960.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1933, he had sea duty first in the battleship MARYLAND, and later, from June 1935 to January 1937, in the destroyer EDSALL, attached to the Asiatic Fleet. He then served until October 1937 as communication watch officer on the Staff of the Commander in Cfiief, Asiatic Fleet (USS AUGUSTA flagship). For meritorious service from August 13 to October 3, 1937, during the Chinese-Japanese hostilities at Shanghai, China, he was commended by the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet.

Returning to the United states in October 1937, he had fitting out duty in the USS SAVANNAH at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey. He joined that cruiser as second division officer at her commissioning, March 10, a 938. In July 1939, he reported as qunnery officer of tne tanker USS TRINITY, based at San Diego, California, and from March 1949 to August 1941, was assigpeq as gunnery officer of tne USS MAURY, attached to Destroyer squadron SIX, Destroyers, Battle Force.

He was serving as company and battalion officer in the Executive Department at the Naval Academy when the United States entered World War II on December 8, 1941. In July 1943, he was detached to assist in fitting out the USS CABOT, and joined that ship as navigator upon her commissioning. In that capacity he saw action in the Marshalls, Turk, Saipan, Hollandia, Guam, and in the Marianas "Turkey Shoot" and the first Battle of the Philippine Sea. He received the ribbon for, and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded that aircraft carrier for outstanding services from January to August 1944.

On October 25, 1944, he assumed commanded of the USS LOWRY, and as her Commanding Officer saw action at Mindoro, Liingayen Gulf, Okinawa, and in the occupation of Japan. The LOWRY was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for heroic service at Okinawa, April 30 to June 22, 1945, and Miller was personally awarded the Navy Cross and the Silver Star Medal for outstanding service while in command of that destroyer.

After the war, he brought the LOWRY back to the West Coast and was in command in July 1946 during the underwater atomic bomb test in Operations "Crossroads." As a radiological safety ship the LOWRY was one of the first ships to enter the lagoon of Bikini Atoll after the explosion.

Detached from command of LOWRY in April 1947, he attended the Senior Course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, and remained there for duty on the staff from May 1948 to June 1950. In July of that year, he joined the USS SALEM as executive officer, and on September 18, 1951, assumed command of the presidential yacht, the USS WILLIAMSBURG. This duty included command of the Presidential camp, Camp Shangri-La, (now Camp David), and supervision of the Little White House at Key West, Florida.

He was executive officer of Bancro~t Hal.l a.t the Naval Academy between April 1953 and August 1965, after which he commanded the USS YELLOWSTONE until July 1957. Following a short period of duty as Commander Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-EIGHT, he reported in February 1958 as Chief of staff and Aide to the commander SIXTH Fleet. His selection for the rank of rear admiral was approved by the President on July 22, 1959, and he was officially advanced to that rank on May 1, 1960.

In January 1960, he reported as Chief of Staff to the United States Representative to tne Standing Group, North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO), Washington, o.c. On January 29, 1963, he assumed the duties of Deputy United states Representative, NATO standing Group, Washington, D.C. Detached in July 1963, he had an orientation tour of various facilities in the Western Pacific and schooling on the West coast, and on November 11, 1963, he assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven at Subic Bay, Philippines. He directed his staff and assigned units in the Chief of Naval Operations project concerning the Military Manpower Management Improvement Project; a compilation was published on September 1, 1964, entitled "Administrative Practices in the Operating Forces."

The Flotilla sailed on January 5, 1965, for the seventh Fleet where Admiral Miller assumed command of the Cruiser-Destroyer Group, Seventh Fleet. While in this position, he commanded the U.S.-Thailand Exercise Jungle Drum III, an amphibious exercise, followed immediately by the assumption of command of Task Force 71 from Commander Seventh Fleet on March 19, 1965. Task Force 71 was employed in building up and establishing "Market Time" operations, the boarding and search operations off the coast of South Vietnam. Naval gunfire support of forces ashore were developed and placed in effect during this time.

In August 1965, he reported for instruction at the Defense Language Institute, East Coast, Washington, D.C., and in January 1966 became Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Portugal, with headqarters in Lisbon. Upon the activation of the Iberian Atlantic Command at Lfsbon, in February 1968, he assumed additional duty as Commander and was instrumental in establishment of this North Atlantic Treaty Organization Command.

On August 1, 1968, Admiral Miller was transferred to the Retired List of the United states Navy.

Miller's survivors include his wife, Frances Reynolds Miller of Coronado, California, three children, Carol, of Okinawa, Peter, of Coronado, and Marcia, of Oklahoma, and four grandchildren.