George Miller and World War II

   First, let me say, that I had one of those unexpected but pleasant moments today. I had an elderly gentleman as a patient this morning. He had on a green plaid flannel shirt. Immediately I thought of my grandfather. If you had asked me what he wore I couldn't have told you. But at that moment, it was if I had only seen Pappy yesterday, not 30 years ago. But now on to my story of George W. Miller.
  
   The end of Jan. 1942, George William Miller, age 27, received a letter from the Selective Service requiring him to report for enlistment into the U.S. Army Feb. 9, 1942. I wonder about the statement, "This Local Board has agreed to grant a release to enable him to enlist in the U. S. Navy providing such enlistment is made and certified to us by the Naval Recruiting Office on or before February 7, 1942."  Did he attempt to enlist in the Navy and why? What prevented it from happening before his required appearance to the Army? What were his feelings about the war? Was he apprehensive or supportive?     

U.S. Army Draft Letter, 1942

George W. Miller, U.S. Army, 1942

    

   George served as a Private in the 3rd Infantry, U.S. Army, in the European Theater.
It appears from his "Enlisted Record and Report of Separation" that he was part of the reinforcement troops sent to Italy in early 1944 as part of "Operation Shingle." Previously, "Operation Avalanche" in September of 1943 had planned to take the port of Naples, Italy on the west coast and the airfields at Foggia, Italy on the east coast, but had been stalled by the winter weather and the Germans. On 22 Jan 1944, "D-Day" of "Operation Shingle" was a landing at Anzio, Italy, on the western coast, 30 miles south of Rome and 130 miles north of Naples. By 29 Jan cargo ships had landed huge supply shipments at Anzio and it was in full operational mode by 1 Feb.

The coast of Anzio-Nettuno, Italy

where the U.S. 3rd Infantry landed

Anzio: men and equipment move ashore

   So where was George when all of this was going on? On my grandfather's discharge papers, it states that he arrrived in Europe 1 Feb 1944 with the 3rd Infantry, which, at the date would've been at Nettuno, just south of Anzio. We also know that he was a "light truck driver," which would have been significant with all of the supplies arriving at Nettuno and Anzio.
  The Germans were unprepared for the Anzio, Italy invasion and reacted by sending troops south from Rome, 30 miles north, as well as Yugoslavia, France, and Germany by train. There was intense fighting for weeks, sometimes hand to hand combat, as the Allies and Germans fought over every foot of land. Thousands of men died. Towns were destroyed. One of the towns was Cisterna, where George's unit would have been involved in battle.

Patrol through Cisterna, Italy

   Through the spring of 1944, both sides held their lines with little combat as they waited reinforcements and supplies. By mid-May the heavy fighting began again, culminating in the liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944. George had 2 postcards he had brought home of Rome, where he had written on the back that he was there.

   On George's discharge papers it states he was in the Naples-Foggia campaign, but that campaign was finished before he even arrived in Italy. On the dates he was with the 3rd Infantry, he obviously was involved in the Anzio campaign. Was it because he was part of the follow-up to the Naples-Foggia campaign? Was the misinformation incorrect simply because of human error? We will probably never know.

   This was only the beginning of my grandfather's time in Europe. Next blog will be about the continuation of his role in World War II.

   For more detailed reading of the Anzio Campaign, visit the Army's history website where they have published the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Clayton D. Laurie. http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm

   The photos here are from the National Archives in Washington D.C. and are found at the aforementioned website.

   Below are several maps of Europe during World War II and "Operation SHINGLE." Take note of the 3rd Infantry of which George was part of.

The Allie troops land at Anzio-Nettuno beaches

The red arrows show where the Allies, including the 3rd Infantry where George

served, had combat with the German troops 

Photos & maps from the Army History website & the National Archives.

http://www.history.army.mil/search.html

George W. Miller of Ronks, PA

  My grandfather was George William Miller, the 7th child of Ezra Zittle Miller and Mary Frances Rote Miller of Lancaster Co., PA. He was born March 23rd, 1914, at home, in Ronks, Lancaster Co., PA. He was delivered by Dr. George W. H. Frew, M.D. of Paradise, PA. As was often the case in earlier times, his birth certificate was not filed at the time of his birth; not until Jan. 21, 1942. I think that it was probably required in order to register for the World War II draft.

   In the 1920 Census, the family is living in  Lancaster Township, southeast of Lancaster (I have no idea why). By 1930 they are in their home on Ronks Rd., Ronks, PA. George is 16 years old and listed as a laborer in his father's greenhouses.
   We know that George dropped out of East Lampeter High School after 9th grade in the 1927-1928 school year. He was in the class of 1931, the first to attend the new high school. (In later years it was called Witmer Heights and used by Smoketown Elementary.) The East Lampeter High School yearbook, El Dorado, 1931, has this to say in the front of the seniors section:

Senior Class History
Thinking back to August, 1927, you may see a large group of girls and boys starting their first year of high school. We were rather shy at first, for everything seemed so new and different from what we were accustomed. After a few weeks, during which we became better acquainted, we held our first class meeting.... Later in the fall we entered the High School building. We were the first Freshman class to attend school here.
Coming back as Sophomores after our vacation, we were sorry to find that... (others named) and George Miller, were not returning to continue with us in our quest for knowledge....

   Only shortly thereafter George Miller married Elsie Diffenbaugh. She was the daughter of Harry L. and Viola F. Diffenbaugh. They had both been in the Class of 1931 at East Lampeter High School. They had a son Robert G. Miller on June 10, 1933. Robert passed away May 22, 1936 from a brain aneurysm. He is buried among other Miller family in Longenecker's Reformed Mennonite Cemetery on Strasburg Pike between Lancaster and Strasburg in Lancaster County, PA.

   From 1935 to 1938 George worked as a house painter. I wonder if it had anything to do with Elsie's father being a house painter?
   From 1939 through 1942, George worked for Denlinger's Manufacturing Company, Lancaster, hauling steel from steel mills to Denlinger's, as well as hauling farm equipment and doing truck repairs.
   George and Elsie divorced.

   World War II makes an impact on the Miller Family in the next blog entry.

Miller Family in Ronks, PA

   I became interested in genealogy in 2000. My grandmother, my last living grandparent, died the end of 1998. Beginning of 2000 I had my 4th child. I realized then that it was time to start recording the family's history before it was all forgotten. I can't say that I never had any previous interest because I'd asked her to tell me about growing up in Maine and how she ended up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I hope this inspires my family to share some of their memories as well.

    My grandfather and grandmother, Marian (Ward) and George Miller raised their family in Ronks, Lancaster County, PA. In this photo in the 1960s they are seen behind their home on Ronks Rd. They had 3 children, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and so far 3 great great grandchildren. They were an important part of my life and it's only now that I can appreciate everything they've done for me and the family.
  I encourage my family to add comments.