Pfc. Henry J. Miller Jr.

Biography and Wartime Service

Henry Miller was born on 3 September 1917 in Gothenburg, Nebraska. In March 1942 he enlisted in the US Army and a few months later in August he is shipped to Iceland. There he became part of the newly formed 494th AAA Gun Battalion and was assigned to C Battery. Early 1943 the unit crosses into Scotland and they are billeted near Glasgow. When Henry decides to go ice skating one cold winter day he meets Dorothy Wallace and the two fall in love. However, war pulls him away from Scotland again and sends him to France and Belgium where he will participate in the defense of the Port of Antwerp against the V-weapons. After the end of the war he hurries back to Glasgow and marries Dorothy. The newlyweds return to Nebraska and settle in Callaway. There the Miller family will raise four children, Brian, Elaine, Dorothy and Glen. Henry Miller passed away on 7 August 1977, age 59.

I had the pleasure of meeting with his son Glen and his wife Teri during their visit to Belgium tracing his father’s footsteps. Accompanying them was their daughter Amanda and her husband Austin. Later that year I was able to visit St. Louis where we were graciously hosted by Amanda & Austin. Granddaughter Amanda also returned in November 2024 to attend the ceremony & event commemorating the 80th anniversary of Antwerp X in Putte, Belgium.

Gallery

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