Clem William Miller
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Unit Info: 125th Field Artillery
Photo 1: Clem Miller
Photo 2, written on back: "This is the 125th FA survey detail - Lt. Blowman, L. Krmpotich, Tinsley, also Clem Miller
Photo 3: Anzio, Italy, April 1944, A Battery, 125th FA Battalion, 34th Infantry Division; Left to right: Clarence Anderson, Clem Miller, Carl Rogstad, Ken Hassler
Photo 4: Taken at Ordean School, Duluth, L to R: Clem Miller, Jerry N., Fred Du Charme, Bob Contardo, Kenny Lockhart, Bob Welsing, Joe Waters, and Roddy Barq
Photo 5: April, 1944, Anzio, Italy, behind unused railroad bed, A Battery, 125th FA Battalion, 34th Infantry Division; left to right: Clem Miller, Clarence Nesgoda, Carl Rogstad, Lt. Wahl, C. Anderson, William Jaunte
MILLER, Clem William
Clem William Miller was born on May 5th 1921 to Elmer V. & Marie [Bergquist] Miller in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Miller served in peacetime domestically and in World War II in the European Theater. He trained in Northern Ireland and saw combat in Africa and Italy. He earned five battle stars from Tunisia to the Po Valley.
Mr. Miller enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on October 23rd 1939. His unit was activated for federal service on February 10th 1941. He was with “A” Battery, 125th Field Artillery, 34th Infantry “Red Bull” Division.
Mr. Miller was stationed at Fort Ripley, Minnesota, then Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. He trained in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Miller traveled to Oran and saw combat in Pichon, Tunisia, beginning in February 1943 and participated in action at Sbeitla, Fondouk, and Hill 609. He was hospitalized with malaria in July 1943. He returned to Oran and trained on 105 mm guns in Oran, then sailed for Salerno, Italy, in September 1943.
He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSGT) in the Survey Section, then attached to “A Battery at Monte Casino, Italy. He was in several battles: 3 river crossings (Volturno), Mt. Pantano, San Vittore, Cassino, Anzio (beachhead), Cecina, Leghorn, Futa Pass, Livergano, and Mt. Belmont. He was honorably discharged on July 15th 1945.
After the war he returned home and married Marion Elleanor [Rogers] and they started a family.
Mr. Miller died at age 86 in Hermantown, Minnesota, on August 27th 2008. He is buried at Sunrise Memorial Park Cemetery in Hermantown.
Mr. Miller published a book about the war called Some Things You Never Forget. He was the historian for the 125th Field Artillery for many years.
Source(s): Duluth News Tribune, August 28, 2008 above;
Veterans’ Memorial Hall information summary (see below)
Clem William Miller enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on October 23, 1939. He was 17 at the time but had to say he was 18 so he could sign up. He had heard the Army would pay a dollar a day and he could then use the money to buy hockey skates. He entered into Federal Service on February 10, 1941. He was with Battery A in the 125th Field Artillery, 34th Infantry Division. He was stationed first at Fort Ripley, MN, next at Camp Claiborne, LA and afterward at Fort Dix, NJ.
Overseas, his battalion was in North Africa, Italy and Europe. He entered combat in Pichon, Tunisia, North Africa and participated in action at Sbeitla, Fondouk and Hill 609. Clem was on the front lines a total of 684 days. He was hospitalized with malaria in July, 1943. He received training in Oran on 105 mm. guns. He sailed for Salerno, Italy in September, 1943. He was promoted to staff sergeant in the survey section, then to A Battery at Monte Cassino, Italy. He was in the following battles: the Volturno River Crossings, Mt. Pantano, San Vittore, Casino, Anzio (beachhead), Cecina, Leghorn, Futa Pass, Livergano and Mt. Belmont. He was discharged on July 17, 1945.
As a side note, Clem’s brother Gordy (Gordon Bruce Miller) was a prisoner of war in WWII. The Germans, in an effort to fool American soldiers, were taking the prisoners’ jackets. Gordy cut up his jacket in front of the German officer and was cut by the German soldier with his bayonet. At a later date President Eisenhower was shaking all the POW’s hands and asked Gordy Miller where his jacket was. When Gordy told him what had happened the President gave Gordy his own jacket.
You can read Clem Miller's account of his military service in his book titled "Some Things You Never Forget: Five Battle Stars from Tunisia to the Po Valley."
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
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