Sergeant Major Wayne K. Miller
Branch of Service
Riverside, California
Honored by
Steve T. Jenkins, Great Nephew
Activity During World War II
1929 - 1940: 4th Marine Division - China Marines
1940 - 1945 Philippines / Corregidor
"P.O.W. 1942 - 1945"
Died in Takao Harbor, Formosa on the Japanese hellship Enoura Maru
Read more about the Enoura Maru
1940 - 1945 Philippines / Corregidor
"P.O.W. 1942 - 1945"
Died in Takao Harbor, Formosa on the Japanese hellship Enoura Maru
Read more about the Enoura Maru
Hometown
U.S. Marine Corps
Awards
World War II Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal w/clasp
Asiatic Service Campaign Medal
Expeditionary Medal "China Service 1933 - 1934"
Good Conduct Medal - U.S.M.C.
Purple Heart Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
American Defense Service Medal w/clasp
Asiatic Service Campaign Medal
Expeditionary Medal "China Service 1933 - 1934"
Good Conduct Medal - U.S.M.C.
Purple Heart Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
Newspaper Articles: 1942 - 1945
June, 1942 - Riverside Marine Missing in Action: In a list of 280 California men announced by the Navy department as
missing in action during the time period between May 11 and June 6, is the name of a former Riversider, First Sgt. Wayne
K. Miller of the Marine Corps who was on Corregidor at the time of its fall. Sergeant Miller, who would have been 38
years of age this month, graduated from Polytechnic high school in 1923 after attending elementary schools here, and
went to junior college for a year. In the high school and junior college, he played on the schools' football teams. In service
with the Marine Corps for the past 16 years, Sergeant Miller had been transferred to the Philippines from Shanghai about
one week before the attack upon Pearl Harbor, December 7 of last year. He had been stationed for two years at Shanghai,
and on two prior periods had seen service in China.
missing in action during the time period between May 11 and June 6, is the name of a former Riversider, First Sgt. Wayne
K. Miller of the Marine Corps who was on Corregidor at the time of its fall. Sergeant Miller, who would have been 38
years of age this month, graduated from Polytechnic high school in 1923 after attending elementary schools here, and
went to junior college for a year. In the high school and junior college, he played on the schools' football teams. In service
with the Marine Corps for the past 16 years, Sergeant Miller had been transferred to the Philippines from Shanghai about
one week before the attack upon Pearl Harbor, December 7 of last year. He had been stationed for two years at Shanghai,
and on two prior periods had seen service in China.
August 17, 1943 - Another Family Learns Relative is Jap Prisoner: A Riverside Marine, Sgt. Major Wayne K. Miller, is
alive, "uninjured" and in "good health," according to an official Japanese government post card received by his sister,
Mrs. Chester McKenzie. The only other information states "love to all" and "please do not worry." The card originated
in a "Philippine Military Prison Camp."
alive, "uninjured" and in "good health," according to an official Japanese government post card received by his sister,
Mrs. Chester McKenzie. The only other information states "love to all" and "please do not worry." The card originated
in a "Philippine Military Prison Camp."
July 22, 1944 - Prisoner of Japs Sends Card Home: A card received from war prisoners' camp No. 1, Philippine islands,
is the first word Mrs. A.L. Jenkins, has had in over a year from her brother, Sgt. Maj. Wayne K. Miller, Riverside Marine,
who was taken prisoner in action on Corrigidor. The card reads in part: "Received several letters from you. Glad to hear
you are all doing fine. Health is good, considering everything. Certainly hope I will be able to be back and see you all
again before next year."
is the first word Mrs. A.L. Jenkins, has had in over a year from her brother, Sgt. Maj. Wayne K. Miller, Riverside Marine,
who was taken prisoner in action on Corrigidor. The card reads in part: "Received several letters from you. Glad to hear
you are all doing fine. Health is good, considering everything. Certainly hope I will be able to be back and see you all
again before next year."
July 21, 1945 - Wayne K. Miller Reported Lost: That Sgt. Major Wayne K. Miller died overseas was word from the War
department received in a letter to his family last week. Sergeant Miller, the War department said, was lost on December
31, 1944, when the Jap prison ship on which he was being transferred from the Philippines to Japan was sunk near Manila.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1925, and visited here last in November, 1939. Shortly after that, he left the states for
his third trip to China and was stationed with the Fourth Marines in Shanghai until November, 1941, when he was trans-
ferred to the Philippines. Sergeant Miller was taken prisoner in May, 1942, when Corregidor was captured. He was held
at Cabanatuan in the Philippines until October, 1944, when he was being transferred to Japan. The family has learned from
released prisoners, who were at the same camp as their brother, that he was in fair health when he left, though he had
lost some weight. The last word received from him was a card mailed July 22, 1944.
department received in a letter to his family last week. Sergeant Miller, the War department said, was lost on December
31, 1944, when the Jap prison ship on which he was being transferred from the Philippines to Japan was sunk near Manila.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1925, and visited here last in November, 1939. Shortly after that, he left the states for
his third trip to China and was stationed with the Fourth Marines in Shanghai until November, 1941, when he was trans-
ferred to the Philippines. Sergeant Miller was taken prisoner in May, 1942, when Corregidor was captured. He was held
at Cabanatuan in the Philippines until October, 1944, when he was being transferred to Japan. The family has learned from
released prisoners, who were at the same camp as their brother, that he was in fair health when he left, though he had
lost some weight. The last word received from him was a card mailed July 22, 1944.
Family Archives
The family archives include service records, letters written by Sergeant Major Miller prior to and during captivity, and from
survivors to next of kin explaining how Sergeant Major Wayne K. Miller paid the ultimate price in the service of his country.
Click Here to retrieve in PDF format.
[ Click Here to download a free Adobe Reader to read PDF files. ]
survivors to next of kin explaining how Sergeant Major Wayne K. Miller paid the ultimate price in the service of his country.
Click Here to retrieve in PDF format.
[ Click Here to download a free Adobe Reader to read PDF files. ]
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