Edwin S. Miller

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Edwin S. Miller, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. LOWERY (DD-770), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa from April 30 to 22 June 1945. Maintaining his crew at a high level of morale and combat efficiency despite the constant strain of impending and actual hostile air attack during this period, Commander Miller ably directed the gunfire of his ship during numerous attacks by low-flying enemy suicide planes and succeeded in destroying four hostile planes and in assisting in the destruction of five others, sustaining only minor damage and casualties to his ship and crew. During a particularly heavy attack on 28 May he observed that a friendly vessel had been struck and severely damaged by two enemy aircraft and, displaying exceptional seamanship and initiative, coordinated and supervised the rescue of several survivors of the stricken ship. By his aggressive performance of duty, he assisted the Combat Air Patrol controlled by his vessel in destroying over thirty Japanese planes and contributed materially to the successful completion of the hazardous Okinawa operation. Commander Miller’s excellent leadership and gallant fighting spirit upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.