Justin Albert Miller

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Justin Albert Miller, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VPB-101), in action against enemy Japanese during an armed reconnaissance mission over Puerto Princessa and the surrounding areas in the Philippine Islands on 19 October 1944. Commander Miller initiated a series of devastating runs in daring defiance of the deadly antiaircraft fire. He executed repeated fierce attacks at perilously low level which caused the sinking of two cargo vessels with a third probably sunk, the destruction of 10 hostile planes on an enemy airstrip, and the damaging of 15 others. He subsequently attacked and destroyed three Japanese seaplanes and probably wrecked three others before sustaining severe damage to his plane which forced him to effect a dangerous crash landing at sea. Commander Miller’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 344 (November 1945)