Willard Dwight Miller was born on 5 June 1877 in Nova Scotia,
Canada. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the State of Massachusetts
and served during the Spanish-American
War as a crew member of the gunboat Nashville.
On 11 May 1898 he took part in a small boat operation that cut
the underwater telegraph cable off Cienfuegos, Cuba, and received
the Medal of Honor for
his "extraordinary bravery and coolness". His brother,
Harry H. Miller, was also awarded the
Medal of Honor for the same action. Later in his life Willard
D. Miller served in the U.S. Light House Service. He died on 19
February 1959 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetary, Virginia.
Photo #: NH 73698
Seaman Willard Dwight Miller, USN
A Canadian who served in USS Nashville (Gunboat # 7) during
the Spanish-American War. Both he and his brother, Harry H. Miller,
were awarded the Medal of Honor for exhibiting "extraordinary
bravery and coolness" during the 11 May 1898 telegraph cable
cutting operation off Cienfuegos, Cuba.
This is a halftone reproduction.
Courtesy of the Army Museum, Halifax Citadel, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada, 1971.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 113KB; 570 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 73699
Willard Dwight Miller
Halftone reproduction of a photograph, showing him in the uniform
of the U.S. Light House Service, in which he served after leaving
the U.S. Navy in 1906.
Willard D. Miller had received the Medal of Honor for his role
in the 11 May 1898 telegraph cable cutting operation off Cienfuegos,
Cuba.
Courtesy of the Army Museum, Halifax Citadel, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada, 1971.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 54KB; 565 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79949
Cienfuegos Cable-Cutting Operation, 11 May 1898
Halftone reproduction of an artwork, published in "Deeds
of Valor," Volume II, page 358, by the Perrien-Keydel Company,
Detroit, 1907.
It depicts boats from USS Nashville (Gunboat # 7) and
USS Marblehead (Cruiser # 11) cutting underwater telegraph
cables off Cienfuegos, Cuba, while under intense Spanish gunfire.
Their ships are shown in the background, returning fire, with
Nashville on the right and Marblehead at left.
The Medal of Honor was liberally awarded to those who participated
in this operation.
US Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 76KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79952
USS Nashville (Gunboat # 7)
Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds
of Valor," Volume II, page 361, by the Perrien-Keydel Company,
Detroit, 1907.
The image shows crew members who participated in the cable cutting
operation at Cienfuegos, Cuba, on 11 May 1898. They are posed
in one of the ship's launches, after the ship had been repainted
in peacetime colors following the end of the Spanish-American
War. The Medal of Honor was liberally awarded to those who took
part in this operation.
US Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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