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Photo # NH 73698: Seaman Williard D. Miller

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Seaman Willard D. Miller, USN, (1877-1959)

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.

This page features the only images we have concerning Willard D. Miller.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

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

 
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

 
 
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

 
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

 



Medal of Honor citation of Seaman Willard D. Miller (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 77):

"On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, MILLER displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 24 March 2006