b. 05/06/1877 Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada. d. 19/02/1959 Salt Lake City, Utah.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 11/05/1898 Cienfuegos, Cuba.
Willard Miller was born in Maitland, Nova Scotia on June 5, 1877. 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 USS Nashville (PG-7). On May 11, 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 conduct during the action (the Battle of Cienfuegos).
Miller’s younger brother, Harry Herbert Miller, was also awarded the Medal of Honor for the same action, making the two men one of only eight pairs of brothers to be awarded the medal. Miller left the Navy in 1906 and later served in the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
MOH CITATION:
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.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 46, GRAVE 15.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.