MEDALS-RIBBONS: Presidential Unit Citation W/Star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory

Second Lieutenant Milner was killed in action during the Amphibious Assault of Peleliu.

William Gray Milner (or Bill as family called him) was born December 17, 1922 in Martin, Tennessee.  During his first year, his parents moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he and his sister were raised.  Milner was a talented artist and after graduating from St. Louis High School in 1939, he worked toward a college degree in Commercial Art and became a semi-pro football player.    

After December 7, 1941 and the escalation of WWII many men decided to enter the military.  In August 1942 Bill and two of his best buddies went down to the recruiting station in Iowa City, Iowa.  His buddies entered the Marines and in the hope he could be a pilot, Bill volunteered for the Naval Air Corp.  He trained for 9 months in pre-flight school, but was honorably discharged.  

Bill enlisted in the Marine Corp Reserves on May 27, 1943 and on June 3^rd entered boot camp at Camp Elliot (more recently known as Miramar Naval Air station and now Marine Corp Air Station Miramar) in San Diego.  Private USMCR III Milner was awarded Expert Rifleman.

NOTE:  The following information was obtained from his discharge paperwork and is confusing.  Please review and edit so that this information is accurate:

Mlner was sent to Officer Candidate School on October 21, 1943 in Quantico, Virginia as an Und Inst (Under Instructor or Under Instruction???); then with the Regional Operations Center at Quantico as an Und Inst. 

On December 29, 1943 he transferred to active duty and was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and joined the 43^rd Reserves, Officer Class, MCS 29-31.  

As the WWII moved to the Japanese waters preparations were made for an attack on the Palau Islands.   On April 26 1944 Milner was assigned to the 54^th Replacement Battalion, and prepared and moved west for deployment.

During his service Lt. Milner continued to use his art and words to describe his experiences.  Drawings and pictures sent to his mother were saved by the family.  Following are some excerpts from his letters.

May 22^nd  he wrote “I am in the San Francisco harbor waiting to ship out.  I stood upon one of the docking bridges, pretending I was coming in instead of going out.  Great Feeling.  Maybe it won’t be so long at that”. 

In May 1944 Lt Milner made company commander of Headquarters Company.   He landed in New Caledonia on May 29, 1944 and by boat headed to the Guadalcanal arriving on June 1, 1944. 

May 30^th  “I was settling in in New Caledonia and there are lots of birds, pretty colors raising cain in the trees …. big blue sky with dark clouds.  (There are drawings he did in New Caledonia depicting this description.)  He recounted the trip over as “sure had couple [of] beautiful nites on the way here. The Big Blue, black clouds, stars, a moon on the sea (sho’ big out here) and the old transport cutting a white swathe through the waves.  We had singing sessions among the officers up on the boat deck.  Everyone in a fine mood.  Watching the moon come in and out of the clouds; about 3 points to starboard of the old dipper, back where the USA is waiting”

On June 9, 1944 Milner became officer in charge, Headquarters Group, Censorship Officer.  This also led to a designation change to the Fleet Marine Forces in the Pacific.  

June 22^nd “the “barber shop” tent collapsed on the barber and 4 customers.  Best laugh we’ve had!  Little breezy today.  June 28^th we took a 1 ½ hour boat trip to Tulagi across the Sealock Channel where we saw the caves where the Marines had to blast the Japs out.  Met several New Zealand flyers and soldiers.  All interesting fellows.  Somehow there was an old   “battered up phonograph making me homesick.  If you really think a record would ship - I’d like I’ll get by and I’ll walk alone.  Don’t ask me my reasons.”

July 3^rd “Our stop in New Caledonia will be interesting to you I know….the first spot of dry land since Frisco….beautiful little islands out in the bay.  It’s a French Colony and we had a tough time with their language…. The uniforms of every allied nation are represented here.  Met several New Zealanders.  The houses are all of French style…. Lots of mail from liberty gals from D.C., St. Louis, Fredericksburg.  I’m beginning to think I am a wolf.  Swell to get mail though.  But I hope I never run into them all at once after the war.  Ha!”

“I have a friend nearby.  He is brown with green spots - breathing in and out. And flicking his tongue at me.  He’s a lizard.  A skeeter eater.  Hence our friend.  No one ever kills them.  Even if we find them in our bunks in the mornings - as long as they eat the bugs.  Hope you won’t think me extravagant investing $20 for a Coleman lamp (gas).  Gives better light than electric.”

July 11^th “Very dark today – rains coming.   I have a day off for a change at least until dawn tomorrow.  I always post the news you send on my company’s bulletin board and as it is on the way back from chow area most of the battalion stop to read…. We get news via our mosquito network – but unless you actually see the broadcast the facts are so distorted -    scuttlebutt.” 

July 14^th “all set to sail.  Sure feels good to be an organized outfit.  Think – We are part of the Glorious Ole First Marine Division “Guadal” blaze on the shoulder.”

On July 16, 1944 Lt. Milner was assigned to the Company “E” Battalion, and made Company Commander of Headquarters Company.  On July 18, 1944 he was sent to Russell Islands in the Pacific with the 3^rd Armored Amphibious Battalion 1^st Marine Division. 

July 19^th  “Arrived OK at new island.  Had to set up camp from scratch.  We are on one of the more remote little islands of a group … living very primitively.  Rations for chow – heavily chlorinated water (tastes flat), red ants that try to eat us alive, rotting coconuts lending a lovely fragrance.  Whatta place!   On the other hand, we have a lovely coral beach nearby.   Well I have the by-product of eating from metal mess gear, “dysentery”.  Gotta go get a dose of paregoric again.  It’s practically universal out here”

July 23^rd “Here are some more new officers.  Fresh from the states.  Sure seems odd to see a pressed shirt even tho a little wrinkle.” 

July 29^th “I can tool one of these Amphib Coffins around pretty well.  Although, driving them isn’t my worry.  Going to the show tonite – latest thing ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ but plenty good enough to see again. 

July 30^th  Today was Jackpot day on mail.  I got mine (4).  They come that way lately.  Letters from all my ‘Liberty Gals’ 5 – I’m bragging – sure.  Well, candle is burning low.  Ah …. Ole McPeek just came through.  He’s been hoarding some candy bars all day and just gave Boudreeaux and [me] one.  Like Gold!!!! Had some cookies last night and one of the cooks who used to be in my HdQ Co finagled me a can of pineapple juice.”

August 1 “Well exactly 2 years ago tomorrow I enlisted in Navy Air Corps down at the Federal Building. Crews, Sturges and I went down.  They went in the Navy and I signed for exam in Naval Air Corp.  I will never forget that.”  “Well my kids are looking like Tank Crews lately.  Gunnery is improving.  I’ve been instructing on the 30 Cal light MG.  My Corporal from St. Louis is one good NCO.  I’ll get him a sergeant’s rate if I possibly can.  He knows these tanks from A to Z.  And can give school on any of it ….  Frenchie is a real coffee fiend.  And we now have a small can on legs with a container of Kerosene.  He builds a small ‘Chicago Fire’ every nite and sits there on his haunches chortling to himself and bragging about his ability as a coffee brewer.  We agree, whether it is good or not, for it’s always warm.  Sgt. Goode sees that I don’t do without, when a few little ‘special’ things become available.  Today he brought me rubber boots.  Well, received 20 letters in last 2 days.  It all came at once.” 

August 9^th  “Bob Hope’s show is here… only did one show.  General Hollad M (Howlin’ Mad) Smith has been given command of All Fleet Marine Forces divisions.” 

August 12 “No mail today – and the chow was no good, plus a hoarse voice and goodly amount of sun- it’s been a rotten day.”

August 13^th  “Well my tank crews have been doing themselves mighty proud in the past 2 days.  In 2 mock landings every gunner has accounted for at least one target from off shore firing, that that includes ‘yours truly’ for the second landing tank commander and gunners exchanged places in the Torret and 2 sets and myself.  2 PFCs got a shot at gunning.”

On August 25, 1944 2^nd Lt. Milner’s company embarked on LST #271 at Pavuva Island, Russell Islands where they joined the 54^th Replacement Battalion and sailed on August 26, 1944 to Peleliu Islands.  On September 15, 1944 an assault on the Japanese on the island of Peleliu, Palau Island began.   On this first day of fighting 2^nd Lt. Milner was killed in action.  

2^nd Lt. Milner is buried at the Memphis National Cemetery.  He was awarded the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Victory Medal WWII.