Harry Herbert Miller (May 4, 1879 – March 12, 1968) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

—for his actions in the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

Biography

Harry Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the state of

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and served during the Spanish–American War on board (Gunboat #7). On May 11, 1898, he was one of several men who took part in a boat expedition that cut the underwater telegraph cable off Cienfuegos,

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. For his "extraordinary bravery and coolness" under enemy fire during this operation (the

Battle of Cienfuegos The Battle of Cienfuegos, also known as the Raid on Cienfuegos, was an engagement of the Spanish–American War, intended by the United States Navy to tighten its blockade of Cuba. Background The Spanish were using undersea cables as a means to c ...

), Miller was awarded the Medal of Honor. His brother, Willard Miller, also participated in the battle and was awarded the Medal of Honor, making the two men one of only eight pairs of brothers to have received the medal. He attained the rank of Quartermaster Third Class before leaving the service. He eventually moved to Costa Rica, where he died at the age of 88.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy.
Place and date: On board the U.S.S. ''Nashville'', Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 11, 1898.
Entered service at: Massachusetts. Born: May 4, 1879,

Noel Shore, Nova Scotia Noel Shore is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipal District of East Hants. The community is named after Noel Doiron and may have originally been named Vil Robere. Acadians left the area during the Acadian ...

Hants County Hants County is an historical county and census division of Nova Scotia, Canada. Local government is provided by the West Hants Regional Municipality, and the Municipality of the District of East Hants. History Formation The county of Hants ...

.
G.O. No.: 521, July 7, 1899. 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.

References

: * {{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Harry Herbert 1879 births 1968 deaths American military personnel of the Spanish–American War Burials in Costa Rica Canadian people of British descent United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients People from Hants County, Nova Scotia United States Navy sailors Canadian-born Medal of Honor recipients American emigrants to Costa Rica Spanish–American War recipients of the Medal of Honor Canadian emigrants to the United States

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References