Sugar Grove vet recalls World War II service
Sugar Grove's Ross Miller was among World War II veterans who shared war memories Thursday, March 26.
Miller, a Navy veteran, shared a microphone with Ray Moore of Aurora, an Army Air Corps vet, at a program at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Aurora.
The church's adult fellowship group sponsored the two-hour event. Included were veterans' remarks, audience members' recollections, a display of memorabilia and a lunch.
The event opened with presentation of Quilts of Valor to Miller, Moore and Lyle Goodman of Aurora, an Army vet.
Karen Labolley, who presented quilts, said about 50 St. Mark's women sew the quilts at home or the church to present to returning vets.
Karen Lorence of the church's adult fellowship, event organizer, introduced Miller.
He recounted serving on the USS North Carolina (BB-55), the first newly constructed American battleship to enter service during World War II. North Carolina took part in every major naval offensive in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Miller said his ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on Sept. 19, 1942. Skillful damage control by North Carolina's crew and the excellence of her construction prevented disaster.
She maintained her station in a formation and after temporary repairs in New Caledonia, the ship proceeded to Pearl Harbor.
At Pearl, North Carolina was dry docked for a month for repairs to her hull and received more anti-aircraft armament. Following repairs, she returned to action.
According to Miller, he attended a reunion of American and Japanese veterans where he met members of the crew that had torpedoed North Carolina.
Miller concluded his military service as an instructor at Great Lakes Naval Base.
Moore, 92, answered 20 prepared questions about his service as a tailgunner on B-17 Flying Fortress. Moore said he trained as a plane mechanic but later was reassigned as a replacement tailgunner.
During seven months, he flew 29 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe as a member of the 398th Bombardment Group based at Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire, England.
"We formed great friendships," Moore said of his fellow crewmen. "We had to be close to survive."
The event closed with a lunch of sandwiches, side dishes and desserts of apple pie and three-layer, red-white-and-blue gelatin squares topped with mini American flags.