Oscar F. Miller

Leading the renewed attack near Gesnes

Oscar F. Miller was born on 25 October 1882 in Franklin County, Arkansas. He served as a major with the 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division during the First World War.

On 28 September 1918 near Gesnes, France, Miller reorganized his exhausted battalion and ordered an attack. When fire caused the advancing line to waver, he led his command group forward and encouraged the troops to continue. Wounded repeatedly, he kept leading until a final wound forced him down. He urged his men to press on to the next ridge.

Miller died of his wounds on 30 September 1918. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously and is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France.

Medal of Honor citation

After two days of intense physical and mental strain, during which Maj. Miller had led his battalion in the front line of the advance through the Argonne Forest, the enemy was met in a prepared position south of Gesnes. Though almost exhausted, he energetically reorganized his battalion and ordered an attack. Upon reaching open ground the advancing line began to waver in the face of machine-gun fire from the front and flanks and direct artillery fire. Personally leading his command group forward between his front-line companies, Maj. Miller inspired his men by his personal courage, and they again pressed on toward the hostile position. As this officer led the renewed attack he was shot in the right leg, but he nevertheless staggered forward at the head of his command. Soon afterwards he was again shot in the right arm, but he continued the charge, personally cheering his troops on through the heavy machine-gun fire. Just before the objective was reached he received a wound in the abdomen, which forced him to the ground, but he continued to urge his men on, telling them to push on to the next ridge and leave him where he lay. He died from his wounds a few days later.