Military Service

In 1941 Everett D. Miller found his name in the papers. He was on the list of potential draftees.

Many thanks to the outstanding researchers at the Bennet-Martin library in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska for much of the following information and images.

The first Selective Service Draft Registration in advance of WWII took place on October 16th, 1940, requiring all adult males aged 21-31 to fill out draft registration cards. On October 27th, 1940, in the combined Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, there was a master list published of ALL men that were eligible for the draft in Lancaster County (Nebraska). This list was broken down into four (4) Boards, based mainly on geography. Everett Dwight Miller — with his draft serial number — showed up in Board 2, with the serial number 1120.

The pattern of draft announcements was that an article appeared in the paper (and presumably mail was sent directly to the potential draftee) listing a group of men who had been sent their Draft Questionnaire. These men were then supposed to report for testing to determine if they were physically eligible to serve. These lists of names appeared in both papers, but scattered — the lists could include members of just one Board, or as many as three or four Boards. The lists could have just half a dozen names or upwards of two hundred in a single list. The lists appeared with no sense of regularity — sometimes lists were published on multiple days back-to-back, and sometimes there would be a week or more between the appearances of such lists. Everett Dwight Miller shows up in one of these lists on March 18, 1941 as having been sent his Draft Questionnaire (and thereby needing to show up for physical tests). From the Lincoln Star, March 18, 1941, page 12:

The Draft Questionnaire announcement from Evening State Journal, March 19.1941 gives his Order Number as 1417. (No explanation for what the difference is between a Serial Number and an Order Number):

Everett joined the US Army rather than wait for the draft and ended up in the 204th Field Artillery Battalion. The Battalion was broken into five units, known as batteries. Roughly, the personnel count was something like this:

Headquarters: 50
Service: 50
Battery A: 100 people
Battery B: 100 people
Battery C: 100 people

Everett was assigned to Battery C, but as a personnel clerk travelled with and was located in Headquarters. This meant he was never at the guns, which were always forward. His respsonsibilities were to keep track of all the men in Battery C — who came, left, got injured, or died. Fortunately, no one in his Battery was killed. Even though “personnel clerk” may not seem quite the high-profile station that front-line combatants had, it was important job. Keeping track of the personnel would be crucial for the families of the service men. People like Everett made sure there was a trail of information — before computers.

Similar to his record keeping, the Army compiled a nearly day-by-day diary of the 204th Battalion’s movements. Says Everett: “This record I have shows our location from right after we hit beach head in France until Armistice was signed.”

Click this link for the 204th US Army Batallion diary in PDF form.

Everett in uniform next to his mother Elizabeth.

On June 6, 2004 Everett was among Nebraska World War II veterans recognized by France for their service in France. The ceremony took place in the rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol.

There was a sizable crowd on hand for the ceremony. Everett is in the circle. Rosie, Everett’s companion, is on his left (right in the picture).

There was a sizable crowd on hand for the ceremony. Everett is in the circle. Rosie, Everett’s companion, is on his left (right in the picture).

The ceremony included a band, seen below at the south entrance into the rotunda.

Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns gave opening remarks.

Primary remarks were delivered by Dominique DeCherf, Consul General of France for the Midwest.

Everett shaking hands with Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns after receiving the certificate of appreciation.

Everett shaking hands with Jon Camp, member of the Lincoln City Council.

The certificate of appreciation.

In the sun outside the Nebraska State Capitol, with the certificate.

On November 11, 2017 Everett was recognized at a school assembly at the Messiah Luthern Church and School in Lincoln, Nebraska. The video below shows the relevant portion of the hour-long program.