After serving as a Pharmacist Mate in the US Navy during World War II, James C. Miller graduated from Gannon College in 1950 and was simultaneously commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant entering active duty on 5 September 1950. In 1972 he received a Master of Science degree from Shippensburg State University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
From 1950 to 1962 as a company grade officer he performed platoon leader, company executive and company commander duties in the 716th and 504th Military Police Battalions, the 32nd Criminal Investigation Detachment, as well as the 60th, 164th, 5th and 19th Infantry Regiments in the United States and Korea. Staff assignments included operations officer, Provost Marshal Section, XVIII Airborne Corps; Chief of Operations, Provost Marshal Section, 7th US Army; and ROTC Instructor, University of Nebraska.
Following a year’s tour as Provost Marshal, Fort Jay, New York he commanded the 81st Military Police Detachment, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) from 1964 to 1966.
After completing Army Command and General Staff College, Colonel Miller was assigned to Office of the Provost Marshal General in Washington, DC where he was assigned as Chief, Mobilization and Force Structure Branch, Plans and Operation Division.
During an extended tour in Viet Nam, he served as Provost Marshal, 4th Infantry Division and later as Commander, 93rd Military Police Battalion.
Upon return to the United States, Colonel Miller was again assigned to Washington where he served with Headquarters, Army Materiel Command, in the Security Office as Chief, Provost Marshal Division.
Following graduation from Army War College, he was assigned to the Department of the Army Staff in the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Force Development.
In 1974 he was transferred to Venezuela where he commanded the United States Military Group until his assignment as Commander, 89th Military Police Group, Fort Hood, Texas in 1977.
Colonel Miller’s decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal for valor with three oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Department of the Army General Staff Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and four foreign awards.
Colonel Miller, who entered the Army from Pennsylvania, married Esther L. McFayden in 1950. They have three children.