Title: Marine Corps Corporal, World War II
Birthdate: August 28, 1923
Death Date: February 12, 1946
Plot Location: Section 53, Lot 10, northeast quarter, north line
“Jimmy” was the youngest in a blended family. His mother, Sarah, had been married before but was granted a divorce and married Reuben Henry Miller in 1919. She brought her two children, William and Dorothy, to the marriage and had Reuben Jr. in 1920 and Jimmy in 1923.
They lived in the Point Breeze section of South Philadelphia. Reuben dropped out of high school to work with his father in the jewelry business, but after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the rush to sign up, right after the holidays in January 1942. Meanwhile, Jimmy finished his senior year with the Class of 1942 at South Philadelphia High School. His yearbook profile mentioned his love of carpentry and a desire to go into building construction.
As soon as he graduated in June, Jimmy registered for the draft and went to work at a pawn shop. It wasn’t until April of 1943 that Uncle Sam sent him a letter requesting his service. He made it into the Marine Corps Reserves and, just like his older brother, would rise to the rank of corporal. On June 29, 1944 he went overseas with the 4th Regiment, 6th Marine Division.
That summer they fought to retake the island of Guam, then took part in the invasion of Okinawa in the spring of 1945. When the war in the Pacific was over, Reuben came home and Sarah was hoping she’d have both boys home again soon. But the 4th Marines had guard duty at the Yokosuka Navy Base near Tokyo until February of 1946 when the regiment was deactivated.
Unfortunately Jimmy didn’t live to see that day. Something happened in late January that resulted in him being flown to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Seattle, Washington on the 28th. His death certificate, dated February 12, listed the immediate cause of death as multiple injuries. Other conditions included septicemia (blood infection), kidney failure and a ruptured bladder.
Jimmy’s body was interred in a new plot in Mount Moriah beneath this military headstone. After his father died, his mother purchased a large headstone that had room for additional family members. At some point, someone decided to include Jimmy’s name on that stone but gave the stonecutter the incorrect death date of 1943.
Space was left on the stone and in the plot for his brother Reuben. He lived another 65 years and was buried at another cemetery in 2010.
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