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This is not a fiction story. It is just some things my father-in-law Ralph L. Miller faced during WWII.

A HOOSIER HERO

Sergeant Ralph L. Miller, a machine gunner, had a mission to fulfill. He must cover a
withdraw a of an infantry platoon. The date December 19th, 1944. The town Berdorf,
Luxembourg. The hostile force had him overwhelmingly out numbered. He utterly disregarded his

own safety as a hail of bazooka and machine gun fire surrounded him. He held stead-fast to his
post, as the enemy enclosed upon him. His return fire inflicted the enemy with heavy casualties,
as his machine gun was ablaze. The hostile force was now within thirty yards of his position, he
must now withdraw himself. A lethal barrage of enemy projectiles still surrounded him as he
boldly ran the forty yards, to rejoin his successful withdrawing organization.

Mission accomplished; One of many for Sergeant Ralph L. Miller of the 10th Armored
Division, 61st Armored Infantry Battalion/Battling "B". He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for
this mission.

His name was Ralph L. Miller. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana the year of 1920.

Ralph graduated from Elmhurst High School in Fort Wayne, at age eighteen. He was
employed at General Electric Company prior to entering the Army October 12, 1943. He
received his basic training at Camp Chaffe, Arkansas before going overseas. He was in the 16th
prior to September 1944. In September 1944 he started serving under General Patton with the 10th Armored
Division, 61st Armored Infantry Battalion/ Battling "B". He was in the Second Rifle Squad,
Second Platoon.

The "B" stood for Bearded, Battered, Begrimed, and Battlers.

(Author's Note: The goal of this article is to hopefully preserve the cause for which the Battling "B" fought.)

The trucks bearing the Battling "B" lined up on 26th street. The band was playing as they
got on the train. Captain Brady was acting as trainmaster to make sure everyone got on the right
car. After all was settled in, poker and craps games among other things became the recreation
before chow. George the porter came around at night to give all of them a lesson on the proper
method on how to use the berths, models M-1 and A-1. The upper berths, naturally, were grabbed
by the Former Air-Corps men and mountain men. The train rushed through the night. Morning
chow was served in Philadelphia. That night they hit Camp Shanks. This was the first time some
of the guys saw New York. Like a bunch of sailors on the last night on shore,

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