Presentation Date: August 27, 2009
Dennis Miller F1C, USN
Survivor of Kamikazie Sinking of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) - Last US Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII, 21 February 1945
* "Plank Holder" of USS Bismarck Sea; launched 17 April 1944, commissioned 20 May 1944 & began escorting convoys between San Diego & the Marshall Islands
* Served as Fireman First Class (F1C) in Forward Fireroom, close to ship’s island, & maintained the bunker-fuel boiler, right above the bilges; 4 hrs "on", 8 hrs "off"
* Steamed to Ulithi, Caroline Islands to join the 7th Fleet; 14-23 November 1944 operated off Leyte in support of operations, then 9-18 January 1945 helped in the Lingayen Gulf (Luzon) invasion landings
* 16 February 1945 arrived off Iwo Jima to support the Marines’ invasion 19 Feb.
* After sundown 21 February 1945 & recovering her own aircraft, aircraft from the USS Saratoga, landing on the Bismark Sea, were followed by Japanese Kamikazie airplanes which attacked
* Despite damaging anti-aircraft fire from Bismark Sea, two suicide planes struck her - one close to F1C Miller’s position, the second one through the flight deck, creating massive explosions, fire and death
* Within an hour, increasing damages forced CAPT John H. Pratt to issue orders to "abandon ship" into heavy seas & darkness. Bismarck Sea sank in 90 minutes
* Survivors rescued that night and next morning - by US Navy Destroyers - taken to Iwo Jima area & boarded onto Navy transport ships. Next 3 days provided a grandstand, and witnessing the Flag Raising on Mt. Suribachi, aka "Hot Rocks"
Survivor of Kamikazie Sinking of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) - Last US Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII, 21 February 1945
* Born 1 November 1925 in Clearwater, MN; raised on a farm
* Joined NAVY after high school graduation; sworn-in @ Ft. Snelling, MN 8 November 1943; "boot camp" in Farragut, ID; engineering school @ Great Lakes
* "Plank Holder" of USS Bismarck Sea; launched 17 April 1944, commissioned 20 May 1944 & began escorting convoys between San Diego & the Marshall Islands
* Served as Fireman First Class (F1C) in Forward Fireroom, close to ship’s island, & maintained the bunker-fuel boiler, right above the bilges; 4 hrs "on", 8 hrs "off"
* Working conditions had temperatures from 95 – 120+ degrees F
* Steamed to Ulithi, Caroline Islands to join the 7th Fleet; 14-23 November 1944 operated off Leyte in support of operations, then 9-18 January 1945 helped in the Lingayen Gulf (Luzon) invasion landings
* 16 February 1945 arrived off Iwo Jima to support the Marines’ invasion 19 Feb.
* After sundown 21 February 1945 & recovering her own aircraft, aircraft from the USS Saratoga, landing on the Bismark Sea, were followed by Japanese Kamikazie airplanes which attacked
* Despite damaging anti-aircraft fire from Bismark Sea, two suicide planes struck her - one close to F1C Miller’s position, the second one through the flight deck, creating massive explosions, fire and death
* Within an hour, increasing damages forced CAPT John H. Pratt to issue orders to "abandon ship" into heavy seas & darkness. Bismarck Sea sank in 90 minutes
* Survivors rescued that night and next morning - by US Navy Destroyers - taken to Iwo Jima area & boarded onto Navy transport ships. Next 3 days provided a grandstand, and witnessing the Flag Raising on Mt. Suribachi, aka "Hot Rocks"
* 318 men of the Bismarck Sea were lost; 620 survived
* Returned to USA; discharged September 1945; married Marcella 1946; returned to Minnesota for 9 tough years on his Dad’s farm; came to San Jose
* Carpenter trade for ~ 60 years; commercial and home-building
* 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren