The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PB4Y Patrol Plane Commanding Officer of Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VPB-109), in action on 16 May 1944, at Truk Lagoon. As Pilot of a PB4Y Liberator bomber, he flew a long range search mission through the northern Carolines, then proceeded to Truk to investigate shipping anchored in the lagoon. He immediately attacked a five thousand ton cargo vessel at masthead height. Flying from stem to bow he dropped three bombs close aboard, heavily damaging the enemy ship. He then made a similar attack, under increasingly intense enemy fire, on a ten thousand ton tanker, which resulted in a great explosion which completely destroyed the large vessel. He then proceeded to Puluwat, still at minimum altitude, where he surprised a party of Japanese on the airfield and by strafing killed more than thirty of them and demolished their truck. By a direct bomb hit he completely destroyed a revetment. He attacked a radio station, obtaining two direct hits. While he was making a second successful attack on the radio station, during which he obtained four direct hits, a Japanese anti-aircraft shell burst just above the plane, nearly demolishing the cockpit and wounding both Commander Miller and his co-pilot. Despite shock and profuse bleeding, and with his plane severely damaged, he flew the plane safely back to base, over eight hundred miles distant. His cool courage, his consummate skill as an airman, his outstanding devotion to duty and aggressive fighting spirit were an inspiration to the squadron under his command and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.