Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Armor)

    Batallion:

    14th Tank Battalion

    Division:

    9th Armored Division

    Action Date:

    March 7, 1945

    Headquarters, FIRST U.S. Army, General Orders No. 49 (March 27, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Armor) Charles Windsor Miller (ASN: 0-1016389), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 14th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 7 March 1945, in Germany. Upon approaching the Ludendorf railroad bridge across the Rhine River, First Lieutenant Miller immediately placed his tank platoon in a commanding Position and directed effective fire upon hostile emplacements on the opposite bank, covering the crossing of friendly infantry and engineer units. That night, despite the extreme darkness and the fact that the strength of the bridge was unknown, First Lieutenant Miller, in the face of intense machine gun and artillery fire, personally led his platoon across the span. By his daring courage and unhesitating action, First Lieutenant Miller succeeded in leading the first American armor across the Rhine River, providing invaluable support for the foot troops on the opposite bank.