Maurice Jerry Miley was born on 29 Jun 1918, Canton, Ohio. His parents are Leonard & Golda (Pratte) Miley of Mt. Victory, Ohio. Maurice J. Miley is a graduate of Mt. Victory High School. Maurice had a brother Harold R. Miley, serving with the United States Navy, in the Pacific and a brother, Herbert F. Miley who would later serve in the United States Army. Maurice Miley attended the Marion Business College. Maurice was employed at Montgomery Ward and Company store in Marion, Ohio. Later he was at the Bellefontaine store, where he was a manager in the furniture department.

Maurice J. Miley entered the United States Army 29 July 1942. He attended Officers Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was stationed at Camp Mackall, North Carolina after joining the paratroopers. He was sent overseas for duty in May of 1944. He was serving as a Second Lieutenant with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 13th Airborne Division “Golden Unicorn.”

Lt. Maurice J. Miley was killed in action in southern France on 15 August 1944.

The four serials bearing the 517th RCT began drops at 0430. First to arrive was Lt. Col. Dick Seitz’ 2nd Battalion in Serial 6 flown by the 440th Group from Ombrone. Lt. Col. Mel Zais’ 3rd Battalion was due next in the 439th Group’s Serial 7 from Orbetello. The 460th Field Artillery (less Battery C) in Serial 8 with the 437th Group from Montalto fared better than the 3rd Battalion but not as well as the 2nd.

Twenty plane loads jumped early and were spread from Frejus to the west. Last in was Serial 9 at 0453, flown by the 43Sth Group from Canino with Major Boyle’s lst Battalion and Battery C of the 460th. One platoon of the 596th had dropped with the 509th. One platoon had dropped with the 2nd Battalion and one with the 3rd Battalion.

All told, only about 20 percent of the 517th RCT landed within two miles of the DZ. Regardless of where they landed the 517th troopers went to work with the tenacity and aggressiveness that characterized parachute outfits. The Germans were not anxious to tangle with the Allied paratroopers but nevertheless put up a stiff fight.

From the Unit History of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Southern France – Operation Dragoon

Lt. Maurice J. Miley is buried in Hale Cemetery, Ridgeway, Hardin County, Ohio.
Maurice J. Miley is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.