Lester Thomas Miller was born at Marietta, Ohio on September 24, 1894. He was graduated from Marietta College in Ohio in 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve on August 15, 1917.
SERVICE
From May, 1917 to August 1917 he attended the Officers Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and was then assigned to the 46th Infantry at Fort Benjamin Harrison, moving with that regiment to Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, in November 1917.
In March, 1918 he moved with the 46th Infantry to Camp Gordo, Georgia; in April 1918 to Camp Sheridan, Alabama; in March 1919 to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; and in September, 1919 to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. In September, 1920 he entered the Air Service School at Carlstrom Field, Florida and in October, 1920 transferred to the Air Service Lighter-than-Air Observation School at Ross Field, California.
He was graduated from the Army Balloon School at Ross Field, in June, 1921 and remained on duty there until June, 1922 when he went to Scott Field for duty. He transferred from Infantry to Air Service on August 2, 1921. He entered the Air Service Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas in March, 1924 and in July, 1924 went to the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. He was graduated there in September 1924 and became Commandant of Cadets. In February, 1925 he went to Luke Field, Hawaii as Supply Officer with the 5th Composite Group.
He assumed command of the Air Service Section at the Hawaiian General Area Depot, Honolulu in January, 1926 and in January, 1927 returned to Luke Field for duty with the 5th Composite Group. He returned to the United States in July, 1928 for assignment to Scott Field, Illinois as an airship company commander. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Langley Field, Virginia in August, 1930 and was graduated in June, 1931, then remaining at Langley Field in command of the 19th Airship Company.
In August 1932, he entered the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was graduated from the two-year course in June, 1934. He then went to Washington, D.C., for duty in the Personnel Division, Office of the Chief of Air Corps. He entered the Army War College in Washington, D.C., in August, 1935 and was graduated in June, 1936.
He entered the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas in July, 1936 and in June, 1937 went to Kelly Field, Texas for the Observation Course at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School. In November, 1937, he went to the San Antonio Air Depot in Texas for duty with the 3rd Transport Squadron as Commanding Officer. He returned to Washington, D.C., in March, 1938 as Assistant Chief of the Construction Branch in the Supply Division, G-4, of the War Department General Staff.
In September, 1938 he became Assistant Executive Officer of the Office, Chief of Air Corps in Washington and in February, 1939 was named Chief of the Public Relations Section in that Office. He went to Wright Field, Ohio in July, 1939 for duty as Assistant Administrative Executive of the Air Corps Material Division and in October, 1939 became Administrative Executive Officer there, acting also as Commanding Officer of Wright Field. In January, 1942 he was assigned to the Air Service Command at Wright Field. He subsequently moved to Patterson Field, Ohio, with the Air Service Command. In October 1944 he returned to Wright Field as Chief of the Supply Division, Air Technical Service Command. He later served as Deputy Commanding General of the Air Technical Service Command before retiring on August 31, 1946, in the grade of Major General.
He was rated a Pilot, Combat Observer, Balloon Pilot, Balloon Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve, August 15, 1917, to November 13, 1917; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, October 26, 1917; First Lieutenant (temporary), October 26, 1917, to September 21, 1918; Captain, Infantry, U.S.A, August 23, 1918, to June 30, 1920; First Lieutenant, March 4, 1919; Captain, July 1, 1920; Air Service, August 9, 1920; transferred to Air Service, August 2, 1921; Major, August 1, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), October 12, 1937; Lieutenant Colonel, August 18, 1940; Colonel (temporary), December 30, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., August 1, 1942; Major General, A.U.S., June 25, 1943; retired, disability in line of duty, in the grade of Major General, August 31, 1946.
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.