CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — A Cambria County family is recognized for its 10 sons who served in the U.S. Army from World War II to Vietnam.

The Miller family of Ashville had 15 children – 6 girls and 10 boys – and all the boys served. The long military journey began with Clarence Miller, a corporal in the United States Army, who was drafted in 1942 and served in the Pacific theater of World War II. He fought in the Western Pacific and the Philippines for a total of 166 days, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Clarence was followed by his brother James P. Miller, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force. James enlisted in June 1942 and flew glider missions to Normandy to support the D-Day invasion of France. According to a press release, he told a local newspaper: “We were lucky upon a successful landing, we encountered only light enemy fire and headed back to our positions.” He later received the Air Medal for his service in Holland and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1971.

A third brother, Cyril Miller, enlisted in the Air Force in April 1951. He was then shipped to Korea as an Airman 2nd Class. Cyril’s younger brother Harold was drafted into the army in December 1955. He was also sent to Korea, where he served with the 2nd Division in an armored tank company.

A fifth brother, Lloyd A. Miller, was a specialist third class after enlisting in the Army in July 1954. He was assigned to Company L. 71st Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, Alaska. He participated in Exercise Moose Horn – a four-week maneuver of tactical operations and movement across the country under simulated combat conditions in winter temperatures of 50 degrees below zero.

Lloyd’s younger brother, Thomas, enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1955, after which he received specialized training to become a military police officer. He then spent three years on active duty at Portsmouth Navel Station in New Hampshire.

A seventh brother, Wilfred Miller, enlisted in January 1958 and received specialized training in welding. His final assignment was working on Titan missile programs at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. His younger brother John was a Private First Class in the Army after enlisting in June 1958. He trained as a ranger and later participated in an amphibious operation in Korea called “Sea Horse.”

The last two brothers are still alive. David Miller enlisted in the Army in June 1960. He trained as a mechanical engineer and was deployed to Germany, where he served with the 109th Transportation Company, Seventh Army.

The tenth brother, Gary Miller, enlisted in the United States Air Force in March 1966. He later served around the world as a crew chief on KC 135 tanker aircraft during bombing runs over Vietnam .

“During Vietnam, we were transporting or escorting fighters that were not carrier-equipped to Vietnam,” Gary Miller said. “An oil tanker would take six fighters to cross the Pacific.”

It then landed in all parts of the world, including England, Spain, the Philippines, Okinawa, Hawaii and Guam.

All of the brothers in the Miller family retired and eventually returned to Cambria County.

Gary Miller attended the ceremony where the family was recognized by the Cambrian County War Memorial Museum and inducted into the Cambria County Patriotic Families Honor Roll.

“The small community shows a lot of respect,” Gary Miller said. “The recognition and respect we get is overwhelming. »

Jeff Pounding, museum curator, said this type of recognition requires the service of five family members.

“Having 10 members of the same family is extreme patriotism and it is unlikely to happen again,” he said.

Officials say only Lily’s McCabe family had more members who served in the military: 11 sons. Esther McCabe was declared “the war mother” and received national recognition during World War II.