Milton E. Miles
Encyclopedia
Milton E. Miles was a Vice Admiral
in the United States Navy
, who served in World War II
as head of Naval Intelligence operations in China
, and later, second-in-command of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization
(SACO).
, the son of Lewis E. Robbins and Mae Belle Cook, and was the stepson of George A. Miles.
from 1918 to 1922. As a student, Miles was called "Mary" by his classmates, in reference to the silent film star Mary Miles Minter
. Commissioned as an ensign
, he first served in the Asiatic Fleet, receiving promotion to Lieutenant (junior grade). In 1927-1929 he studied at the Naval Postgraduate School
at Annapolis
, was promoted to Lieutenant, and received his MS
from Columbia University
. From 1929 until 1932 he was electrical officer aboard the aircraft carrier . He was a member of the Navy Department's Bureau of Engineering from 1932-1934. He was on destroyer duty in the U.S. Pacific and Asiatic Fleets between 1934–1939, receiving promotion to lieutenant commander
in 1937.
and then captain
in 1942. In 1942-1943 he served as U.S. Naval Observer, Chungking
, China, and as Chief of OSS (Office of Strategic Services
) for the Far East
. In 1943-1945 he was Deputy Director of the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO), and also served as Commander, U.S. Naval Group, China in 1944-1945, receiving the temporary rank of rear admiral in 1945.
, and in 1947 he was a planning officer on the staff of the Service Force, Atlantic Fleet. He received promotion to rear admiral in 1948 to command Cruiser Division One, and then commanded Cruiser Division Six and Cruiser Division Four in 1949.
Between 1950 and 1954 Miles was the director of Pan American Affairs and U.S. Naval Missions in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Senior Naval Delegate to Inter-American Defense Board
. He served as Commandant of the 15th Naval District in the Panama Canal Zone
in 1954, and was on-site Commander of "Operation Friendship", a flood relief program at Tampico, Mexico in 1955, in the wake of Hurricane Janet
. From 1956 Miles was the Commandant of the 3rd Naval District, based at New York, and also Commander of the U.S. Naval Base, New York. He retired in 1958 with the rank of Vice Admiral.
Miles died on 25 March 1961.
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as head of Naval Intelligence operations in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and later, second-in-command of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization
SACO Treaty
The Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization , also known as the Sino-American Cooperative Organization , was an organization created by the SACO Treaty signed by the Republic of China and the United States of America in 1942 during the Second World War...
(SACO).
Biography
Miles was born in Jerome, ArizonaJerome, Arizona
Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 353.-History:...
, the son of Lewis E. Robbins and Mae Belle Cook, and was the stepson of George A. Miles.
Early naval career
He joined the United States Navy in 1917 as an apprentice seaman, attending the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
from 1918 to 1922. As a student, Miles was called "Mary" by his classmates, in reference to the silent film star Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter was an American film actress of the silent film era.-Early life and rise to stardom:Born Juliet Reilly in Shreveport, Louisiana, Minter was the daughter of Broadway actress Charlotte Shelby...
. Commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
, he first served in the Asiatic Fleet, receiving promotion to Lieutenant (junior grade). In 1927-1929 he studied at the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
at Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, was promoted to Lieutenant, and received his MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. From 1929 until 1932 he was electrical officer aboard the aircraft carrier . He was a member of the Navy Department's Bureau of Engineering from 1932-1934. He was on destroyer duty in the U.S. Pacific and Asiatic Fleets between 1934–1939, receiving promotion to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1937.
World War II
From 1939 to 1942 Miles was a member of the Navy Department Interior Control Board, being promoted to commanderCommander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and then captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1942. In 1942-1943 he served as U.S. Naval Observer, Chungking
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, China, and as Chief of OSS (Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
) for the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. In 1943-1945 he was Deputy Director of the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO), and also served as Commander, U.S. Naval Group, China in 1944-1945, receiving the temporary rank of rear admiral in 1945.
Post-war
In 1946 Miles commanded the heavy cruiserHeavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
, and in 1947 he was a planning officer on the staff of the Service Force, Atlantic Fleet. He received promotion to rear admiral in 1948 to command Cruiser Division One, and then commanded Cruiser Division Six and Cruiser Division Four in 1949.
Between 1950 and 1954 Miles was the director of Pan American Affairs and U.S. Naval Missions in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Senior Naval Delegate to Inter-American Defense Board
Inter-American Defense Board
The Inter-American Defense Board is an international committee of nationally appointed defense officials who develop collaborative approaches on common defense and security issues facing countries in North, Central, and South America...
. He served as Commandant of the 15th Naval District in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
in 1954, and was on-site Commander of "Operation Friendship", a flood relief program at Tampico, Mexico in 1955, in the wake of Hurricane Janet
Hurricane Janet
Hurricane Janet was the most powerful hurricane of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season and one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, causing catastrophic damage and at least 687 deaths in the Lesser...
. From 1956 Miles was the Commandant of the 3rd Naval District, based at New York, and also Commander of the U.S. Naval Base, New York. He retired in 1958 with the rank of Vice Admiral.
Miles died on 25 March 1961.
Publications
- Miles, Milton E., A Different Kind of War: The Little-Known Story of the Combined Guerrilla Forces Created in China by the U.S. Navy and the Chinese During World War II (Garden City: Doubleday, 1967)