Reed Presents Posthumous Bronze Star & Military Honors to Family of WWII U.S. Army Veteran

CRANSTON, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Army officer, today held a special ceremony of remembrance at the Cranston Public Library for dozens of family members, friends, and loved ones to celebrate the extraordinary life and devoted service of a local World War II hero. Over eighty years after Peter Milia joined the U.S. Army in February of 1943 during the height of World War II, Senator Reed joined the Milia family today to reflect on Peter Milia’s exemplary service and present his military honors that were earned in combat, including a Bronze Star. The Milia family recounted how Peter left his family’s home on Eagle Street and a job working in Providence’s jewelry industry just days before his twentieth birthday to go serve in the China-Burma-India Theater of operations as a member of the legendary U.S. Army special operations unit, the 475 th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 5307 th Composite Unit (Provisional) nicknamed ‘Merrill’s Marauders’ after their commander, Brigadier General Franklin D. Merrill . Trained in jungle warfare and charged with plunging deep behind enemy lines to sever Burma Road and open supply routes for Allied forces in the Pacific, Mr. Milia’s highly decorated unit operated in one of the most difficult combat climates in the world. Rising to the rank of Corporal with specialized technical skills, Mr. Milia served on a mortar crew which was transported by mules due to the rough terrain traversed by the special operations unit. Suffering from malaria, dysentery, and trench foot, Mr. Milia was evacuated from combat in the jungles of Burma – known today as Myanmar – on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain after he and his fellow servicemembers were surrounded by Japanese forces for three months. “Americans like Peter Milia represent the best of our nation. Selflessly serving his nation in the U.S. Army, Mr. Milia travelled far from his home in Providence and joined his fellow servicemembers in playing a key role in the Allied victory in the Pacific,” said Senator Reed. “We are forever grateful and indebted to brave men like Peter Milia and I am honored to salute his incredible service and present his family with the military honors he earned in combat during World War II.” Having served for just over twenty months, Mr. Milia was discharged from the Army in December of 1945. Marrying his beloved wife, Anna, Mr. Milia started a family in North Providence and began working for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). After raising three children and retiring from the Post Office after nearly four decades of service, Mr. Milia retired to enjoy his time with a growing group of grandchildren whom he was happy to dote upon. Mr. Milia passed away in 2002 at the age of 79. “Our Papa led a very simple, quiet life. Like most of his fellow members of the Greatest Generation, he rarely spoke about his military service. Today, we come together to celebrate his extraordinary service to our nation and his uncommon effort to protect freedom across the globe,” said Anthony Milia, Peter’s youngest son. “Our family would like to thank Senator Jack Reed and his office for all their efforts getting Papa’s medals and military honors. This was not a quick and easy process, but the Senator and his staff were the final driving force that brought us here as a family to honor our fallen hero.” In 2020, Senator Reed helped pass the Merrill’s Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act (PL116-170) to recognize the extraordinary bravery and courage of the unit’s actions in Burma with the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. The medal was officially awarded in 2022 and is stored in the collections of the Smithsonian Institute . It is estimated that less than ten members of the original 3,000 volunteers who made up Merrill’s Marauders are alive today. In addition to the prestigious Bronze Star Medal, Corporal Milia earned the following military honors that were presented to his family by Senator Reed at today’s special ceremony: Good Conduct Medal Presidential Unit Citation American Defense Service Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars World War II Victory Medal Combat Infantryman Badge, 1 st Award Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar