Perry L. Miles (October 15, 1873 – October 17, 1961) was a career officer in theUnited States Army. A veteran of theSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War,Pancho Villa Expedition, andWorld War I, he attained the rank ofbrigadier general, and his awards and decorations included theDistinguished Service Cross,Army Distinguished Service Medal,Silver Star, andPurple Heart from the United States, as well as the FrenchLegion of Honor (Officer) andCroix de Guerre with Palm.
A native ofWesterville, Ohio, Miles was raised and educated inColumbus, and was an 1891 graduate of Columbus High School. He then attended theUnited States Military Academy (West Point), from which he graduated in 1895 as asecond lieutenant ofInfantry. Miles served in the Philippines during theSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War, andChina Relief Expedition. As his career advanced, he served both in the United States and the Philippines, and was a 1915 graduate of the Army Service Schools and a 1916 graduate of the Army School of the Line at Fort Leavenworth. In the period immediately precedingWorld War I, he served atCamp Harry J. Jones, Arizona as his regiment patrolled the U.S. border with Mexico during thePancho Villa Expedition.
During the First World War, Miles commanded the371st Infantry Regiment, a unit of the African-American93rd Division, which he led during combat in France. After the war, he graduated from theUnited States Army Command and General Staff College (1920) andUnited States Army War College (1921). His later assignments included command of the 16th Infantry Brigade (now theUnited States Army Military District of Washington), and the1st Infantry Division. Miles retired in 1937.
In retirement, Miles lived inStaunton, Virginia, where he authored a memoir and participated in numerous civilian activities that supported the U.S. effort inWorld War II. He died in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 1961, and was buried atArlington National Cemetery.
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Perry Lester Miles was born inWesterville, Ohio on October 15, 1873, the son of Judge James Alexander Miles and Mary Esther (Longwell) Miles.[1] His family soon relocated toColumbus, Ohio, where Miles was raised and educated.[1] He graduated fromCentral High School in 1891 and was appointed to theUnited States Military Academy by CongressmanJoseph H. Outhwaite.[2] Miles graduated in 1895 ranked 23rd of 52 and received his commission as asecond lieutenant ofInfantry.[3] Among his classmates who later attained general officer rank wereCasper H. Conrad Jr.,Adrian Sebastian Fleming, andThomas Walter Darrah.[4]
After receiving his commission, Miles was assigned to the14th Infantry Regiment atVancouver Barracks,Washington.[3] He was promoted tofirst lieutenant in April 1898, and in May 1898 was mobilized forSpanish–American War in thePhilippines.[3] Miles took part in combat in and aroundManila as commander of the 14th Infantry's Company M, including the August 1898Battle of Manila.[3] He continued to serve in the area around Manila, and took part in 1899Philippine–American War engagements against Filipino insurgents.[3]
In October 1899, he received promotion to temporarycaptain ofUnited States Volunteers.[3] From 1900 to 1901, he performed quartermaster duties aboard theArmy Transport Service troop carriersWarren andSheridan, and made numerous month-long trips between Manila andSan Francisco.[5] Upon arriving in San Francisco in the summer of 1900, he was informed that the 14th Infantry had been dispatched to China as part of theChina Relief Expedition, the U.S. response to theBoxer Rebellion.[5] As a member ofWarren's crew, he then traveled to China, where he assisted in organizing the 14th Infantry for departure from China and transport to the Philippines.[5] In February 1901, Miles was promoted to permanent captain.[6] He performed transport duty until December 1901, after which he joined the 14th Infantry atFort Niagara, New York, where he resumed command of Company M.[5]
In February 1903, the 14th Infantry began a two-year tour in the Philippines, and Miles' company was based on the island ofSamar.[5] In 1905 the 14th Infantry left the Philippines and was assigned to Vancouver Barracks.[5] From 1905 to 1906, he commanded his company at thePresidio of San Francisco.[7] In 1907, he was assigned as assistant professor of military science and tactics atGirard College inPhiladelphia.[5] While assigned to Girard, Miles attended classes at theUniversity of Pennsylvania Law School.[5]
Miles resumed command of Company M atFort William Henry Harrison, Montana In February 1910.[7] In September 1910, he was assigned as the regimental adjutant.[7] From December 1912 to January 1913, he commanded his company atFort Lawton, Washington.[7] From January 1913 to August 1915, he was a student at theFort Leavenworth, Kansas Army Service Schools.[7] From 1915 to 1916, Miles attended the Army School of the Line at Fort Leavenworth, and he completed the course as a Distinguished Graduate.[5] In May 1916, Miles rejoined his regiment atCamp Harry J. Jones, Arizona as it patrolled the U.S. border with Mexico during thePancho Villa Expedition.[7] He remained in this position until October 1916, and was promoted tomajor in July 1916.[6][7]
From October 1916 to January 1917, Miles served with the 14th Infantry atYuma, Arizona.[7] From January to May 1917, he performed temporary duty with theDepartment of the Lakes inChicago as inspector of National Guard units and armories in several midwestern states.[7] From January to May 1917, he was posted toAncón, Panama as intelligence officer (S-2) of the5th Infantry Regiment.[7]
With the army expanding forWorld War I, in August 1917, Miles was promoted to temporarycolonel and assigned toCamp Jackson, South Carolina as commander of the371st Infantry Regiment, a unit of the African-American93rd Division.[7] Upon arrival in France, Miles' regiment was assigned to the French157th Infantry Division, which he led during several campaigns and battles.[7] He returned to the United States in February 1919, and was executive officer of the 156th Depot Brigade as it carried out post-war demobilization of army units at Camp Jackson.[7] From March to July 1919, he served in the War Plans Division on the staff of theWar Department, and he was reduced in rank to temporarylieutenant colonel in July 1919, which was made permanent in August.[7] In August 1919, he became a student at theUnited States Army Command and General Staff College, from which he graduated in June 1920.[7][8]
In July 1920, Miles was promoted to permanent colonel, and in August he began attendance at theUnited States Army War College.[8] He graduated in July 1921, after which he joined the faculty at the Fort Leavenworth General Service Schools.[8] In 1921, he married Mary Latta Stott, the daughter of Colonel William Wells Stott.[5] They had no children and were married until her death in 1949.[5] From July 1923 to July 1925, he served on the staff of theMilitia Bureau.[8] He was then assigned toFort Sheridan, Illinois, where he assumed command of the2nd Infantry Regiment.[8]
In August 1928, Miles was assigned to theUniversity of California, Los Angeles as professor of military science and tactics.[9] In 1932, he was promoted tobrigadier general and assigned to command the 16th Infantry Brigade (now theUnited States Army Military District of Washington).[9] While in this post, Miles was in command of the troops that were called to carry out the July 1932 dispersal by force of theBonus Army.[5] In April 1936, he was assigned toFort Ontario, New York, as commander of the2nd Infantry Brigade, a unit of the1st Division, as well as the Northern Division of theCivilian Conservation Corps.[9][10] Miles assumed command of the 1st Division in October 1936, and from January to October 1937, concurrently commanded the division's1st Infantry Brigade.[9] While commanding the 1st Infantry Brigade, Miles was also assigned as commander of the77th Division,78th Division, and98th Division; these three units were part of theOrganized Reserve and consisted mainly of officer cadre.[9] In October 1937, Miles left the Army as the result of attaining the mandatory retirement age of 64.[9]
In retirement, Miles resided first inStaunton, Virginia, and later inJohnstown, Ohio.[5][11] DuringWorld War II, he participated in support efforts on the home front, including service as chairman of theShenandoah Valley Regional Defense Council, the Staunton andAugusta County War Finance Committee and the Staunton Salvage Committee.[5] Miles also authored a memoir, 1961'sFallen Leaves.[5] His civic and professional memberships included theAmerican Legion,Military Order of the World Wars,United Spanish War Veterans, andMilitary Order of the Carabao.[5]
Miles died atWalter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 1961.[5] He was buried atArlington National Cemetery.[5]
Miles was a recipient of theSilver Star andPurple Heart, as well as theSpanish Campaign Medal,Philippine Campaign Medal andWorld War I Victory Medal.[5] In addition, he received the FrenchLegion of Honor (Officer) andCroix de Guerre with Palm.[5]
In 1919, Miles received theArmy Distinguished Service Medal in acknowledgement of his World War I accomplishments.[12] In 1924, he received theDistinguished Service Cross in recognition of his February 1899 heroism while serving in the Philippines.[12]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Perry Lester Miles, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with 14th Infantry, in action near Manila, Philippine Islands, 5 February 1899. During the attack by two companies of the 14th Infantry on blockhouse No. 14 and adjacent trenches strongly held by insurgent forces, when the commanding officer was mortally wounded, the advance was checked and the troops were partially demoralized in the face of a heavy concentrated fire from the front and both flanks, Lieutenant Miles assumed command, ordered the advance to continue, and went along the line with utter disregard of the hostile fire and urged his men forward. Then, with exceptional gallantry and the highest qualities of leadership, he dashed forward, many yards ahead of his men, calling on them to follow, and drove the enemy from their position. His splendid example of personal heroism, courage, and coolness furnished the needed inspiration to the wavering command and resulted in the successful accomplishment of a seemingly impossible attack.
Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 10 (1924)[12]
For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. As commander of the 371st Infantry, which, during its active operations, was attached to French forces, he conducted his regiment with conspicuous success. By his admirable tact and sound judgment he maintained at all times harmonious relationship with the allied forces to which his unit was assigned, rendering valuable services to theAmerican Expeditionary Forces.
Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 89 (1919)[12]
