Special KWVA "W in Your Dream Vacation Fund-Raiser" Information ...

Operation Spitfire, June 1951, 8086th U.S. Army Unit: These three exfiltrated 75 miles through the lines after their guerilla base was discovered
by the Chinese forces. (L-R) 2nd Lt. Leo Adams-Acton, British Army; Captain David Hearn, U.S. Army; Sgt. Marvin G. Garner, U.S.
Army. This photo was taken on 31 July 1951, immediately after they crossed into the lines of the 35th Inf. Regt. Lt. Adams-Acton was later
KIA while attempting an escape from his POW camp. Captain Hearn was KIA while on an aerial reconnaissance for drop zones in North
Korea. Sgt. Garner survived his special operations tour. (Photo by G-2 Photo Section at I Corps Hq., Uijonbu, South Korea, July 1951.
Sgt. Miles and two other Rangers were lifted by slings from
the other helicopters. Miles was shot in the face while being lifted
out with the sling. He was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic
action while on “Operation Virginia I.”
The purpose of describing the action on Virginia I by Sgt.
Miles is to highlight the extreme courage he had already demonstrated
before Operation Spitfire, the one on which he performed
valorous actions.
After about three months, Miles transferred to the 8086th
Army Unit from the 4th Airborne Ranger Infantry Company and
volunteered for “Operation Spitfire,” which comprised
American, British and Korean personnel who jumped into the
vicinity of Karyoju-ri, southeast of Pyongyang, North Korea,
about 75 miles behind the lines.
Ranger William T. Miles, Jr. distinguished himself in combat
as a member of the 4th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne)
in Korea. At the start of the Korean War, Ranger Miles
answered the call for volunteers, and received his Ranger
training with the 3rd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne),
and was reassigned to the 4th Ranger Infantry Company
(Airborne) in Korea.
With his training as a radio and demolition infantryman,
Ranger Miles volunteered and was selected by the G3
Miscellaneous Division as a member of the Operation
Virginia I Mission team. On 15 March 1951, Ranger Miles
parachuted into North Korea 65 miles behind enemy lines to
destroy a vital railroad tunnel southwest of Hyon-ni to disrupt
communications and supply lines. He was seriously wounded
during evacuation as he was being hoisted by cable into a helicopter.
Ranger Miles was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver
Star for his actions during this mission.
Volunteering for another mission, Operation Spitfire, Ranger
Miles was transferred to the Miscellaneous Division, Baker
RANGER WILLIAM THOMAS MILES, JR.
Section, receiving partisan training. Ranger Miles, as one
member of the advance pathfinder party, jumped into the
mountains near Karyoju-ri on 18 June 1951 on reconnaissance
duty. While scouting out sites for a base camp and prior to the
arrival of the other team members, Ranger Miles located two
camouflaged shelters used by Chinese troops. He radioed air
units and coordinated strikes, destroying the sites and enemy
troops. Later, moving ahead of the Operation Spitfire team,
Ranger Miles warned of an ambush set up by enemy troops
and volunteered, along with a South Korean lieutenant, to
hold off the enemy, allowing the rest of the team to escape.
With reports of heavy machine-gun and mortar action against
the two men, Ranger Miles was presumed wounded and taken
prisoner. He was listed as an MIA on 8 July 1951. During this
second mission, he earned a second Silver Star and Purple
Heart.
Ranger Miles demonstrated exceptional valor under enemy
fire, placing the lives of his fellow Rangers above that of his
own. Ranger Miles was a credit to the Rangers, the United
States Army, and the United States of America.
17
The Graybeards
May – June 2009