Soldier from the "Thousand yard stare" photo

Hello!

I've been a long time lurker here, first time poster. I don't expect to get much response to this topic but thought I'd try.

Theodore James Miller was a marine who was the subject of a pretty famous photo depicting battle fatigue/thousand yard stare. He was KIA 1 month after this picture was taken. http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1674

I'm curious to know more about him. Does anyone have any information? I've googled but not much information comes up.

Thanks!

 

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65489634

Private Theodore James Miller (February 12, 1925 - March 24, 1944) of Hennepin County, Minnesota

 

Thanks for your response! That information is pretty much all I could come up with too. For such a famous photo I'm surprised there isn't more information available about him. Did his family ever give interviews about him? How did he die? What was his story before enlisting in the marines? I doubt much information will be found. There's something about this photograph that is so intriguing to me.

 

Why not order his service records ?
I did that for a British soldier who was killed in 1944.
I'm not sure how you would do that for an American serviceman .
Maybe info will be here.
https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/archival-programs/military-personnel-archival/ompf-archival-requests.html

 

Thanks for your help, Owen! I'm going to see if I can get his records.


Yeah, I've seen that painting by Tom Lea before, that painting and "The price" are pretty harrowing. I couldn't imagine being in their shoes.