Jesse Rutherford, Jr.
Private Jesse Rutherford, Jr. – aka “Raymond Miller” – served with the Marine detachment of the USS Lexington (CV-2).
He was killed in action at the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 307495
Current Status
Remains lost at sea.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 12, 1923
at Chanute, KS
Parents
Jesse Edward Rutherford, Sr.
Mary Lou (Nelson) Rutherford
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
As "Raymond Miller" – born 12 January 1922 at Salmon, Idaho; next of kin given as brother, Mr. Frank E. Miller, of Portland, Oregon.
Service Life
Entered Service
July 14, 1941
at Seattle, WA
Home Of Record
103 South Evergreen Street
Chanute, KS
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Mary Rutherford
Military Specialty
Second Loader
Primary Unit
USS Lexington
AA Battery #4 / Gun 10
Campaigns Served
Coral Sea
Individual Decorations
Navy Cross (as Raymond Miller)
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Jesse Rutherford Junior wanted to join the Marine Corps in 1941 – and when his mother would not sign the required paperwork, he ran away from home. At enlistment, he gave the name “Raymond Miller” and invented a new birthday, home address, and next of kin. Throughout his service in the Marines, his buddies knew him as “Miller.”
“Miller” was assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. His battle station was in the port side aft gun gallery, manning a 5″ antiaircraft gun. As a second loader, he formed part of a hand-carry chain passing rounds of ammunition from a ready locker to the loader at the gun mount. He was at this post on 8 May 1942, during the battle of the Coral Sea. As the Marines waited ready by their guns, a report from lookouts in Sky Aft came through the phone wires: “Torpedo planes on the port bow.” The guns immediately tracked the low-flying Japanese aircraft and opened fire.
Corporal Vincent Anderson was manning the fuze pots on Gun 10 during the battle that followed. As “Miller” hurried forward with a projectile for Anderson’s equipment, the bombers roared overhead and sprayed the gallery with machine gun fire. Corporal Ralph Vice went down with a wound, as did loaders Private Norval Moe and Ralph Desso. “Miller” managed to place his round in the fuze pot where it belonged before staggering back, mortally hit. He continued to pass and load projectiles until he collapsed.
The first Japanese torpedo plane was spotted off the port bow at 11:15 a.m., about 3,000 yards out, and we received the order to commence firing. Simultaneously we picked up speed and began evasive maneuvers. The sound of all our guns firing was deafening and suddenly we felt a violent vibrating blow to our ship [a torpedo hit on the port side forward].
The enemy torpedo planes, after launching their torpedoes, began strafing our gun positions and on my Gun 10 three of our men were wounded and one was killed from these strafing attacks.
PFC Bernard Butler, a few feet away at Gun 12, also witnessed this event.
It almost cut him in half. He kept his hold on the shell, though, loaded it and walked away from the battery. I saw him fumbling outside the library, trying to get in out of the way, but he couldn't get the door open. A couple of fellows finally helped him inside, and I never saw him again.
Although Butler did not name the Marine he saw, it could only have been “Raymond Miller.”
Despite the best efforts of the Lexington’s sailors and Marines, the ship was fatally damaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. Captain Frederick Sherman gave the order to abandon ship at 1707 hours, and the Lexington was scuttled by the destroyer USS Phelps later that evening. The carrier went down on an even keel, “with her head up,” as one surviving officer put it. “Dear old Lex…a lady to the last.”
The bodies of eighteen Marines were either left aboard the Lexington or lost over the side during the battle. Among them was “Miller” – whose identity as Jesse Rutherford was finally untangled. He received a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions at the Coral Sea.
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private Raymond Miller, Jr. (MCSN: 307495), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and meritorious devotion to duty as fuse setter of Battery Four on the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. Although mortally wounded by fragments of a bursting bomb, Private Rutherford, displaying outstanding courage and a loyal determination to keep his gun in action despite his injured condition, valiantly remained at his battle station setting fuses until he collapsed on the deck. His inspiring loyalty and utter disregard for his own life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country.
Burial Information or Disposition
Private Rutherford ultimately went down with his ship. The Lexington is considered to be his final resting place.
Memorials
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Elmwood Cemetery, Chanute, Kansas
Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial Park, Cardwell, Queensland, Australia (as Raymond Miller)
Private Rutherford was the namesake of the John C. Butler-class destroyer escort USS Jesse Rutherford (DE-347).
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Mary Rutherford.
Location Of Loss
The last reported location of the USS Lexington on 8 May 1942.
Comment from Vincent Anderson
26 September 2012
The citation is incorrect in that Pvt. Raymond Miller was NOT the Fuse setter on Gun Battery 4, Gun 10, he was a 2nd loader and was loading shells into fuse pots when he was mortally wounded.
I was the Fuse Setter and assistant Gun Captain on Gun 10. during the Battle of the Coral Sea
Corporal Vincent L. Anderson – USS Lexington CV2 – Marine Detachment 1941/1942, Coral Sea Battle Survivor.
I am also the last Historian of the USS Lexington CV2 Minutemen Club and also a past president of the club. We held annual reunions for 50-years. I have tried unsuccessfully for many years to find out who prepared the citation on Raymond Miller. The Battery Officer for Gun Battery 4, 1st Lt. Earl A. Cash, USMC, personally told me in 1997 that he did not know that Pvt. Raymond Miller had been awarded the Navy Cross.
Reply on 25 November 2015
I was the fuse setter on the forward starboard 5 inch 38 caliber anti-aircraft gun on the USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 during the battle of the coral sea, Enjoyed reading this web-page. If you wish to contact me my Email address is….. rcolson001@satx.rr.com
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