FIVE STARS AND AN OAK LEAF

Never before in history, I’m reasonably sure, have those two monarchs of the 20th Century been compared. General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower and Major Alton Glenn Miller, acknowledged No.1 master of modern dance-band music.

Yet, they have much in common: they stemmed from the same soil-rich flatlands of Mid-America, served in the same army at the same time, had common German derivatives for names: Eisenhower = iron-hewer or ironmonger, Miller (same) from Mueller, a mill grinder. Antecedents of both crossed the Atlantic in the 19th Century.  When they met (secretly) in 1944, Ike as he was familiarly called was 54; Glenn (he used his middle name preferably) was 40. History says they never knew each other despite serving in the same headquarters (SHAEF). But what evidence has surfaced proves that the Supreme Commander of American Expeditionary Forces in Europe was the last American to see Glenn Miller alive.  GM (Odin 7/13) did not get lost over the English Channel or die from a jettisoned bomb by RAF British-made Lancasters, as alleged in communiqués by SHAEF and government officials.  These allegations were never “officially” investigated.  To bring military law to bear, legal officers of JAG (Judge Advocate General) have noted, could invite aspects of criminality into the case.  Certainly, proven facts were barebones in the Miller disappearance (December 1944), if at all laid out.  There was no official investigation of the tragedy either during the war, or afterward—up to today.  Lt. Philip Lorber in the Frankfurt JAG Section of USAREUR made interesting note in 1954 that if foul play were suspected in an officer’s death, even in wartime, criminality of intent alone could involve courts martial, up to and including high ranks.  In other words, if the Twinwood Farm takeoff was proven a sworn impossibility, then suspected foul play might enter and encroach upon an “official” investigation.  In the case of a field grade officer higher grades could be involved.  How best to avoid such a mess?  Harshly stated, a cover up.