Lyle H. Miller was born on March 10, 1889, in
Athens, Michigan. He attended the local high school and subsequently went to the
Albion College, where he later graduated with
Bachelor of Arts degree. Miller then worked as an instructor at
Wentworth Military Academy in
Lexington, Missouri, before was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in August 1914. He was subsequently ordered to the instruction for 17 months at the Marine Officers' School,
Norfolk, Virginia and took part in the
Veracruz Expedition aboard the battleship
USS Illinois within the course. Upon the graduation, he served with the
Marine Barracks at
Port Royal,
South Carolina, and later was attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship
USS Arizona. Miller, who was meanwhile promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in September 1916, sailed with
Arizona to
Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, for expeditionary duty. He received the promotion to the rank of captain in October 1917 and was appointed commanding officer of Headquarters Company within
13th Marine Regiment under Colonel
Smedley Butler. His regiment sailed within 5th Marine Brigade under Brigadier General
Eli K. Cole to
France in September 1918 and Miller was appointed to the temporary rank of major at the same time. But it was too late to see combat, and he spent the next year of service in
Brest until August 1919, when he was ordered back to the United States. Following his return stateside, Miller was reverted to the rank of captain and assigned to the Marine barracks at
Quantico, Virginia. He was sent for the instruction at
Army Infantry School at
Fort Benning,
Georgia and then to the Field Officers Course at
Marine Corps Schools Quantico. Miller returned to the battleship
USS Arizona in June 1923 as commanding officer of the Marine detachment. He served aboard that ship until September 1925, when he was ordered ashore for recruiting duty in
Seattle,
Washington. However he left this assignment in August 1926, when he was attached to the course at
Command and General Staff College at
Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas. He graduated one year later and assumed duties as an instructor within Field Officers Course at Marine Corps Schools Quantico. During this assignment, Miller worked together with
Charles D. Barrett and
Pedro del Valle on the tentative
Marine Corps Landing Operations Manual. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of major in November 1928. During December 1931, Miller was transferred to
San Diego,
California, and appointed Athletic Officer of
4th Marine Regiment. He sailed for
China in June 1932 and assumed command of
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in October 1932. Miller commanded his battalion during guard duties at
Shanghai International Settlement until November 1934, when he was ordered back to the United States. Miller was meanwhile promoted to the rank of
lieutenant colonel in October 1934. Upon his arrival, he was assigned to the
Marine Corps Base Quantico,
Virginia, and appointed commanding officer of
1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Miller was subsequently ordered as an instructor to the
Marine Barracks Parris Island,
South Carolina, in April 1937 and served also as barracks temporary commanding officer at the beginning of July 1937, when Brigadier General
James T. Buttrick received transfer orders. ==World War II==