Miller enlisted in the Army on February 17, 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on October 8, 1942 upon completion of Officer Candidate School.

While advancing through hedgerows near La Valaissere, France on July 12, 1944, his troops came under fire from German machine guns and Miller himself was wounded.

After recuperation, he returned to the United States in January 1945 and served as a training officer until October 1945 when he was released from active duty.

Miller tried out for the 1952 Winter Olympic team and was selected to participate in four-man bobsled at the games in Oslo, Norway.

The Army then sent him to Garmisch, West Germany where he was able to continue training and eventually participate on the gold-medal-winning four-man team at the 1953 World Championships.