After training in Hawaii waters, "Liscome Bay" left Pearl Harbor on November 10, 1943 to join the Northern Task Force, Task Group 52. Miller's carrier took part in the Battle of Makin (invasion of Makin by units of the Army's 165th Regimental Combat Team, 27th Infantry Division) which had begun on November 20. On November 24, the day after Makin was captured by American soldiers and the eve of Thanksgiving that year (the cooks had broken out the frozen turkeys from Pearl Harbor), the "Liscome Bay" was cruising near Butaritari (Makin Atoll's main island) when it was struck just before dawn in the stern by a torpedo from the (which fired four torpedoes at Task Group 5312). The carrier's own torpedoes and aircraft bombs, including 2,000-pounders, detonated a few moments later causing the ship to sink in 23 minutes. There were 272 survivors from the crew of over 900, but Miller was among the two-thirds of the crew listed as "presumed dead". His parents were informed that he was missing in action on December 7, 1943. "Liscome Bay" was the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands operation. Rear Admiral Mullinnix and the carrier's captain, Irving Wiltsie, also died aboard the "Liscome Bay". Mullinnix was in command of Task Group 52.3 (Air Support Group of Northern Attack Force (Makin), Task Group 52) at the time.