Robert James Miller

Robert James Miller (October 14, 1983 – January 25, 2008), of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), was a United States Army Special Forces soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on October 6, 2010.

Personal life
Miller was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Wheaton, Illinois, graduating from Wheaton North High School in 2002. He was captain of the school's state-qualifying gymnastics teams. Miller is survived by his parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Military career
Staff Sergeant Miller enlisted as a Special Forces trainee on August 14, 2003. He graduated from Infantry Basic Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on January 6, 2004. Miller graduated from the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) on September 26, 2004, and the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course on March 4, 2005. Miller received his Special Forces Tab and was promoted to Sergeant after graduating from the Special Operations French Language Training Course, September 30, 2005. That same day he was assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom from August 2006 to March 2007. During this deployment, Miller received two Army Commendation w/ Valor Device medals for his courage under fire. He returned to Afghanistan for his second tour in October 2007, where he served as a Weapons Sergeant for his team. Miller was killed in combat with the Taliban in Afghanistan on January 25, 2008. His unit was conducting combat operations near the village of Barikowt, Nari District, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. He is buried at All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry, Florida. Miller's Special Skill decorations include: Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Parachutist Badge.

Medal of Honor Citation (summary)
On January 25, 2008 Sergeant Miller found him­self will­ingly lead­ing a team of Afghan National Secu­rity Forces and Coali­tion sol­diers dur­ing a com­bat recon­nais­sance patrol in Kunar Province near the Pak­istan bor­der. Insur­gents hid­ing in a struc­ture attacked Miller's team. A fel­low team­mate called for close-air sup­port to drop ord­nance on the insur­gent posi­tion, dis­rupt­ing their attack. When the com­bined patrol moved toward the struc­ture to check for any remain­ing enemy threats, insur­gents again fired using heavy weapons.

Miller's team cap­tain was seri­ously wounded within the first min­utes of the attack. While his com­man­der was moved to safety, Miller returned fire. At great per­sonal risk to him­self, Miller remained at the front of the patrol and con­tin­ued to lay down sup­pres­sive fire on mul­ti­ple insur­gent posi­tions, allow­ing his wounded com­man­der to be pulled out of the line of fire, ulti­mately sav­ing his life. Miller's per­sonal courage under intense enemy fire enabled the entire patrol to gain cover and return fire. Even while injured by direct enemy small-arms and machine gun fire, Miller con­tin­ued to employ his M249 Squad Auto­matic Weapon and grenades to sup­press enemy fire and pro­tect his teammates.

Awards
Staff Sergeant Miller's decorations include:

Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded, in the name of the Congress, the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT JAMES MILLER UNITED STATES ARMY

for service as set forth in the following

Medal of Honor citation


BARACK OBAMA /s/ '''Barack Obama PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 