Robert J Miller
Robert J Miller was born on the 14th of October, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. He graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2002 and was the captain of the school’s gymnastics teams. Robert’s family includes seven brothers and sisters. After high school, Robert enlisted in the US Army in August of 2003 and graduated Basic Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in January of 2004. He then graduated from Special Forces Assessment and Selection on the 26th of September, 2004, and then from Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course on the 4th of March, 2005. Robert received his Special Forces Tab and was promoted to Sergeant once he graduated from Special Operations French Language Training Course in September of 2005.
Robert was then assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from August 2006 to March 2007 where he would earn two Army Commendation medals with Valor Devices. He then returned to Afghanistan in October of 2007 and while his unit was conducting combat operations in the Nari District of Kunar Province, Robert would earn the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism while serving as the Weapons Sergeant in Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force-33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on 25 January 2008. While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol through the Gowardesh Valley, Staff Sergeant Miller and his small element of U.S. and Afghan National Army soldiers engaged a force of 15 to 20 insurgents occupying prepared fighting positions. Staff Sergeant Miller initiated the assault by engaging the enemy positions with his vehicle’s turret-mounted Mark-19 40 millimeter automatic grenade launcher while simultaneously providing detailed descriptions of the enemy positions to his command, enabling effective, accurate close air support. Following the engagement, Staff Sergeant Miller led a small squad forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As the group neared the small, steep, narrow valley that the enemy had inhabited, a large, well-coordinated insurgent force initiated a near ambush, assaulting from elevated positions with ample cover. Exposed and with little available cover, the patrol was totally vulnerable to enemy rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapon fire. As point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was at the front of the patrol, cut off from supporting elements, and less than 20 meters from enemy forces. Nonetheless, with total disregard for his own safety, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered positions as he charged the enemy over exposed ground and under overwhelming enemy fire in order to provide protective fire for his team. While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was shot in his upper torso. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself. He then again charged forward through an open area in order to allow his teammates to safely reach cover. After killing at least 10 insurgents, wounding dozens more, and repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire while moving from position to position, Staff Sergeant Miller was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His extraordinary valor ultimately saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers. Staff Sergeant Miller’s heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, and at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Robert J Miller received the Medal of Honor posthumously from President Obama in a ceremony on the 6th of October, 2010, and is buried at the All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry, Florida.
