~ Paul Hugh Reilly
Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller was killed by Taliban fighters on 25 Jan 2008, while providing lifesaving cover fire and protecting his operational detachment during combat operations near the Pakistani border outside the village of Barikowt, Nari District, in Konar Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Miller’s quick thinking and heroism saved his team from almost certain death or capture. This was his second combat tour to Afghanistan, the first being from August 2006 to March 2007.
President Obama will honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of SSG Miller by presenting his family with our nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor. This will be the third time the Medal of Honor has been presented by President Obama.
A natural leader and an avid athlete, Robby Miller was often made a team captain in high School. He lead by example and therefore taught others by his actions. He was a leader, trainer and role model all rolled into one. These traits stayed with him in the Army. "He's a phenomenal leader; he was not only a leader in what he did, but also in the things he said. He really set a standard for our program," said Robby’s former coach Chad Downie.
While this was part of his nature; another part was his passion. He had to really be enthusiastic about something to do it. If he did it, he did it wholeheartedly.
“He was passionate about what he was doing in Afghanistan. He loved his job there, loved being in the military. He was intense and passionate about what he was doing," said Downie.
In the Army, as in school, Miller had a can-do attitude. LTC Ashley, Commander, Special Operations Task Force 33 eulogised Staff Sergeant Miller saying, “He was a warrior among warriors.” He fully understood the hazards and risks of the combat that he faced. He willingly bore the burden of the Soldier. He was the epitome of SF. He frequently volunteered for jobs or missions that no one else wanted to do. He was extremely talented and he quickly showed that he had a number of superior skills which included excellent people skills as well as a proficiency in languages and weapons. His team recalled how quickly he picked up Pashto (one of the indigenous languages) and how the local villagers loved to spend time with Robby and to teach him their language and culture. According to one's recollections, the villagers developed a bond with him over evening meals and while drinking tea. They respected and trusted him. Robby enjoyed helping them with problems in their lives and with their safety. As a result, Robby was a natural to Special Forces and he was the personification of the good side of America.
Only 24 years old, Robby Miller impressed everyone on his team. Although the youngest member of A Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC, he quickly earned a reputation for taking on difficult challenges and leading from the front; according to interviews with Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) Team Members.
Robby often undertook difficult assignments in working with the Afghanistan indigenous personnel. One such occasion was the 25th of January, 2008. While serving as a weapons man for his team and because of his Pashto language abilities, Miller volunteered to take point on a joint operations night patrol. He personally led and directed the small local contingent of Afghan National Army (ANA) Soldiers, which was tasked with providing support for the ODA Team. They were in a dangerous area, probing questionable structures. This was a known area of use by foreign insurgents, frequented as a route into and out of their Afghan operational areas. Having what they believed to be good intelligence, Miller’s people intentionally provoked the suspected insurgents into action and the ANA drew small arms fire, as they suspected they would. As planned and from a safe distance, the ODA called in what was meant to be a devastatingly lethal air strike. However, after the dust settled, the team moved cautiously forward only to be reengaged but now by massed heavy weapons. They had sprung a very sophisticated ambush. There were bunkers beneath the structures where the insurgents had taken shelter.
The patrol was taking massed heavy fire and had taken substantial causalities to include the ODA commander. They were outnumbered, outgunned, exposed and were quickly drifting into circumstances from which there was no return. Doing his duty, as only an SF man can, Miller took a forward position and showed his determination by directing fire and providing cover for his men. He showed his extreme depth of courage and his devotion to his men through the simultaneous engagement of several enemy positions with deadly and withering suppressive fire and by deliberately compromising his position so as to draw fire.
As such, he provided time for his team to reorganize and fire and maneuver their way to cover. Even though repeatedly injured, he continued to shoot and move but to also intermittently drop his cover. In doing so, he knowingly drew the fire from more than 100 insurgents, ultimately saving the lives of his fellow team members and sacrificing his own.
Robby’s unwavering courage and selfless actions embodied the highest principles of Special Forces and the Army and are a testament to the real American values that he lived by every day.
The motto of Special Forces is DE OPPRESSO LIBER; “To free the oppressed.” These were the words that Staff Sergeant Robby Miller lived by; and because he truly lived by those words, he died by them. LTC Ashley made the same observation, that Robby sacrificed his life helping to bring freedom to the oppressed people of Afghanistan. “He placed his life on the line so that others would have a chance to experience freedom.”
May God Bless him and keep him forever safe. May Robby’s family draw some comfort from the fact that Robby is deeply missed and he will live on in all of our hearts. Rest in peace, brother.
President Obama will honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of SSG Miller by presenting his family with our nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor. This will be the third time the Medal of Honor has been presented by President Obama.
A natural leader and an avid athlete, Robby Miller was often made a team captain in high School. He lead by example and therefore taught others by his actions. He was a leader, trainer and role model all rolled into one. These traits stayed with him in the Army. "He's a phenomenal leader; he was not only a leader in what he did, but also in the things he said. He really set a standard for our program," said Robby’s former coach Chad Downie.
While this was part of his nature; another part was his passion. He had to really be enthusiastic about something to do it. If he did it, he did it wholeheartedly.
“He was passionate about what he was doing in Afghanistan. He loved his job there, loved being in the military. He was intense and passionate about what he was doing," said Downie.
In the Army, as in school, Miller had a can-do attitude. LTC Ashley, Commander, Special Operations Task Force 33 eulogised Staff Sergeant Miller saying, “He was a warrior among warriors.” He fully understood the hazards and risks of the combat that he faced. He willingly bore the burden of the Soldier. He was the epitome of SF. He frequently volunteered for jobs or missions that no one else wanted to do. He was extremely talented and he quickly showed that he had a number of superior skills which included excellent people skills as well as a proficiency in languages and weapons. His team recalled how quickly he picked up Pashto (one of the indigenous languages) and how the local villagers loved to spend time with Robby and to teach him their language and culture. According to one's recollections, the villagers developed a bond with him over evening meals and while drinking tea. They respected and trusted him. Robby enjoyed helping them with problems in their lives and with their safety. As a result, Robby was a natural to Special Forces and he was the personification of the good side of America.
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| SSG Robert J. Miller in Afghanistan doing what he loved and showing the grin he was known for |
Only 24 years old, Robby Miller impressed everyone on his team. Although the youngest member of A Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC, he quickly earned a reputation for taking on difficult challenges and leading from the front; according to interviews with Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) Team Members.
Robby often undertook difficult assignments in working with the Afghanistan indigenous personnel. One such occasion was the 25th of January, 2008. While serving as a weapons man for his team and because of his Pashto language abilities, Miller volunteered to take point on a joint operations night patrol. He personally led and directed the small local contingent of Afghan National Army (ANA) Soldiers, which was tasked with providing support for the ODA Team. They were in a dangerous area, probing questionable structures. This was a known area of use by foreign insurgents, frequented as a route into and out of their Afghan operational areas. Having what they believed to be good intelligence, Miller’s people intentionally provoked the suspected insurgents into action and the ANA drew small arms fire, as they suspected they would. As planned and from a safe distance, the ODA called in what was meant to be a devastatingly lethal air strike. However, after the dust settled, the team moved cautiously forward only to be reengaged but now by massed heavy weapons. They had sprung a very sophisticated ambush. There were bunkers beneath the structures where the insurgents had taken shelter.
The patrol was taking massed heavy fire and had taken substantial causalities to include the ODA commander. They were outnumbered, outgunned, exposed and were quickly drifting into circumstances from which there was no return. Doing his duty, as only an SF man can, Miller took a forward position and showed his determination by directing fire and providing cover for his men. He showed his extreme depth of courage and his devotion to his men through the simultaneous engagement of several enemy positions with deadly and withering suppressive fire and by deliberately compromising his position so as to draw fire.
As such, he provided time for his team to reorganize and fire and maneuver their way to cover. Even though repeatedly injured, he continued to shoot and move but to also intermittently drop his cover. In doing so, he knowingly drew the fire from more than 100 insurgents, ultimately saving the lives of his fellow team members and sacrificing his own.
Robby’s unwavering courage and selfless actions embodied the highest principles of Special Forces and the Army and are a testament to the real American values that he lived by every day.
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| SSG Miller's Memorial |
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| Robby Miller's casket being carried aboard air transport at Bagram Airfield, 27 January, 2008 |
The motto of Special Forces is DE OPPRESSO LIBER; “To free the oppressed.” These were the words that Staff Sergeant Robby Miller lived by; and because he truly lived by those words, he died by them. LTC Ashley made the same observation, that Robby sacrificed his life helping to bring freedom to the oppressed people of Afghanistan. “He placed his life on the line so that others would have a chance to experience freedom.”
May God Bless him and keep him forever safe. May Robby’s family draw some comfort from the fact that Robby is deeply missed and he will live on in all of our hearts. Rest in peace, brother.
The photographs (above) were taken by SSG Corey Dennis.
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