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| U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Michael Miller, platoon leader, 2nd Platoon, Company D, 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, and his father Lt. Col. Jack A. Miller, provost marshal for Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, share some time together atop an M1 Abrams tank at Forward Operating Base O’Ryan. U.S. Army photo |
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U.S. Army
1st Lt. Jack Miller
Lt. Col. Michael Miller |
| Father, Son Reunite in Iraqi Desert |
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By Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team |
BALAD, Iraq, June 2, 2006 — Being separated from family is one of the harder aspects of a deployment. At times a soldier would trade the moon for the chance to be with loved ones for just an hour or two.
1st Lt. Michael Miller, platoon leader, 2nd Platoon, Company D, 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, is one of the lucky ones.
His father is Lt. Col. Jack A. Miller, provost marshal, stationed at Victory Base Complex in Baghdad. Michael has had the opportunity to spend time with his father. Jack, on two occasions, has traveled to Forward Operating Base O’Ryan where his son is stationed.
“He is only an hour and one half away, but in Iraq that is an eternity,” Jack said in an e-mail interview. “I was able to see him and watch him as he went about his work hunting the thugs and terrorists.”
With the exception of a few years, Jack has served in the military since 1975. Though he has had a long career with the Army, Jack never pushed his eldest of four children into military service.
“I am sure my military career had an effect upon his career choice, however, I did not encourage him to enter this profession,” Jack said. “Being a soldier demands sacrifice of the person where other paths do not.”
Michael saw entering the military as a way to give back the freedoms he enjoys as an American. He attended The U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., for two years before leaving to go on a mission for his church, the Latter-day Saints. During his religious sabbatical he met his future wife. “My dad is the kind of guy who has always said ‘do what you want to do’,” Michael said. “It is your life and lead it the way |
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you want to lead it as long as you are a moral outstanding person.”
Knowing your father is serving in a combat zone is a cause for concern for Michael who said he has frequently told his dad to “stay behind the desk as long as you can.” Jack would hear nothing of it and enjoys being out with his troops even after he has had two encounters with improvised explosive devices.
“I know of, and have personally experienced, the very dangerous mission Mike and his soldiers perform each day and night,” Jack said. “I did not have to deploy here. I am a 49-year-old grandfather and I am here for two reasons and only two reasons: my soldiers and my son.”
Jack is concerned about his son who has had three encounters with IEDs, thankfully none of them causing injury, but he tries not to let that fear overwhelm him.
“I try to balance this pride in him as a leader and soldier, with the fear I have as a parent,” Jack said. “We share all of our experiences, good and bad; this brings us together more than just a father and son. I try hard to not let the father get in the way of the soldier when I think of how many near misses he has had already.”
Michael thinks the real hero for the family is his mother Ruth. She is their support system and frequently gives encouragement to Michael and advice to his wife on what it takes to be a military wife.
“My mom is the real hero in this situation because she has a son, a husband (in Iraq) and another son who is about to join the military,” Michael said. Younger brother Stephen is about to graduate from the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. “She is a strong woman and impresses me all the time that she can handle it with grace.” |
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