You've Heard of Jessica Lynch, Have You Heard of Patrick Miller?

All POW/MIA Website ^ | Joe Rodriguez - Wichita Eagle

[Mean Daddy]

Pfc. Patrick Miller stood his ground in battle with a malfunctioning weapon, feeding bullets into it by hand to protect two wounded comrades. Even after he was captured, he foiled his captors' attempts to get his radio frequency codes.

For such actions, recounted in a release by the U.S. Army, Miller, a Valley Center native, was awarded the Silver Star -- the third-highest military award for heroism in combat.

Miller, 23, also received a Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medals July 2 during an Independence Day celebration at Fort Bliss, Texas.

"I'm not real worried about awards," Miller said Friday from his home at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. "The way I look at it, I did my job."

Miller spent three weeks as a prisoner of war in Iraq with four other prisoners before Marines rescued them April 13.

In presenting the awards, the U.S. Army for the first time offered a glimpse into Miller's actions after his unit came under attack near An Nasiriyah in Iraq.

The Army release said Miller jumped from his vehicle and began firing on a mortar position that he believed was about to open fire on his convoy.

After he was captured, he was repeatedly questioned about radio frequencies that were written on pieces of paper inside his helmet.

"Thinking on his feet, Pfc. Miller told his captors that they were prices for water pumps," the release said. "Disgusted, the captors threw frequencies and his helmet into the fire."

Miller said Friday that he had read, but could not comment on, a report describing the attack on his unit. The report was leaked this week to the El Paso Times. According to the report, Miller may have killed as many as nine Iraqi fighters before he was captured.

The report also said that human error, stress and fatigue contributed to the attack on the 507th Maintenance Company, the death of 11 U.S. soldiers, and that the 33 soldiers "fought the best they could until there was no longer a means to resist."

It said a navigational error caused the 507th to come under enemy fire and that the ambush lasted 60 to 90 minutes.

Miller was driving with Pfc. Brandon Sloan and Sgt. James Riley when enemy fire struck and killed Sloan and disabled their truck, according to the report.

The report said Miller fired at the Iraqis several times before being surrounded and captured.

[Mean Daddy]

In a liberal rag (LA Slimes), they reference that he did kill 9 Iraqi soldier under heavy fire. Just don't want to give them the hits.

Not sure about the rest of you, but for Jessica to profit leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[baltodog]

I just read the Times article and came back here to post it...you beat me to it.
Patrick Miller and that crew are all heroes. An incredible story.
I like to think I would do the same under those circumstances.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm glad you posted this. I remember seeing the limited "interview" of Miller that was shown by his captors, and didn't know more than he looked scared. (can't blame him at all!)

Anyone know about what happened in the battle to Joseph Hudson (local NM soldier) who was also captured? He was also rescued, and has since re-enlisted and is helping train soldiers based on his experience.

[Thebaddog]

He was the normal looking guy in the video looking puzzled by the whole thing. The story on him is really heroic. And he's home with his wife and kid doing his job servicing equipment just like before the war. He's a great guy in my opinion and that's what our country is all about, IMHO.

[yankeedame]

Patrick Miller and that crew are all heroes. An incredible story.
I like to think I would do the same under those circumstances.

Gee, do you think they're going to make a (made-for-TV) movie about him like they are with Jessica? (sarcasm)

[baltodog]

I seriously doubt that he'll endorse a movie. He is from Park City, a "suburb" of Wichita. He got extensive cvg here. Park City had a party for him and only about 40 people showed up....including Toby Keith.
I think his low profile and all-around normalacy are what make him a hero.
As for Jessica Lynch....agree or disagree, but she was a soldier, she was there, she was a P.O.W....I seriously doubt that it was a walk in the park for her. I say let her get whatever she can, as long as everyone else is treated fairly. The media always shines the spotlight on the women.

[Matthew James]

bttt

[ampat]

I agree. Of all the military involved, those on the battlefield are the heroes. They all had different experiences, but they all risked their lives. They all deserve our thanks and praise.

[wizardoz]

As for Jessica Lynch....agree or disagree, but she was a soldier, she was there, she was a P.O.W....I seriously doubt that it was a walk in the park for her. I say let her get whatever she can, as long as everyone else is treated fairly. The media always shines the spotlight on the women.

I agree with you. I haven't gotten the impression that she goes out looking for publicity. If people have turned her into an icon or a pet, it isn't something she has much control over.

[optimistically_conservative]

Not sure about the rest of you, but for Jessica to profit leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Not me. I look back on Grady's profiteering from his own incompetence and find nothing wrong with the Lynch story, either in her actions leading up to the ambush, during the capture or since her arrival back at home.

She has conducted herself admirably the whole time, she was not responsible for the media mythology created around her, she has not been a publicity hound or forgotten those who served with her and rescued her.

If there is interest in her story, let her tell it. I expect she will it much more honestly than the pilot profiteer did. If it helps her retirement fund, so be it. As an aspiring school teacher in West Virginia, I imagine she'll need it. She sure wasn't going to profit much from her service to the country as a PFC.

[MissEdie]

I thought I was the only one who thought that.

[HairOfTheDog]

She has conducted herself admirably the whole time, she was not responsible for the media mythology created around her, she has not been a publicity hound or forgotten those who served with her and rescued her. If there is interest in her story, let her tell it.

Thank you.... There are a few people, Lynch among the more honorable, who for a moment catch the attention of the country. Their stories in no way diminish any of the others. Libraries are full of the stories of just one person, caught up in larger events. They provide opportunity for more stories, not fewer.

[cherry]

the fact is, the media always wants a darling....be it a female or black or minority soldier, or a black quarterback, or a female jockey, or dale junior(ugh!) winning a race, or a paraplegic making it up Mt.Everest....

the media whores and pimps are the ones to blame for the most part....

and in defense of JL....she has not solicited any of this...but, if a poor mountain girl can win life's lottery, so be it....I am glad for her..

[HairOfTheDog]

In what way is Jessica Lynch related to Patrick Miller's story at all? We have room for many stories, we do not need to diminish one to tell the other.

[Imal]

We would have heard more about Pfc. Miller if he was a woman, and a LOT more if he was a transsexual.

[RJS1950]

He was part of the same unit. I read an expanded story that laid out the facts from the official post-action report. JL was knocked cold almost immediately and remained that way due to injuries incurred in the vehicle crash. About half of the heroics attributed to her initially were Miller's actions. Another soldier who was killed was the other half of the story, holding off iraqis, being stabbed repeatedly, defending and actually saving the lives of several of his comrades. These two are the real story, but they aren't blonde or female and Miller is not inclined to allow himself to be paraded and promoted by the press as a hero (as if the press would care about a tobacco average looking male soldier).

[HairOfTheDog]

He has a story that can be told.... and to characterize Lynch as "allowing herself to be paraded" when she was still barely conscious and in the hands of the enemy is despicable.

I understand that the media picks darlings using somewhat discriminating criteria. But to dishonor Lynch to promote someone else as "the real hero" is unseemly, and unnecessary.

If Patrick Miller has a story, it should be told, but it should not be cast as a 'better story than Lynch'. Lynch didn't ask to be in a story, and her honor does not need to be diminished to give honor to another. There is plenty of honor to go around.

[txradioguy]

I had the privelage of meeting Pfc. Miller when he came to Manhattan, KS where K-State honored him at the halftime of their spring game. I work in the Ft. Riley Public Affairs office as an army broadcast journalist. He is very down to earth and really truly is low key about the whole thing. He really does look at it as that he was just "doing his job".

[wizardoz]

but, if a poor mountain girl can win life's lottery, so be it....I am glad for her..

Yeah, me too. Cause I think the lottery ticket was pretty expensive.

[yoe]

Bravo! And thank you Patrick Miller! Jessica is just one of hundreds of such stories - only she became a victim of the media, and had enormous pressure from people wanting to make money on her story. She served her country well and we should all be thankful for her service for us.