Posted on 01/29/2006 10:01:12 PM PST by Flora McDonald
Sean Miles knew every Star Wars movie by heart.
In high school, he hated homework and relished football. As a fullback at Clover Hill High in Chesterfield County, Miles dreamed of becoming a professional football player.
He loved the Redskins, but he lived the Marines.
He vowed his son, 2½ year-old Tyler, would grow up strong.
This week, Miles died proving what strength means.
Fewer than two weeks before he was due to wind up a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq, Miles was killed in action Tuesday in the Iraqi town of Karmah, about 50 miles west of Baghdad.
"He lived and breathed being a U.S. Marine platoon sergeant, and he died pulling a fellow Marine to safety," said Michael Miles, Sean's father.
Miles, who came from a family with a military tradition, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He died as a result of small-arms fire, a Department of Defense news release said.
Erin Miles, Sean's sister, got emotional yesterday when she talked about her older brother.
She was going to miss him, she said.
More importantly, she wanted people to know just how good her brother was and how proud she was of him.
"There was nothing about him that was not a Marine," she said. "I want people to know that.
"I want them to know what an outstanding Marine he was. With all this anti-war talk, I want them to know how proud we are of his service. There will never come a day that we will regret it."
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
Thank you for the link. My heart goes out to these brave families whose loved ones have sacrified for our country and I pray they find comfort in knowing their loved ones believed in themselves, their country, and the job they were doing, and that they will never be forgotten.
I could only post a portion of the RTD article. It was extremely well done and I hope it wasn't ruined by my editing.
""There was nothing about him that was not a Marine,"
I firmly believe that the warriors who fight evil receive the highest honors by God. It's what defines an our duty to others, not just ourselves.
His trial is done, ours continues.
Condolences to the family of Marine Sgt. Miles.
A true hero, RIP, job well done.
Prayer of comfort for the family of Sgt. Sean Miles.
Another gate guard for Heaven. God bless these brave men and their families.
prayers for his family and friends. RIP, hero.
I talked at length with his Mom Debbie yesterday, and will be at the services to honor Sean. I'm in Midlothian and lost my Marine too, so we have a lot in common. I'll do what I can to help them through the tough times.
Semper Fi
Prayers for your loss, and prayers for this soldier's family. I am sorry that words cannot express my gratitude and heartbreak for your marine and family.
It was sad to see little Tyler at the viewing in his desert cammies, and at the funeral in his little dress blues...
The Miles family is wonderful, and I'm so sorry for their loss. As the hearse pulled away, I looked up at the huge American flag flying high from a ladder truck. Just then, I saw a hawk do a close circle once around the flag and drift off with the wind. Free...
I wasn't sure if that was a sign from Sgt. Miles, or from my son, whose funeral was one year earlier to the day. Either way, they are together. Semper Fidelis.
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