Obama will award Staff SGT. Robert Miller the Medal of Honor (posthumously).
Milller's family will receive the award from President Obama .
On Aug. 14, 2003, ( 20th Birthday ) Miller enlisted in the Army as an 18 X-ray, Special Forces candidate, with the hope of becoming a Green Beret. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course on Sept. 26, 2004.
His previous military decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals for valor, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Special Forces Tab and the Ranger Tab.
On Jan. 25, 2008 Miller volunteered to take lead on a nocturnal patrol in the Konar Province near the Pakistan border. Because of his Pashto language abilities, he led and directed the small local contingent of Afghan National Army Soldiers from the front. As they approached their target area his team was attacked by insurgents.
Miller was the youngest member of his group of 8 Green Berets .
The Green Beret squad along with 15 Afghans was searching for high-value enemy insurgents in through Kunar Province in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border.
The Taliban were hidden behind boulders and launched the ambush under the cover of darkness .
Miller was the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW ) operator, his job was to lay down suppressing ( cover ) fire to aid his team find cover or advance on the enemy.
Miller took his SAW and RAN DIRECTLY TOWARD THE ENEMY ,laying down cover fire allowing his comrades to exit the ambush and find safe cover.
Wounded TWICE he managed to fight for 25 more minutes
After throwing his last grenade and out of ammo Miller died with his FN 249 rifle in his hands .
The FN 249 SAW is a belt fed weapon and accepts either 50 or 100 round belts and also 200 round belts housed in a box.
Miller is pictured with the box fed SAW . The 249 has a cyclic rate of 750 RPM .
I am unable to find accounts of how many rounds Staff SGT. Miller fired at the Taliban, but it is likely ( in my opinion ) he fired over 400 rounds .
EXCELLENT background on Staff SGT.Miller can be found at :
ARMY.MIL
BLACKFIVE.NET
STRIPES.COM
Please take a moment today to remember Miller and all the other brave men and women that have for hundreds of years paid the ultimate sacrifice ,so that we may live free in America
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