Dark House
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
From "In Memoriam"
Dark house, by which once more I stand
Here in the long unlovely street
Doors, where my heart was used to beat
So quickly, waiting for a hand,
A hand that can be clasp’d no more –
Behold me, for I cannot sleep,
And like a guilty thing I creep
At earliest morning to the door.
He is not here; but far away
The noise of life begins again,
And ghastly thro’ the drizzling rain
On the bald street breaks the blank day.
Tonight, we say good-bye to two more brave men with little in common except a desire to serve their country with pride and honor. One was from Florida, while the other grew up on the opposite coast, in Oregon. They were nearly two decades apart in terms of age, and one was married, the other divorced. One died nearly instantly. The other was hospitalized for more than six months before he passed away. Yet in spite of their differences, both are heroes who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved them. Please join me over the fold to honor and remember.
Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller: "A real good soldier"
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller, 22, of Albany, Ore., died Jan. 27 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered in Baghdad, Iraq on July 9, 2007, when the vehicle he was in encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Even though Mikeal Miller graduated from South Albany High School in 2003, teachers and staff still have fond memories of a very capable teen-ager who took responsibility seriously, yet still managed to have a smile for everyone.
"At South Albany, the staff "has been talking about him a lot," said Katie Gisler, who teaches English. "We’re remembering him as hard working, a nice kid who always was smiling."
[Principal Chris] Equinoa only knew Miller for a year because he started at South Albany the year Miller was a senior.
"I remember him as a quiet leader in the building," he said. "He was a rock and level-headed. He was a good kid."
Source
Head football coach Andy Lusco knew Miller because he was an offensive and defensive lineman for the football team and a member of the wrestling team, too.
"He was a good kid," the coach said. "He was a hardworking kid who was trustworthy."
Source
Shortly after graduating from high school, Miller enlisted in the Army. After basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. A year after enlisting, in August, 2004, Miller began his first year-long tour of Iraq. In October, 2006, he returned for his second tour. On July 9, he was wounded by an IED while on his way to the International Zone in Baghdad to enjoy a four-day pass.
Miller was flown to the United States for treatment, and his wife of less than one year, Meg, stayed by his side throughout that time. Eventually, as prospects for his recovery diminished, the family requested Miller be removed from life support.
"He was a good kid. He did whatever you asked of him," Miller's platoon sergeant, Stephen LaRocque, of Colorado Springs, said Tuesday. "He was a real good soldier."
Source
During his short time in the military, Miller’s many achievements include being honored with the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korea Defense Service Medal. His other awards include the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and a Combat Infantryman's Badge.
In addition to his wife Meg, Miller’s survivors include his mother, Rene Pool, his father, Steve; and three brothers. Since 2003, 116th members of the military from Oregon and southwest Washington have died in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The two following comments show how much Mikeal Miller meant to those who knew him:
I am Mike's younger cousin. I just wanted to say he was the best role model any young girl could as for. I will never forget the time he sang the barney song with us all even though he thought it was dumb. I will also never forget when he carried me to the house when i feel and hurt myself. He is my true hero. I miss him sooo much but I am so proud of him.
Source
Mikeal Miller was an amazing friend, soldier, husband, and brother. It hurts to actually know someone that is in Iraq die for our country and our freedom. I was glad to see this article at the TOP of the headline news, unless it is spoken of (the war and soldiers) people tend to forget the importance of these men and women and what they do for our country. Thank you men and women who serve America. May God Bless each and everyone of you. My prayers go out to Mikeal's family and his amazing wife Megan Miller who was by his side night and day since July 9th, keeping friends posted on his condition. May he rest in peace.
Source
UPDATE: Here is a linkto a much longer story from Oregon Live on Mikeal, including many wonderful stories and memories provided by his family. Many thanks to SisTwo for bringing this to my attention.
May their memories of you bring comfort to those who knew and loved you, Mikeal. Your service and your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Major Alan G. Rogers: "A mother couldn’t have asked for a better son"
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Maj. Alan G. Rogers, 40, of Hampton, Fla., died Jan. 27 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Alan Rogers’ family moved from New York City to Hampton, Florida, in 1977, so that they could provide assistance for his elderly grandmother. High school friend Brenda Thornton said she and Rogers graduated from Bradford County High School in 1985. Shortly afterward, Rogers enlisted in the Army, and served in the first Persian Gulf war.
Upon his return, he studied at the University of Florida, where he was also a member of the ROTC program. While he was in college, Rogers worked part-time at a local realty office. His boss, Donna Pitts, became friends with Rogers.
"We got close to him when he worked for us and he asked us to attend the ceremony at Kanapaha (park) when he received his commission as an officer," Pitts said. "We realized that he was an only child of older parents and had led a very sheltered life."
As an example of the sheltering, Pitts said that once she asked Rogers to drive some other employees to and from a social event on the Atlantic Coast and discovered Rogers had never been to the ocean.
Source
Rogers graduated from University of Florida in 1995. Although he resumed active duty in the Army, his parents’ medical needs brought him home frequently, said one-time neighbor Joyce Mitchell:
"A mother couldn't have asked for a better son. Anytime they called, he would get here if he could and he became like a parent to his father and mother," Mitchell said.
Source
Rogers was also a long-time and active member of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, according to friend Thelma Rogers.
"In his later years the Lord called him to preach and he was ordained under the leadership of the Rev. O.E. Harris," Green said. "He always came back to visit us on leave."
Source
A seventeen-year Army veteran, Rogers was divorced and had no children. He is survived by cousins in Florida. He is the 142nd service member from Fort Riley to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
May you rest in peace, Alan, knowing your service and your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
You can view the stories and remembrances of more of these heroes at sites such as Iraq Veterans Memorial and Honor the Fallen.
Regarding Iraq, the Department of Defense has confirmed 3,941 deaths, with an additional two to be announced, pending notification of next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. 482 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
Supporting the Troops
If you haven’t put together a care package for a unit in Iraq or Afghanistan, consider making one. It’s a great feeling to know you are sending our troops things they really need -- necessities like socks, underwear, soup packets, feminine hygiene products, paper and pens, school supplies, treats and trinkets they can pass out to the Iraqi and Afghan children. They are thrilled to receive basic things like these, as well as letters from home.
There are a few ways to do this. One is to go to troopcarepackage.com or anysoldier.com. At the anysolider site, click on WhereToSend for a searchable database. For example, if you search "By Latest Email" you’ll see the troops who have most recently submitted a request for specific items. You then request their mailing address. Read Ninepatch’s wonderful diary on the how-tos of it all – it couldn’t be any easier, thanks to her.
Operation Helmet is another great organization whose mission is to provide helmet upgrades.
Finally, if you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Animal companions can provide such joy and comfort.
Supporting Our Veterans
We have a solemn duty to ensure that our veterans are properly cared for. Consider visiting sites such as StandUp4Vets.org, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Welcome Back Veterans.organd Fisher House to see where your help is needed. Other ways to help can be found in an earlier diaryby greenies.
About the IGTNT series:
IGTNT stands for "I Got the News Today." The phrase is meant to symbolize that terrible knock on the door that any number of families got today, bringing with it the news that a loved one has died. IGTNT is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, MsWings, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, greenies, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn and me, moneysmith.
These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but an important service to those Americans who have died and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them. If you would like to volunteer, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, or noweasels.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.