On Wednesday, the Department of Defense made the following announcement:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. James L. Miller, 21, of Yakima, Wash., died March 29 in Dashat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division deployed to southern Afghanistan last August for a one-year tour of duty. Since that time, they have lost 35 soldiers. Please follow me below the fold to lean more about the life and sacrifice of Pfc. James Miller.
James Miller was born in Washington, DC, but he moved to Alaska as an infant. He graduated from Chugiak High School in 2007 and moved to Yakima, Washington with a group of friends in 2008. He attended Yakima Valley Community College where he studied mechanics and met his wife, Katie.
Pfc Miller joined in Army in September of 2008. He was in boot camp when his daughter, Peyton, was born. His mother said that:
He decided to join the service to be able to provide for his family.
In January, 2009, Miller arrived at Fort Lewis in Washington, and in May he was assigned to the Stryker brigade’s 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. Miller was due to return from Afghanistan by the 4th of July. He had considered re-enlistment, and he hoped to be stationed in Alaska.
James Miller last saw his wife and daughter during a two-week leave last fall. Miller loved fishing, four-wheeling, and hockey. His mother, who spoke to him about four days before he died, said that:
He was happy.... He was excited. He was down to three months, almost time to come home. He had just Skyped his wife and saw his little girl and was talking about her talking to him, saying, "Daddy! Daddy!".
Pfc. Miller's body was returned to Dover AFB on Wednesday. He will be buried in Zillah, Washington, near his wife's home town. In addition to his wife and daughter, Miller is survived by his parents, Nick and Kim Miller, and his sister, Mandie.
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Thank you, Pfc. Miller, for your selfless service to our country. May you rest in eternal peace, and may your family be surrounded by comfort and love.
From the World War I poet, Laurence Binyon:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. ~source
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The purpose of the I Got the News Today series is to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma and CalNM.
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.