Photo By Erica Fouche | Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Miller, 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), Combined Joint Task...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – On June 15, U.S. Army Spc. Grant Miller, 63rd Ordnance Battalion Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), 754th Ordnance Company (EOD), and his team were targeted by a command-wire improvised explosive device while traveling as part of a route clearance patrol convoy from Forward Operating Base Arian back home to Ghazni. The IED detonator was positioned about 1300 meters away and specifically waited for the EOD vehicle in the convoy. The 200-pound bomb flipped the Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle, causing Miller, who was in the gunner position, to lose consciousness and inflicting life-threatening injuries to his teammates.
EOD Team 8 was medevaced (medically evacuated) to Bagram Air Field Hospital. Each team member received a Purple Heart for their actions awarded by the Regional Command-East commander, Maj. Gen. James McConville. What makes Miller’s experience so unique is that his dad, Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Miller, 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), Combined Joint Task Force Paladin-East, was waiting at the hospital and was there to witness his son receive the prestigious award.
“It was really nice having my dad already at the hospital by the time I got there,” said Spc. Miller. “I had my teammates with me, and we all have an extremely close bond, but it was nice to see dad.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Miller and Lt. Col. Don Smith, commander, 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), have met each of their injured soldiers at the hospital, so Spc. Miller and his team weren’t receiving any special treatment, but the wait was undoubtedly unlike any other.
“From the time I learned his team was hit to the time I knew he was at least stable enough to be medevaced was about an hour,” recalled Command Sgt. Maj. Miller. “I didn’t want to call my wife until I had laid eyes on him and knew for a fact that he was okay, so I just had to pray and wait. It’s certainly something that you try to mentally prepare yourself for. We’ve unfortunately been through it before with some of our other guys. Yes, this time it was my son so there was definitely some added concern, but that wait is never easy.”
After a two-night stay in the hospital and four days of observation at the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury clinic, Spc. Miller was cleared to return to light active duty.
“I still have stitches in my head, but besides that I feel fine,” said Spc. Miller. “My teammate, Spc. Alexander Horowitz, is already back in Ghazni so it’ll be nice to see him again, and our team leader, Staff Sgt. James Little, is recovering at Fort Belvoir. I’ve gotten the all-clear from the doctors so I’m ready to get back to work. I didn’t know what to expect coming out here since this is my first deployment…I definitely didn’t expect to get blown up or to receive a Purple Heart, but I still love what I do. The satisfaction you get defeating that device, outsmarting it and its creator, saving lives … yeah, I’m ready to get back to work.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Miller agrees that if his son is able to function, he needs to be supporting the mission he came here to do.
“I’m just thankful for the care provided at the hospital and at the MTBI clinic,” stressed Command Sgt. Maj. Miller. “The medical military advancements have really changed the public’s perception and knowledge on traumatic brain injuries, and the fact that we are 100 percent sure that Grant’s brain is fine and there are no hidden injuries gives my wife and I the peace of mind we need to encourage and support him throughout the rest of his deployment.”
Spc. Miller has had his parent’s support for his EOD career from the minute he decided to follow his dad’s footsteps and join the Army.
“It only took a little convincing that the Army was the better of the services to join, but dad was pretty clear that if I joined the Army, EOD was the only way to go, and even today I have no regrets,” said Spc. Miller.
Command Sgt. Maj. Miller served as an EOD team lead in Iraq and can certainly share tactics, techniques and procedures with his son, but he is quick to emphasize that this is just what they happen to do for a living, it’s not their lives.
“I’m proud of Grant for continuously putting his life on the line for our country and I’m proud of his work as an EOD Technician and everything I’ve been able to accomplish in my 22-year career,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Miller. “The Army has been good to both of us, but there’ll still be a life after this.”
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2013 09:48 |
| Story ID: | 109965 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 406 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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