Soldier honored for service

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Mykel Miller was killed Sept. 6 by an improvised explosive device while conducting a humanitarian mission in Zabul province, Afghanistan.  

AFGHANISTAN

09.13.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By U.S. Air Force Capt. Bob Everdeen
Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan – A somber, emotional ceremony was held on Sept. 11, 2007, for a U.S. Army Soldier killed while conducting a humanitarian mission to help the people of this war-torn country.

Pfc. Mykel Miller, 19, was a member of the Arizona National Guard and assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Qalat. He was killed Sept. 6 when the vehicle he was driving struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Mizan District of Zabul province. IEDs continue to be a cowardly tactic used by insurgent forces such as the Taliban.

"Mykel was well-liked and an active member of this command in so many ways," said Army Lt. Col. James Bramble, PRT Qalat commander. "The value that Mykel brought to...the governance, reconstruction and security effort to make Afghanistan a better place is beyond measure."

The day after the ceremony, more than 200 entries from across the U.S. were logged into an online guestbook for Pfc. Miller, proving that in his short time on Earth he had touched many lives. Several of Pfc. Miller's teammates spoke about his legacy during the ceremony. One Soldier, desperately fighting back tears, described Pfc. Miller as the platoon's "little brother."

"He would always talk about the first time he met Spc. Vaughn (a fellow platoon member) who taught him how to cook an MRE (meals ready to eat), and then he'd joke about it. He was the funniest guy in 3rd Platoon," said Sgt. Justin Seisinger. "But mostly he would talk about his motorcycle, his cars, his family and becoming a police officer someday."

Pfc. Miller was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct medals. He also earned the Army Combat Infantry Badge.

• Date Taken: 09.13.2007
• Date Posted: 09.13.2007 12:27
• Story ID: 12323
• Location: AF