U.S. Army Sgt. Justin T. Miller

Photo By 1st Sgt. Jessica Barnett | Sgt. Justin T. Miller, a trumpet player with the 3rd Infantry Division Band, Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, performs some New Orleans modern-style brass music with band members for participants of the DSTB Women's History Month 6K run and walk on Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, Iraq, March 28.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

03.28.2010

Story by Spc. Jessica Barnett 

135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Sgt. Justin T. Miller, a native of Villa Park, Ill., is serving his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq. Miller is a trumpet player with the 3rd Infantry Division Band, Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga.

"I started playing the trumpet when I was in fourth grade," said Miller. "I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of very good mentors and teachers going through grade school and junior high. I was really set on the right track as far as being a good musician and enjoying what I do."

Miller, the son of Laurita Wallace and David Miller of Villa Park, Ill., is a 2003 graduate of Willowbrook High School and has been a member of the Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars since 2008.

After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., 2003, Sgt. Miller graduated from the U.S. Army Element School of Music, Little Creek, Va., in 2004 as a trumpet player. Going on his seventh year in the Army, Miller has been with the 3rd ID Band for approximately three years.

As a member of the band, Miller entertains armed forces throughout Northern Iraq as a trumpet player and band leader.

"I have a really good passion for music, and I enjoy making people happy by listening to me," said Miller. "Plus, I have always wanted to be in the Army due to 9/11."

As the band leader of The Night Shift Brass Band, Sgt. Miller performed with his members for participants of the DSTB Women's History Month 6K run and walk on COB Speicher, March 28.

"It's a very fun group," said Spc. Eisner J. Gaitan, the drummer for The Night Shift Band from the 3rd ID Band, DSTB, 3rd ID. "The group leader, Sgt. Miller, is an extraordinary person. He's very laid back, likes to have fun, and really enjoys what it is that we do best - play music and help lift the morale of Soldiers."

• Date Taken: 03.28.2010
• Date Posted: 04.15.2010 07:52
• Story ID: 48174
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ