Medal of Honor: Robert J. Miller – Global War on Terror – Afghanistan – January 2008

Name: Robert J. Miller
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force-33
Place: Konar Province, Afghanistan
Entered Service At: Oviedo, Florida
Born: 14 October 1983
Accredited To: Florida

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Summary of Action

On 25 January 2008, Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller was serving as a Weapons Sergeant with Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312 during combat operations in the Gowardesh Valley of Konar Province, Afghanistan. His patrol of U.S. Special Forces and Afghan National Army soldiers encountered an entrenched enemy force occupying prepared fighting positions.

Staff Sergeant Miller immediately initiated the assault, engaging enemy positions with a turret-mounted Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher while simultaneously relaying precise enemy locations to higher headquarters. His actions enabled effective close air support and disrupted the initial enemy resistance.

Following the engagement, Miller led a small element forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As they entered a narrow, steep valley, a large and well-coordinated insurgent force launched a near-ambush from elevated positions. The patrol was exposed, vulnerable, and under intense rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire. As the point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was cut off from supporting elements and within 20 meters of the enemy.

Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Miller ordered his teammates to withdraw to covered positions. He then charged the enemy across open ground, deliberately drawing fire onto himself to shield his team. Though wounded in the upper torso, he continued the assault, repeatedly maneuvering in the open to attract enemy fire away from his fellow soldiers.

Staff Sergeant Miller charged forward again and again, killing at least ten insurgents, wounding many more, and absorbing the focus of more than one hundred enemy fighters. Ultimately, he was mortally wounded while continuing to fight. His extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice saved the lives of seven members of his Special Forces team and fifteen Afghan National Army soldiers.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Robert J. Miller distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism while serving as the Weapons Sergeant in Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force-33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan during combat operations against an armed enemy in Konar Province, Afghanistan on January 25, 2008. While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol through the Gowardesh Valley, Staff Sergeant Miller and his small element of U.S. and Afghan National Army soldiers engaged a force of 15 to 20 insurgents occupying prepared fighting positions. Staff Sergeant Miller initiated the assault by engaging the enemy positions with his vehicle’s turret-mounted Mark-19 40 millimeter automatic grenade launcher while simultaneously providing detailed descriptions of the enemy positions to his command, enabling effective, accurate close air support.

Following the engagement, Staff Sergeant Miller led a small squad forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As the group neared the small, steep, narrow valley that the enemy had inhabited, a large, well-coordinated insurgent force initiated a near ambush, assaulting from elevated positions with ample cover. Exposed and with little available cover, the patrol was totally vulnerable to enemy rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapon fire. As point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was at the front of the patrol, cut off from supporting elements, and less than 20 meters from enemy forces.

Nonetheless, with total disregard for his own safety, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered positions as he charged the enemy over exposed ground and under overwhelming enemy fire in order to provide protective fire for his team. While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was shot in his upper torso. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself. He then again charged forward through an open area in order to allow his teammates to safely reach cover.

After killing at least 10 insurgents, wounding dozens more, and repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire while moving from position to position, Staff Sergeant Miller was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His extraordinary valor ultimately saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers. Staff Sergeant