College Of DuPage's Homeland Security Building Named After Medal Of Honor Recipient

GLEN ELLYN, IL -- The College of DuPage's homeland security building is getting a new name after that of a local, and national, hero. It will be named after Robert Miller, a Wheaton native, who died in combat in Afghanistan in 2008. Miller was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Since the end of the Vietnam War, only 20 American service members have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest award. Robert Miller, was one of those 20.

To receive the Medal of Honor, a service member must have "distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," according to the Department of Defense.

The medal is only given to those who act with valor in incredibly dangerous situations. There have been service members, for example, who have jumped on grenades to save the lives of those around them. Some of these troops were not deemed worthy of the Medal of Honor.

Staff Sergeant Miller was a member of the famed and elite Green Berets, also known as Special Forces, serving in Afghanistan. Special Forces soldiers specialize in assisting and training foreign fighters. On Jan. 25, 2008, Miller was doing just that as he was killed.

His unit was ambushed by enemy forces who were well entrenched in the mountains. As they were being ambushed, according to Miller's Medal of Honor citation, "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."

Miller was shot in the torso. "Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself," the citation says, which was signed by President Obama in 2010.

In the incident, Miller killed at least 10 enemy fighters, wounded dozens more, and saved the lives of over 20 American and friendly Afghan troops.

Below is Staff Sergeant Miller's full Medal of Honor citation:

STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT JAMES MILLER
UNITED STATES ARMY
for service as set forth in the following

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant 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 Kunar Province, Afghanistan on 25 January 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 Miller’s heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, and at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

BARACK OBAMA
/s/ Barack Obama
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A dedication ceremony will take place at the college on Thursday.

Article image via U.S. Army website