This December, 3rd Special Forces Group has commemorated a street on Fort Liberty in the name of the late Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan in 2008.
Randolph Street on Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), North Carolina will now be known as R. Miller Street. At the renaming ceremony on Dec. 6, Miller's parents, Phil and Maureen Miller were given an identical street sign by his unit, 3rd Special Forces Group.
On Jan. 25, 2008, Miller ran towards enemy gunfire when his Special Forces team was ambushed in Afghanistan. According to his Medal of Honor citation 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."
"While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was [wounded]. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself," the citation continues. "He then again charged forward through an open area 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."
In 2010, when President Barack Obama presented Phil and Maureen Miller with their son's Medal of Honor he stated, "It has been said that courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point. For Rob Miller, the testing point came nearly three years ago, deep in a snowy Afghan valley. But the courage he displayed that day reflects every virtue that defined his life."
"As we dedicate this street on Fort Liberty to Robby, I cannot help but think of the thousands of soldiers that will travel this street and say his name. Robby inspires us all and will serve as an enduring inspiration for generations of soldiers to come," 3rd Special Forces Group commander Col. John Bishop said at the Dec. 6 ceremony.