Marine Lance Cpl. David Mendez- Ruiz
May 21, 2023
Army SGT Donald Mickler Jr.
June 4, 2023
CBS News
After his mother died of breast cancer, Army Pfc. James H. Miller IV turned to music for solace and started playing with a Metallica-loud band.
In later years he found a new way to conquer adversity: helping others.
“He took to being a medic and decided that was what he wanted to do with his life,” James H. Miller III said. “He
wanted to come home someday and make a living helping treat trauma victims.”
The 22-year-old from Cincinnati was killed on Jan. 30, 2005, in an explosion while guarding a polling place during the Iraqi election. He was stationed at Fort Sam Houston.
Miller was a creative student in high school who took courses including digital imaging and music theory, said Diana Carter, principal of the high school Miller attended.
“He was a very creative and energetic young man, very mature,” she said.
He joined the military after graduating from high school to help find discipline and a path to a new career.
“He loved what he was doing over there,” his father said. “He really believed in the mission we have over there.”
