by Andy Miller | Mar 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
Four years ago, March 25 2015, MSgt Matty Garcia was awarded a Soldier’s Medal for his actions to during my rescue in Afghanistan on September 7, 2013.
It was an honor to be there at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base with him & his family and with Maj Mary Clark (Jayhoon 11, Mi-17 pilot) for the ceremony.
It isn’t every day one gets to talk with the USAF Chief of Staff, Gen Mark Welsh. It certainly is not common for someone to get to enjoy a beer with the people that were so instrumental in their own rescue operation.
#Pamir62
#FourYearsAgo
#MyHeroes
#Jayhoon11
#Jayhoon11GroundElement
by Andy Miller | Mar 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
On March 25th, 2014, I was nervous and excited to be flying again. As part of my pursuit to get back in the air, I had to show that I could preflight an aircraft, get in and out of the aircraft, as well as be able to actuate the anti-torque pedals. I was permitted to do this in a simulator only.
I was lucky to have my friend and fellow Kiowa Warrior aviator, CW4 Al Mays take me up in the Kiowa Warrior simulator.
We flew for 1.5 hours; it was great to be back up, if only simulated (this time).
It was another step towards returning to flight duty!
I didn’t know at the time, but that was also to be my last flight in the Kiowa Warrior simulator. I only ever got to fly the Kiowa Warrior one more time after that before my beloved aircraft and I were each retired.
by Andy Miller | Feb 16, 2019 | Uncategorized
On this date in 2013, some 3-4 Cavalry alumni had a mini-reunion at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan.
Lee “Hulka” Lane and I were serving on the MD530 Team, Scot Cowie was a contractor flight instructor on the Team, and Cameron Nowell was serving elsewhere in Afghanistan, but made a short trip out to visit us.
#Pamir62
#3-4CAV
#GoodTimes
by Andy Miller | Feb 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
I have been invited to speak at Oak Park Place in Baraboo on Tuesday, February 26th at 2 p.m.
The fliers have been mailed out in the Baraboo area. I must say, I have never received a mass-mailer invitation for a presentation that I am giving.
I have an audio/visual presentation to give, I’ll take questions and will have books available for purchase.
If you’re planning to attend, Oak Park Place asks that you RSVP via telephone (608) 355-4111 or email them at: baraboosales@oakparkplace.com.
by Andy Miller | Feb 3, 2019 | Uncategorized
In the end, we all become stories.
Veterans, friends, family: Tell your story.
The Mundane.
The Humorous.
The Brave.
The Humble.
I have the original book that my Grandpa Reeder Miller typed up after he returned home from World War One. I have held the original, but have a digital scan copy of the hand-written diary of my great-great-Grandfather Sylvester R. Miller from his time about a whaling ship in the late 1850’s.
I treasure these things as family heirlooms to be shared and passed down.
Tell your story.
#Pamir62
#TellYourStory
by Andy Miller | Jan 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
Paste these numbers to Google Maps and you can see my pinnacle.
The runways of Shindand Air Base can be seen just to the west.
by Andy Miller | Dec 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
Thank you to my alma mater, Lander University, for the “Alumni Profile” in the Fall 2018 alumni magazine.
See page 60 for a one-page Alumni Profile from L.C. Leach III.
Go Bearcats! Go Senators! (pre-1992)
#Pamir62
#LanderUniversity
https://www.lander.edu/sites/lander/files/Documents/About/Offices_Departments/University_Relations/Magazine_f18.pdf
by Andy Miller | Dec 12, 2018 | Uncategorized
On this date in 2013, I was discharged from the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center rehab unit and traveled home to Fort Rucker via a commercial airline.
It had been 97 days since an IED in western Afghanistan changed my plans. In that time I had a lot of people work to rescue me, to put me back together, and to push me to heal.
My rehabilitation and healing was not over, I still had a few months of work ahead of me before I’d walk without a cane, but I was home!
It had been over 14 months since I had left home for Afghanistan in October 2012.
December 12, 2013
#Pamir62
#FiveYearsAgo
#HomeSweetHome
#CueTheCrue
by Andy Miller | Dec 9, 2018 | Uncategorized
On this date in 2013, I returned the continuous passive motion device to the medical staff at the VA hospital. The device I had named the “Iron Maiden.”
I had not used it in about 2 weeks anyway, but it was a benchmark in my healing and very symbolic of my progress that I no longer needed it.
December 9, 2013
#Pamir62
#FiveYearsAgo
#IronMaiden
The Iron Maiden is funny. First you hate it. Then you get used to to. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on it.
(paraphrased from Red in “The Shawshank Redemption”)
by Andy Miller | Dec 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
On this day in 2013, I was presented with an amazing cane from the Aiken Wood Carver’s Club. Victor Fricke from the Club presented it to me at the VA Hospital in Augusta, but he made sure I knew that it had been a group effort by different members of the Club. It was the 24th cane they had made for Wounded Warriors in about two and a half years.
It has a hand-carved and painted eagle head on a lathe-turned stalk. Along the leading edge it has much of my Army résumé — badges, rank, and many of the medals I’ve been awarded.
A huge thank you to the artisans who made this custom cane for me! I’m really honored to have one. I still use it, sparingly but proudly.
December 4, 2013
#Pamir62
#FiveYearsAgo
#FancyCane
