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Keary
J.
Miller

Technical Sergeant Miller was federalized from the Kentucky Air National Guard. During the 17-hour engagement called the “Battle of Robert’s Ridge,” two Airmen were posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, and Keary Miller was one of EIGHT Airmen awarded the Silver Star. During the 17-hour engagement called the “Battle of Robert’s Ridge,” he was one of TWO PJs awarded the Air Force Cross. Twelve other Airmen received Silver Stars for this action. The battle was so-named because it followed an incident in which Navy Seal Neil Roberts fell from a helicopter as it attempted to land on a mountaintop controlled by al Qaeda fighters, initiating an intense and heroic rescue effort

Awards Received

  • Air Force Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Technical Sergeant

    Batallion:

    123d Special Tactics Squadron

    Action Date:

    March 4, 2002

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Technical Sergeant Keary J. Miller, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 123d Special Tactics Squadron, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, near Marzak, Patkia Province, Afghanistan, on 4 March 2002. On that proud date, Sergeant Miller was the Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader assigned to a Quick Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by massed al Qaida and Taliban forces. Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire, severely disabling the aircraft and causing it to crash land. Sergeant Miller and the remainder of the assault force formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered four fatalities and five critical casualties. Despite intense enemy fire, he moved throughout the battlefield, crossing open danger areas on numerous occasions, in order to assess and care for critically wounded servicemen. As the battle drew on, Sergeant Miller removed M-203 and 5.56 rounds from the deceased and, in multiple acts of extraordinary courage, proceeded through some of the day’s heaviest rocket-propelled grenade, mortar, and small arms fire, while distributing the ammunition from position to position. Shortly thereafter another attack erupted, killing one Pararescueman and compromising the casualty collection point. Sergeant Miller braved the barrage of fire in order to move the wounded to better cover and concealment. His intrepidity and skill led to the successful delivery of ten gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment and to the recovery of seven servicemen killed in action. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Miller has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.