#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Mykel F. Miller

Army Veteran Mykel F. Miller is today’s Veteran of the Day.

Mykel F. Miller was born in April 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona, but grew up in the nearby town of Ahwatukee. Miller enlisted in the Arizona Army National Guard while he was attending Desert Vista High School in 2005. He graduated high school in 2006 and traveled to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic and infantry training.

Following graduation, Miller was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, located in Arizona. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in January 2007 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, which was a part of the larger Global War on Terrorism. Miller arrived in Afghanistan in March. There, he served with the 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company. He was also a part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat.

In September 2007, as Miller took part in a ground assault convoy mission in Zabul Province, an improvised explosive device (IED) hit his vehicle. He died from the wounds he sustained in the explosion.

Miller’s mother, Maria, spoke to The American Fallen Soldiers Project saying, “We are so proud of Mykel as he ‘lived’ more in 19 years than many people do in a lifetime. He approached every situation with iron will determination and a great sense of humor. Mykel will be greatly missed by his family and friends but remembered as a patriot and hero.”

During his service, Miller attained the rank of private first class. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, an Army Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal, a Combat Infantryman Badge and an Expert M16 Qualification Badge.

Miller will be honored during the Carry the Load national relay in May 2022. The Carry the Load campaign is hosting nationwide events during the month of May and aims to raise awareness to “connect Americans to the sacrifices made by our military, Veterans, first responders and their families.” To learn more about the Carry the Load campaign and to find an event near you, visit the Carry the Load website.

Miller is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. His gravesite rests along the West Coast route of the 2022 National Relay, which will be visited today, May 15. To post a tribute this Memorial Day for Mykel F. Miller, please visit the Veterans Legacy Memorial.

We honor his service.

Carry the Load

In 2022, VA is joining forces with Carry The Load to honor veterans during the “Memorial May” March, a national relay visiting 50 VA national cemeteries to honor our nation’s fallen service members. A link to this webpage is here. The complete list of participating cemeteries can be found here. Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Writer: Raymond Lin

Editor: Theresa Lyon

Researchers: Kennady Hertz, Raphael Romea

Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley

Project Manager: Oasis Diaz