Bruce McQuain from Blackfive joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce spent 28 years in the U.S. Army and he is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match.
Last week, two men were awarded the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta was named as the first living recipient of America’s highest medal for valor since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bruce will tell us his story next week. This week, Bruce wanted to make sure the story, and incredible heroism, of the other recipient, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert James Miller, was not overlooked. This is one of the most epic and amazing stories we have ever told.
On Jan. 25, 2008, while serving as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant for his team, Miller volunteered to take lead on a nocturnal patrol in the Konar Province near the Pakistan border. Because of his Pashto language abilities, he led and directed the small local contingent of Afghan National Army Soldiers from the front. As they approached their target area his team was attacked by insurgents.
In the ensuing chaos Miller showed his mettle by directing fire and providing cover for his men. Miller deliberately moved forward making himself vulnerable as he engaged several enemy positions to provide suppressive fire, buying time for his teammates to take cover. Exposing his position repeatedly, he drew fire from more than 100 enemy fighters, ultimately saving the lives of his fellow Green Berets and 15 local ANA Soldiers.
Miller’s unwavering courage and selfless actions embodied the highest principles of the Special Forces community, and are a testament to the Army values he lived every day.
The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce does an incredible job with the series every week. The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
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On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.