Army National Guard Sgt. Imprisoned for Life for Saving his Squad
Posted 15 hours ago by Dave Jolly Filed under Crime, Military, War
Have you ever heard the name of Army National Guard Sergeant Derrick Miller? If not you need to know who he is.
Sgt. Derrick Miller was charged with the murder of an Afghan man who turned out to be a spying insurgent. He has been sentenced to life in a military prison with the possibility of parole for defending himself and saving his squad from an imminent attack. He was sentenced in 2011 and is imprisoned at Leavenworth.
According to the Free Derrick Miller website:
“During a combat mission in a hostile area of Afghanistan in September 2010, Sgt. Derrick Miller’s attention was drawn to an Afghan national who had penetrated the defense perimeter set up by the US Army. The Afghan man was positively identified by another soldier under Sgt. Miller’s command who recognized him from a detainment the previous day. The man in question was the driver of a truck reported by military intelligence as transporting members of the opposition to a nearby combat firefight. US military intelligence let the trucks pass.”
“Sgt. Miller was sent to question the Afghan national after observing the suspicious behavior of the man as he reconnoitered their defense perimeter. It appeared that the man was gathering information, and since he was already identified as an enemy combatant, Sgt. Miller was acting instinctively to protect his unit by detaining this man.”
“During the questioning, which took place in an open area with another US soldier and an Afghan interpreter present, Sgt. Miller asked the man why he was within the perimeter. The man initially claimed to be an electrician who was responding to a downed power line, but later claimed to be there to fix a water pump. He had no tools with him, and no apparent means of carrying out the repairs he was supposedly there to address. The man was originally observed accompanied by two men whom he claimed were his sons and helpers. Both of those men had returned to the village without having performed any electrical work, and both in separate directions. They were not present during Sgt. Miller’s questioning. During the harsh questioning, the Afghan insurgent attempted to grab Sgt. Miller’s weapon, and was shot and killed in the struggle.”
“Within a few hours, SGT Millers unit was attacked on three sides by Afghan insurgents. During Sgt. Miller’s trial, all the soldiers who appeared from his unit testified that the enemy had to have reconnoitered their position closely in order to attack in the manner they did. There was also testimony that the incident with Sgt. Miller forced the entire unit into full alert / 100% security, which prepared the soldiers for the attack. Because of Sgt. Miller’s actions, no American lives were lost due to the level of their preparation.”
“As the details of the events of that day came to light, the US soldiers were suspicious of the Afghan man and the two other young men with him that he claimed were his sons and helpers. Yet at different times during the few hours that the Afghan was inside the perimeter, each of these men were sent back to the village by different routes. The Afghan interpreter testified that this happened. It is believed by the soldiers present at the time that these two men were carrying information to the insurgents detailing the most effective targets for the ensuing attack.”
“Sgt. Miller believes, despite his conviction and sentence of life in prison for the murder of this Afghan insurgent, that he was acting solely in self-defense and with sound judgment.”
As a result of his wrongful conviction, Miller’s military career and personal life has been ruined. His two young daughters only get to see their father on occasion when they visit him in prison. Due to him being convicted of murder, his kids receive no military support or aid.
Sgt. Miller needs your help and support. Miller’s mom Renee keeps updates posted on his website and is trying to collect over 200 letters in support of Derrick that she can place on the desk of Rep. Chris Van Hollen. She has a sample letter you can use if you want. You can send your letters to Renee at FreeDerrickMiller@gmail.com. You can also write to your own congressmen in DC and ask them to look into Derrick’s case and fight for his freedom. I pray you take the time to help a real American hero. Sgt. Derrick Miller should be free and home with his two girls.
Read more at
http://godfatherpolitics.com/17158/army-national-guard-sgt-imprisoned-life-saving-squad/#7GYiwGS47EI7ZDc5.99
