Derrick Miller facts for kids

Derrick Miller, born in 1983 or 1984, was a sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard. In 2011, he was found responsible for the death of an Afghan civilian during a military operation. After spending eight years in a military prison, he was released in 2019. Today, he works as an important advisor for a group that supports military members.

Early Life and Family

Derrick Miller grew up in Frederick, Maryland. His mother is Reneé Myers, and his step-father is Craig Myers. He went to Frederick High School. Later, he lived in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Before joining the military, Miller worked as a security guard. He was a security guard at Fort Detrick in Maryland. Derrick Miller has two daughters who live in Maryland.

Military Service

Miller joined the Maryland Army National Guard in 2006. He volunteered to serve in combat three times. These missions were in Iraq and Afghanistan. He always received excellent reviews for his work.

His wife shared that he earned several awards. These included the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal. These awards recognized his good service.

Incident in Afghanistan

On his third tour of duty, Miller was with a Connecticut National Guard unit. This unit was part of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. On September 26, 2010, Miller was on a mission. This mission was in a Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan. The location was Masamute Bala in Laghman Province.

That day, Miller was told that his unit's base might be in danger. An Afghan man was brought to Miller for questioning. This man was thought to be an enemy combatant. Miller stated that during the questioning, the man tried to grab his 9 mm Beretta handgun. Miller said he shot the man in self-defense. The military later identified the man as Atta Mohammed.

Miller's lawyer explained what happened. He said the man walked into a protected area around Miller's unit. Miller believed the man might be a threat. During questioning, the man's answers were not consistent. Miller thought the man might be scouting for the Taliban. His lawyer said the man tried to grab Miller's weapon. During the struggle, Miller shot the man.

A sergeant from Miller's unit testified about the event. He said that after questioning the suspect, the unit believed an attack was coming. They increased their security. Within an hour, the unit was indeed attacked. The sergeant said Miller's actions helped save American soldiers' lives.

Another soldier testified that he heard Miller threaten the man. He said Miller told the man to tell the truth. Then, he saw Miller shoot the man in the head. A prosecuting lawyer said Miller stated, "I shot him. He was a liar."

Military Trial and Sentence

Miller faced a military trial. In July 2011, a jury of 10 military members found him responsible for the civilian's death. He was sentenced to life in prison. Miller began his time in prison at the Fort Leavenworth military Disciplinary Barracks.

Sentence Reduction and Release

Over time, many people supported Miller. In June 2017, U.S. Representative Brian Babin asked President Donald Trump to review Miller's case. Other veterans' cases were also requested for review. Maryland Democratic U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings also supported Miller. In April 2018, U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert spoke in support of Miller.

In July 2018, the Army Clemency and Parole Board reviewed Miller's case. They decided to reduce his sentence to 20 years. This made him eligible for parole. David "Bull" Gurfein, a retired Marine, spoke about Miller. He said Miller was a "super individual" and made the right decision.

After being in prison for eight years, Miller was granted parole. He was released on May 20, 2019.

Today, Derrick Miller is the Executive Director of the Justice for Warriors Caucus. He also serves as a Military Adviser to Representative Louie Gohmert.

See also

• Michael Behenna, a former U.S. Army officer. He was found responsible for a death in Iraq in 2008. He was later pardoned by President Trump.
• Clint Lorance, a former U.S. Army officer. He was found responsible for two deaths in Afghanistan in 2012. He was later pardoned by President Trump.