free sargent derrick miller

Army Guardsman, Sergeant Derrick Miller has been sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole by the United States Military.

During a combat mission in a hostile area of Afghanistan in September 2010,  SGT Derrick Miller’s attention was drawn to an Afghani national who had penetrated the defense perimeter set up by the US Army. The Afghani man was identified by another soldier 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 questioned the Afghani national after observing the suspicious behavior of the man as he recon 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 Afghani interpreter present, SGT Miller asked the man why he was within the perimeter. The man claimed to be an electrician who was responding to a downed power line but later he claimed to be there to fix a water pump. He had no tools with him. The man had also been 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. They were not present during SGT Millers questioning. During the harsh questioning, the Afghani insurgent attempted to grab SGT Millers weapon, he was shot and killed in the struggle.

Within a few hours, SGT Millers unit was attacked on three sides by the Afghani insurgents. During SGT Millers trial, all soldiers in that unit testified that the enemy had to have recon their position closely in order to attack in the manner they did. It was also testified that the incident with SGT Miller forced the entire unit into full alert/ 100% security and this prepared the soldiers for the attack. No American lives were lost because of their preparation.

As the details of the events of that day come 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 Afghani was inside the perimeter, each of these men were sent back to the village. The Afghani 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 Afghani insurgent that he was acting solely in self defense and with sound judgment.