| 00:03:1916 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Please be seated. Good afternoon. And on behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House. And thank you, General Carver, for that beautiful... |
| 00:03:3522 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
We are a nation of more than 300 million Americans. Of these, less than 1 percent wears the uniform of our Armed Services. And of these, just a small... |
| 00:03:5742 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
In the finest military the world has ever known, these warriors are the best of the best. In an era that prizes celebrity and status, they are “quiet... |
| 00:04:3933 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Few Americans ever see their service, but all Americans are safer because of it. And our hearts swell with pride just hearing their names, including... |
| 00:05:1215 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
To do so, we are joined by Vice President Biden, and from the Miller’s family’s home state of Florida, a leader who helped make this day possible,... |
| 00:05:2724 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
We are joined by leaders from across my administration, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike... |
| 00:05:5123 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
We are honored to be joined by Rob’s fellow soldiers in whose ranks he served -- his teammates from Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces... |
| 00:06:1412 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Most of all, we welcome more than 100 of Rob’s friends and family, especially his father Phil, his mother Maureen and his many brothers and sisters. |
| 00:06:2628 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
It has been said that courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. For Rob Miller, the testing point... |
| 00:06:5423 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob was wise beyond his years. Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, outside of Chicago, he was the boy in school who penned a poem about American GI’s... |
| 00:07:1726 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob was born to lead -— the high school gymnast who trained so hard his coach had to kick him out at night so they could close the gym. He was the... |
| 00:07:4323 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Devotion to duty. An abiding sense of honor. A profound love of country. These were the virtues that found their ultimate expression when Rob -—... |
| 00:08:0622 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob and his team were in the remote northwest of Afghanistan. Their mission: clear a valley of insurgents who had been attacking Afghan forces and... |
| 00:08:2833 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Now, they were on foot, heading over to that destroyed compound, to assess the damage and gather intelligence. It was still dark, just before dawn.... |
| 00:09:0132 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
First, it was just a single insurgent, jumping out from behind a boulder. Then, the whole valley seemed to explode with gunfire. Within seconds, Rob... |
| 00:09:3327 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
With the enemy just feets away -- some so close he could see their faces -- Rob held his ground. Despite the chaos around him, he radioed back enemy... |
| 00:10:0020 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob made a decision. He called for his team to fall back. And then he did something extraordinary. Rob moved in the other direction -- toward the... |
| 00:10:2038 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
The fighting was ferocious. Rob seemed to disappear into clouds of dust and debris, but his team could hear him on the radio, still calling out the... |
| 00:10:5820 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
This is the story of what one American soldier did for his team, but it’s also a story of what they did for him. Two of his teammates braved the... |
| 00:11:1823 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
The relentless fire forced them back, but they refused to leave their fallen comrade. When reinforcements arrived, these Americans went in again --... |
| 00:11:4125 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there was no doubt Rob Miller and his team had struck a major blow against the local insurgency. Five... |
| 00:12:0618 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
This is the valor that America honors today. To Rob’s family and friends, I know that no words can ease the ache in your hearts. But I also know... |
| 00:12:2422 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob endures in the pride of his parents. Phil and Maureen, you raised a remarkable son. Today and in the years to come, may you find some comfort... |
| 00:12:4628 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob endures in the love of his brothers and sisters, all seven of whom join us today. Your brothers laid down his life so you could live yours in security... |
| 00:13:1437 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob endures in the Afghans that he trained and he befriended. In valleys and villages half a world away, they remember him -- the American who spoke... |
| 00:13:511 min. |
Obama, Barack - President
Rob Miller endures in the service of his teammates -- his brothers in arms who served with him, bled with him and fought to bring him home. These soldiers... |
| 00:15:1520 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Finally, Rob Miller -- and all those who give their lives in our name -- endure in each of us. Every American is safer because of their service. And... |
| 00:15:3530 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
If we do -- if we keep their legacy alive, if we keep faith with the freedoms they died to defend -- then we can imagine a day, decades from now, when... |
| 00:16:0539 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
That is the meaning of this medal. And that is our summons today, as a proud and grateful nation. So please join me in welcoming Phil and Maureen... |
| 00:16:4418 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
The President of the United States of America, authorized by act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded, in the name of the Congress, the Medal of... |
| 00:17:0225 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism while serving as the weapons sergeant in Special Forces Operational... |
| 00:17:2732 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol through the Gowardesh Valley, Staff Sergeant Miller and his small element of U.S. and Afghan National... |
| 00:17:5919 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
Following the engagement, Staff Sergeant Miller led a small squad forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As the group neared the small, steep,... |
| 00:18:1810 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
Exposed and with little available cover, the patrol was totally vulnerable to enemy rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons fire. |
| 00:18:2821 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
As a point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was at the front of the patrol, cut off from supporting elements and less than 20 meters from enemy forces. Nonetheless,... |
| 00:18:4917 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was shot in the upper torso. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight. Moving... |
| 00:19:0621 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
After killing at least 10 insurgents, wounding dozens more and repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire while moving from position to position,... |
| 00:19:2713 sec. |
MILITARY AIDE
Staff Sergeant Miller’s heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty and at the cost of his own life are in keeping with the highest... |
| 00:19:404 min. |
MILITARY AIDE
[The medal is presented.] (Applause.) |