Clinton J. Miller killed in combat

Photos of a Greenfield Marine killed in Iraq on Monday show him hamming it up for the camera in the deserts of Iraq, proof that he died doing what he loved, family members said.

Lance Cpl. Clinton Jon "C.J." Miller, 23, was killed by a roadside bomb at 4:15 p.m. Iraq time. Miller was patrolling with an improvised explosive device detection team when the bomb went off, killing four Marines in the Humvee and three Iraqis, said his father, Kerby Miller of Greenfield.

The Department of Defense confirmed three of the deaths on Wednesday. A statement said in addition to Miller, Lance Cpl. Budd M. Cote, 21, of Marana, Ariz. and Cpl. Matthew V. Dillon, 25, of Aiken, S.C. were killed.

All three Marines died Dec. 11 while conducting combat operations in Al
Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron
373, according to the defense department

Miller is the 48th person with ties to Iowa to die in Iraq or Afghanistan from combat, illness or accident since March 2003. He leaves behind a wife of one year, Jackie. Before his September deployment, they lived on base at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Miller also is survived by his father and stepmother, Kerby and Kim Miller of Greenfield; his mother and stepfather, Susan and Matt Miller of Des Moines; a 26-year-old sister; and two brothers, ages 15 and 8.

Flags flew at half-staff Tuesday throughout Greenfield for the fallen Marine. The graduate of Nodaway Valley High School dreamed of becoming a police officer and joined the Marines about a year and a half ago, serving with the military police. He was four months into a seven-month tour in Iraq, stationed west of Baghdad.

Following his high school graduation in 2001, Miller served as assistant coach of his high school wrestling team and took classes at Southwestern Community College in Creston before deciding to join the Marines - fully aware that he would likely be sent to Iraq, said his father, Kerby Miller.

"He just came home one day and said he was going to join the Marines," Kerby Miller said. "He wanted to do something for his country."

Kerby Miller said he last saw his son in September, shortly before his deployment.

"He was completely changed. He actually went in a little overweight and came out just fit and trim with a new outlook on life," he said. "It's something you just hear stories about."

Miller's stepfather, Matt Miller of Des Moines, said he and Miller's mother, Susan Miller, were somewhat taken aback by his decision to join.

"He just thought it was the right thing to do," Matt Miller said. "We actually tried to talk him out of it since there was a war going on, but he pretty much had to go. He told us a lot of the gunnery sergeants loved him because he joined during wartime."

After his deployment, Miller communicated with family regularly, reassuring them that he was OK.

He was a source of pride for Larry Riley, a retired Nodaway Valley High School shop teacher and volunteer wrestling coach. Riley, an Army National Guard veteran, recalled calling Miller during high school to make sure he'd get up in the morning and get to school on time. He remembers a heavyweight wrestler and ornery student with a sly grin and a penchant for mischief.

"I'd always threaten to take him down, but since he was so much bigger than me I never tried it," he said.

The former teacher said Miller matured at an incredible pace upon graduation. Riley always stood at attention and saluted his former student when he was home on leave. In 40 years of teaching, this is the first student he's lost to an overseas conflict.

"I've had more than one of my former students serve and come back, and always in the back of your mind, you think 'What's going to happen?' " Riley said. "We've been very fortunate that none have been injured, and I guess you don't like to think about it. Now it's happened. Every war is stupid, and this is no different."

Matt Miller said he, like so many others, considers his stepson a hero.

"He's a better man than I am," he said through tears.

From the Register