Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"July 12, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
July
12, 2002
|
| 2nd Lt. Zachariah (Zac) Miller |
Editor’s note: The members of the USMA Staff and Faculty would like to send their condolences to Zac’s family. We were privileged to meet and get to know Zac through coverage of his West Point accomplishments and we know that our community, the Army and the nation has suffered a great loss with his death.
The following are comments made by the Superintendent at the funeral of 2nd Lt. Zachariah Robert Miller Tuesday. Miller, a member of the Class of 2002, died July 1 during pre-ranger training at Fort Benning, Ga.
The toughest thing a commander does is say farewell to one of his soldiers. In 31 years of active duty, this hasn’t changed. It tears my heart out.
When it is a young soldier I always ask ‘why?’ Why when there was so much life before him, before he really had a chance to live. I ask the same question here with Zac. Why?
He was an exemplary cadet -- the best. A Rhodes and Truman scholar, a distinguished grad and what he was most proud of -- a captain of the Rugby team. But these achievements don’t really capture Zac.
Zac was bright, personable, charismatic and caring. He was a leader of character. He grasped at every opportunity, but had time for everyone.
When I spoke to the Chief of Staff of the Army the morning following Zac’s death, I told him that Zac had the potential to also be chief. He was that kind of soldier.
But when I think of Zac, I don’t think of potential. Potential is overrated. When I think of Zac, I think of what he accomplished. He changed people’s lives. In fact, in his short life, he did more than most of us do in a much longer life. He worked with Big Brothers, PALS, Special Olympics, Students for Charity, was an assistant Sunday School superintendent, a church Youth Group leader, a member of the elementary school’s speaker program, a computer consultant for Lakeview Little League and a G. Turner Craig Community Park volunteer.
Zac was proud to be a soldier, proud to be an Infantryman and proud to be going to Ranger school. He was charismatic and personable. He was a soldier and a leader. He influenced hundreds of classmates, subordinates, superiors and, of course, young people.
Potential is nothing. Living is everything and Zac lived. All of us are better people because we knew him. I can truly say that I am proud to have been a soldier with Zac Miller.
