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| Photo By Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos | Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Miller was a junior fire brigade member before he joined the Air Force as a fire protection specialist. During his time in service, Miller was sent to a short tour to Utapao Air Base, Thailand, where he assisted refugees from South Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon. He also deployed in support of Operation Just Cause, where the U.S. invaded Panama. After retiring from the military, Miller became the fire chief for the Town of Moncks Corner fire department. To date, he has spent more than 43 years of his life as a firefighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos) |
MONCKS CORNER, SC, UNITED STATES
11.03.2016
Story by Staff Sgt. Patrick Doll
3rd Combat Camera Squadron
Miller went to his first firefighting school in Wilson, N.C., in 1969. He joined the Air Force after high school in 1971with a guaranteed job as a fire protection specialist. Miller’s first duty station was Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he met his wife and had his daughter. Six months after getting married, Miller was sent to a short tour to Utapao Air Base, Thailand. During his time there, Miller assisted refugees fleeing from South Vietnam when Saigon fell to the North. After Langley, Miller was stationed in Italy, Florida, and England before he ended up in his last duty station: Charleston AFB, S.C. Miller retired from the Air Force after 22 years, 2 months and 26 days of military service. After a short hiatus, he found himself as the captain of a small fire station in Moncks Corner, S.C.“I’ve done [firefighting] all of my adult life; it’s the only thing I know,” he continued. “The military background is what got me where I am today – there’s no doubt about it.”
