Brothers in Arms: Dan Miller Reflects on His Journey After His StoryCorps Conversation

Nick Bennett and Dan Miller, guided by family traditions of military service, found themselves in the heart of the Iraq War’s “Triangle of Death” in 2004. Nick, following in the footsteps of his grandfathers who fought in World War II, joined the Marines with a profound sense of duty. Dan, inspired by his uncle’s legacy, also enlisted and advanced to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. During their deployment, Nick’s responsibilities in maintaining communication between soldiers and their families contrasted with his longing for frontline action. This shared experience led them to StoryCorps, where they revisited their time in Iraq and the camaraderie formed in the midst of conflict. Their story was broadcast on April 27, 2024 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday. 

Photos courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project.

In a follow-up to his initial StoryCorps conversation, Dan Miller, a Marine veteran, reflects more deeply on his experiences in the “Triangle of Death” in Iraq. He revisits his role and the emotions he grappled with during that challenging period, offering new insights and perspectives that have emerged since his first interview. 

Have any new insights or perspectives emerged since your StoryCorps conversation?

Yes, I have had new insights and gained a new perspective on what happened that day, Nov 11th, 2004, as well as the aftermath from that day. I’ve had the chance to sit with Nick and dig into the sequence of events before, during, and after. I’ve been able to see things from his point of view which helped me to process a lot of my feelings about guilt and anger towards that day. I’ve been able to gain a new perspective on my own life following the war and how that day, that deployment shaped where I am in life now.

In what ways have you continued to process and come to terms with the emotions surrounding your experiences in Iraq?

I would say that I continue to process every time I wake up because I start the day by reminding myself that if I had stayed standing where I had been next to Nick or in front of him, I could easily have been killed or severely wounded. I remind myself that I was lucky to walk away with a few scratches and a concussion. I know that my emotions have changed since the StoryCorps piece.

I process more clearly now, and I have come to terms with not only letting go of the guilt of the loss of so many of my fellow Marines and the “why them and not me” thing, but I’ve come to terms with the taking of life over there and the fact that it was something that just had to be.  We took lives to save lives.

Have you found any new ways to honor or commemorate the sacrifices made during your service, both personally and within the veteran community?

Yes, I have dedicated my life to working for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a professional speaker traveling the country and telling my story in the hopes of involving more veterans and their family members with WWP to obtain the help they need. I sit on the board of the K9’s for Veterans nonprofit and assist with pairing veterans in need with service animals at all levels to improve their quality of life. I sit on the board of the Forgotten Warrior Memorial, a memorial created in Channahon State Park, Channahon, IL, helping to contact the family members of warriors across the nation who have lost the battle with PTSD and ended their lives. These warriors deserve a place to be honored for their service and not just remembered as a person who gave up. The memorial is that place. I honor myself by continuing to live the words that my mother instilled in me as a young boy, service to others before self. That is how I honor those lost, those broken but fighting to recover, and those who need a hand up, not a handout.

Reflecting on the support you’ve received from the Wounded Warrior Project and the veteran community, how has this impacted your sense of belonging and purpose?

This is a simple one, I can say without hesitation or doubt if it were not for the support of WWP and my fellow veteran brothers and sisters, I would not be here today. They have saved me many times over. They have saved me from me, from the demons that haunt my dreams, from the guilt that takes over my soul, from the anger that clouds my brain.

In what ways have you found strength and resilience in your personal journey as veterans since our last conversation?

I have found strength in my journey by doing what I do every day, working to help others helps me. Being communicative about how I feel now and not shoving it away for fear of looking weak.

Looking ahead, what aspirations or goals do you have for the coming year in terms of your personal growth and well-being as veterans?

I want to continue to grow as a speaker, reaching more and more people. I want to work on getting back to a higher level of fitness. I want to begin to rebuild relationships with folks that I shunned away from out of self-doubt and self-pity. I want to continue to rise above my past towards a better future.

How do you envision your ongoing relationship with each other and your involvement in the veteran community as you continue to navigate life after service?

I envision working hard to get closer to Nick by spending my time with him. It is tough because we live so far away from each other, but I feel it is worth the effort and the money to make it happen. He is such a huge part of my life story and a fellow Marine. I look forward to hopefully getting together with him sooner rather than later and maybe going fishing. I know we have spoken about our mutual love of fishing for its calmness and the chance to catch up on life.

What has recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative meant to you? 

Recording my story has meant the world to me. It has given me a chance to put on record a major life event that I hope when others hear will push them to come to terms with their events and speak out loud about them. To be able to sit down and talk through everything with Nick was like a cleansing of my soul in so many ways. I can also share my story with my loved ones and friends and to know it will be saved for all to hear makes me very humbled yet very proud. Proud to be an American, Proud to be a Marine, and Proud to be a Veteran.

Why do you think veterans, service members, and military families should record with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative?

I think it is vital to our nation’s history that veterans, service members, and military families record their stories with StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative. Not only does it give them a chance to share their incredible stories, but it saves these stories for generations to come. I was once told by a fellow Marine that a person is never truly forgotten until their name is spoken for the very last time. StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative guarantees that the warriors and family members who have played such a pivotal role in what makes our country the greatest country in the world shall never be forgotten.

Photos courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project.

How did recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative feel? 

Recording my and Nick’s story felt a little weird at first because neither of us looked at what happened to us as anything different than what has happened to thousands of others. But then as the process moved forward, we both realized that this was something special being created for not only us but for everyone. It made me feel incredibly proud to have the honor of taking part in such a moving event. And hopefully helping future generations of warriors and their families by telling our story.

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