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The Air Force has confirmed the death of its highest-ranking officer in the war against ISIS.
Lt.
General Dan Bogdans death comes just two days after the Pentagon announced that it had fired Lt.
Col. Robert J. Bales for his “serious misconduct” in the killing of a US soldier during the Iraq War.
The Air Force said Lt.
Colonel James H. Miller, a 33-year Air Force veteran, died Wednesday evening at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Miller’s death was announced by the Air Force on Thursday afternoon, hours after he had been assigned to the 3rd Fighter Wing.
“Lt.
Col Miller was a valued member of our Air Force family, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” a statement from the Air Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said.
“He will be sorely missed by the many friends and colleagues who knew him.”
Miller was assigned to Air Force Flight Support Squadron-37, which is responsible for supporting ground troops in combat operations, according to the Airbase.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, daughters, parents and brothers-in-law at this difficult time,” it read.
Miller’s death came on the heels of the release of the Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s latest combat casualty report, which showed that US troops had lost more than 2,300 American lives to ISIS in the course of the Iraq war.
“I want to personally thank all those who’ve given so much for our nation,” President Donald Trump said in a statement on Thursday.
“They’ve been tremendous heroes, especially in Iraq and Syria, where we’ve been fighting so hard to defeat the terrorists.
We’re taking advantage of this time of vulnerability to send our nation back to work, to get the job done, and to keep the American people safe.”
Trump said the US military “shouldn’t be allowed to be divided” in response to ISIS attacks.
“We can’t allow our military leaders to get in the way of our ability to defeat this enemy, to defeat ISIS, to protect the American homeland and our allies,” he said.