Army Spc. Adrian G. Mills, 23, of Newnan, Ga.
Spc Mills was assigned to 272nd Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, La., died Sept. 29 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds caused by indirect fire.
Spc Mills is the first casualty killed in Iraq since July. In a teleconference with reporters at the Pentagon, U.S. Maj. Gen. David Perkins said the solider was about to go on a military operation when he was fatally struck.
Spc Mills graduated from Northgate High School in 2007 where he served in the Air Force Junior ROTC. “That kid wanted to go in and help his country since he was in 7th grade,” Mr. Blehschmidt said.
Air Force Master Sgt. Ron Wolfe, who oversees Northgate’s Junior ROTC program, said the young man’s leadership abilities were readily apparent. “He was a quiet leader. He wasn’t demanding. He led by a positive example,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
Spc Mills was the first to be involved in the school’s color guard and its Saber Team special events squad. “We didn’t even have uniforms yet, nothing more than an Air Force T-shirt, and he was doing our first color guards at football games,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
Cassie McDonald, who grew up a few doors down from her friend and served with him in Northgate’s ROTC program, said, “When it came to organizing different events to help the community, A.J. was one of the first ones to jump in, which illustrated how big his heart was.”
"A.J.," McDonald said, "wanted everybody to remember what their freedom is worth and that life is short, so live it with no regrets.”
After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Spc. Mills helped lead a school-wide drive to gather items desperately needed by the survivors – more than 15,000 pounds of “clothing, toys, diapers, wipes, water, anything and everything,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
In 2009, Spc Mills, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, was one of more than 1,000 service members from posts and bases throughout Europe and the US who took part in the 65th anniversary ceremonies in Normandy, recalling the bravery of US troop at St. Mere Eglise, the Omaha and Utah Beaches and small viallages in the are in 1944.
In a 2009 interview, Mills spoke of "the sacrifice and courage of the soldiers who fought and died" in France. "I was honored to be a part of this," he said.
Spc Mills was laid to rest on October 11 at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA. next to his friend, Army Pvt Colman Joseph Meadows III, who died in Afghanistan in December 2008.
Spc Mills had left this message in a memorial for his friend Pvt. Meadows
June 29, 2011
Spc Mills
Joe was like a brother to me, we grew up together and was always the life of the group. He is missed greatly and I know that he is watching over all of us. I miss you bro, one day we will cause havoc together again. Until then, I will keep fighting the good fight.
I imagine today they are wreaking that havoc!
Spc Mills is survived by his mother and stepfather, Marie and Jeffrey; wife, Sandra, who he met while stationed in Germany; sister, Maegon; grandparents, Gladiola Dowell and C.A. and Wanda Mills.
By David Ibata
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every evening for the past week, family members and friends have come to light candles at a memorial on the front lawn of the house where Adrian Mills grew up in Newnan.
“I just can’t tell you how kind the people are from Coweta County. They are still lighting candles … [and] a vigil will be every evening at dusk until Sunday,” said Jeff Blehschmidt, stepfather of Adrian Mills. “That candlelight vigil they’re doing here is being done around the globe every night in his memory.”
Army Spc. Adrian Glyn "A.J." Mills, 23, died Sept. 29 in Kirkuk, Iraq, from wounds sustained when his unit came under insurgent mortar fire, the Army said. Spc. Mills was assigned to the 272nd Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Polk.
The soldier’s body has been flown home, and visitation is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday in McKoon Funeral Home, Newnan. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the funeral home. McKoon is handling arrangements.
Mr. Blehschmidt set up the memorial to his son, a series of full-size American flags and dozens of smaller ones. Visitors have added candles, flowers and other items to the display.
As a teen, Spc. Mills served in the Civil Air Patrol and Northgate High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC. “That kid wanted to go in and help his country since he was in 7th grade,” Mr. Blehschmidt said.
But instead of joining the Air Force after graduating from Northgate in 2007, Spc. Mills joined the Army.
“He wanted more action than I think the Air Force would give him – and the Air Force couldn’t give him a guaranteed job as a military policeman, and that’s what he wanted to do,” Mr. Blehschmidt said.
Air Force Master Sgt. Ron Wolfe, who oversees Northgate’s Junior ROTC program, said the young man’s leadership abilities were readily apparent. “He was a quiet leader. He wasn’t demanding. He led by a positive example,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
A student when Northgate’s ROTC was being started, Spc. Mills was the first to be involved in the school’s color guard and its Saber Team special events squad. “We didn’t even have uniforms yet – nothing more than an Air Force T-shirt – and he was doing our first color guards at football games,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
Cassie McDonald, who grew up a few doors down from her friend and served with him in Northgate’s ROTC program, said, “When it came to organizing different events to help the community, A.J. was one of the first ones to jump in, which illustrated how big his heart was.”
For example, after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Spc. Mills helped lead a school-wide drive to gather items desperately needed by the survivors – more than 15,000 pounds of “clothing, toys, diapers, wipes, water, anything and everything,” Master Sgt. Wolfe said.
Spc. Mills also is survived by his mother, Marie Elaine Blehschmidt, his wife, Sandra, who he met while stationed in Germany, and his sister, Maegon Mills of Houston. The military has flown Sandra’s parents, Franz and Doris Abel, to the United States from Heidelberg to attend the funeral.
The young soldier will be buried at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, next to his friend Army Pvt. 2nd Colman Joseph Meadows III, who died in Afghanistan in December 2008.
"A.J.," Ms. McDonald said, "wanted everybody to remember what their freedom is worth and that life is short, so live it with no regrets.”
Army Spc. Adrian G. Mills was killed in action on 9/29/11.
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