Army Nurse Reflects On War After Return from Iraq, Kuwait

Last year, while traveling with the 82nd Airborne Division in Kuwait, WRAL's Julia Lewis talked withCapt. Tina Miller, an Army nurse.

For the past 12 months, Miller has been a long way from home -- serving her country in Kuwait and Iraq.

"It's just . . . home is good," Miller said. "Nothing beats it."

The 41-year-old nurse, who works at Womack Hospital, was deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division in Kuwait. She had just joined the Army six months before the deployment.

"I wanted to do something for the country," Miller said.

War has a habit of changing people. Miller has changed, too. She has lost 25 pounds, but the change goes beyond appearance.

War has a habit of changing people. Miller has changed, too. She has lost 25 pounds, but the change goes beyond appearance.

"It's hard to put into words how I feel deep down," she said. "One day, I stood and looked at myself to see if could see any change. I couldn't, but I know it's there. Deep down in my soul, it's there."

Miller worked in a makeshift hospital just outside Bagdhad where she saw some of the worst war had to offer.

"We had a soldier who was injured, and one of his soldiers died," she said. "And to listen to him talk about it and blame himself. . . "

Miller said it was an Iraqi man who showed her why war is sometimes necessary.

"When one of the workers stood up and told how he felt for us being there, I broke down," she said. "It was the greatest thing. It finally hit me, that they appreciated it."

Much has changed in a year. Last February, Miller learned how to clean her weapon. Since then, she has become a decent shot.

"I actually shot pretty well," she said, "got 30 out of 40.

"I did a lot of things I never thought I'd do," Miller said. "I even had people tell me: 'Ma'am, we didn't think you'd make it this far.'"

She not only made it, but said she would do it again if duty calls.

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Nathan Monroe

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Michelle Singer