Character Analysis
Just Miller
Like Madonna, Miller only goes by one name. She's technically Captain Miller—we never learn her first name. But everyone calls her just Miller soon enough.
But Miller's no diva. The opposite, actually. She's one of the most caring people in Birdy's unit.
Miller leads the medical detachment. She has a physician's assistant's training. She gets the same assignments as Birdy, though her focus is medicine. Her loyalty is to the unit, not her commanders. At one point, Birdy refers to her as "the mother of the CA squads" (13.18).
She does other things to show them she's on their team. When a reporter tries to interview her, she won't let him give her all the credit.
Outspoken Woman
Miller might be one of the most outspoken critics of the war in the book. Or, to be more specific, of the orders the Civil Affairs unit receives. Civil Affairs is supposed to put a human face on the war, go on missions that aren't offensive, help to rebuild. But what Miller hates is that they're often sent to apologize after the Americans killed Iraqi civilians.
Not exactly something that words can fix.
If there's one thing Miller believes in, it's that both sides deserve medical help. When Lieutenant Maire doesn't want her to treat village children because the children shot at the Americans, Miller sends him away but refuses to leave. When he asks her if she thinks the medical supplies will reach enemy hands, she says, "I don't know Lieutenant… Isn't that wonderful? To be able to do something with nothing more than the hope that it's the right thing? Isn't that wonderful?" (6.230)
It's a noble idea, and treating the children turns out not to be a trap. But the idea gets her in trouble later on.
A Woman Soldier
Miller's life is made even more complicated because she's a woman. She's often sent to speak with Iraqi women, because they trust her more. And as a woman, she's in extra danger.
We're knocked over the heads with this when Birdy runs into two men trying to rape her near the bathroom of a hospital in Fallujah. Miller had gotten to know the men, treated their patients, and she wasn't rewarded. She (understandably) loses it after Birdy kills them.
But Miller is strong. She just keeps on working. Even after Jonesy dies, she wails for a bit, then pulls herself together so she can treat Birdy.