Regional Industry & News

Dobson Army captain says 9/11 inspired his service ahead of Kuwait deployment

"I thought the world was ending that day."

Surry County native Jeremiah McMillian, a military police commissioned officer and captain in the United States Army, is this year's Salute to Heroes award winner in the active military personnel category for his more than a decade of service.

He was just twelve years old the day of the 9/11 terror attacks, and he remembers his mother, who worked in education at the time, telling him to go home and watch the news.

"I think (retired WXII 12 News anchor) Wanda Starke was on, and I thought the world was ending that day. But I knew that from then on, I wanted to help people. I didn't know what it would be, but I was always passionate about police, law enforcement, and the military," McMillian said.

25 years later, he is a man of his word.

WXII caught up with him at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro as he arrived home from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for some rest and relaxation over Labor Day weekend.

"I always love coming back home to my roots. My mom always told me to never forget where you come from, so this is my home," McMillian said.

"It's just wonderful every time," his mother, Lisa Dobbins, said.

After graduating from Surry Central High School in 2007, he officially enlisted in the Army in 2013. While most of his service has been in the United States, he did spend seven months in South Korea in 2024 as a security manager. He has been in Missouri for captain's training since May of this year.

"I could see myself doing this until I'm 60, you know? I love what I do and even though it does take me into harm's way, I don't mind it," McMillian said.

This December, on his 38th birthday, he says he will be deployed to the same base in Kuwait where an Iranian drone strike claimed the first American lives in the war.

"The captain that I'm replacing, she was injured, and she actually held the first casualty in her arms (Capt. Cody A. Khork), so that's kind of hard to think about. But I'm a man of faith and so I believe God will take care of me. He's taken care of me the past 38 years, so I don't see it changing any time soon," McMillian said.

"I don't like it, but I knew, when that he went in, that it was part of it," Dobbins said.

Before he heads into harm's way, the Red Cross wants to make it clear that Capt. McMillian is a hero, 25 years after he was inspired by the heroes of 9/11.

"Everything I have, I've worked hard for, and that's what my parents instilled in me, and so I hope that someone else can be inspired by my story and just keep the service alive," McMillian said.

While he's been serving the country, he has also been incredibly busy. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 2017 and got his master's from East Carolina University in 2022. He hopes to get a second master's and then a doctorate from Florida State and achieve the rank of colonel by the time he hits his 50s.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here