NORWICH – Sergeant Mike Miner of the United States Army, Tenth Mountain Division, First Brigade Combat Team, will soon be departing on a 19 hour flight from Fort Drum to Gormach, Afghanistan, his second tour of duty in the Greater Middle East.

Miner, a class of 1995 Norwich High School graduate, reported he’d previously spent 15 months in Kirkuk, Iraq, from 2007 to 2009, participating in combat patrols and protecting the oil pipelines.

“There’s nothing to say except that I’m extremely proud of him,” said Ed Hitchcock, Miner’s uncle and guardian since the age of 12. “What can you say except that it’s a testament to what this country is all about, it’s what we’re built on.”

Hitchcock stated that while his leaving is more difficult, and scarier, the second time around, his nephew has “gone above and beyond,” though the lack of communication for 3 months “makes it really tough.”

“To tell you the truth I’m scared, I just want him to get back home safe,” said former roommate and friend of 15 years Robert Faucett. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m going to miss him, my son is going to miss him, we’re all going to miss him.”