Cory Michael Miele beloved husband, son, brother and friend to many passed away on June 29, 2018, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Germany after an accident while working in Afghanistan. He was 31 years-old. Cory came from a very close military family.
He was born in New York City on November 2, 1986 and lived in Virginia and Key West, Florida before moving to American Canyon California in 1991. He was a very active child, to say the least, and was a remarkable athlete with unbelievable balance. Cory was very close to his three brothers and at one point played on the same rollerblade hockey team as his two older brothers.
He thoroughly enjoyed Thanksgiving and reunions at the Kern River every summer with his large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. Cory attended Napa Valley Unified School District schools and graduated from Vintage High in 2004. Yes, he was the prankster along with others who filled Senior Row in the Quad at Vintage High School with 20,000 gallons of water and 1,000 fish.
Cory established friendships throughout the valley and was bigger than life. He was well respected by all and was a great mediator resolving disputes and bridging personality gaps with his calm demeanor and gentle nature. Cory was profoundly affected by the terrorist attacks of 9-11 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 13, 2005, as an army infantrymen 11-Bravo.
He was a true American war hero earning the Iraq Campaign Medal with three stars, two Army Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal and numerous other medals and individual awards including The Order of the Golden Spur. While in Iraq his company was selected to serve outside of the green-zone as the first Combat Outpost in Ghazaliya, a small suburb of Baghdad. The Combat Outpost was named Casino, but internally the soldiers dubbed it The Alamo.
Cory’s company quickly established law and order in the community but not without a cost of human life. He survived numerous improvised explosive devices (IED) hits and battles with al Qaeda and other adversaries. When his company finally departed the outpost the community cried and begged that they not leave – a scene never reported in the news.
They had successfully completed their mission. He left the army as a Sergeant August 12, 2010. After the army Cory returned home and attended Solano Community College.
He did well, but his heart and mind continued to be drawn back to his brother-in-arms. We all knew he would never be the same. Cory established himself as a corporation entitled Patriot Elite and returned to Iraq as a security specialist before moving onto Afghanistan where he worked for the past six years.
His leadership, judgment and integrity thrust him into a position where he could truly make a change, and he took full advantage of it. It is written that Cory Miele changed a culture in a war torn part of the world and has given a community hope for a future without fear. The locals said he had the heart of a lion.
We understand that their hearts are broken as are ours with his untimely death. Cory loved what he was doing and will be remembered as fearless, brave and loyal to all who served with him. Cory had been in love with the beautiful Leanna Deming who stood by his side for ten years.
They finally tied the knot on October 21, 2017. They were a match made in heaven and enjoyed working-out at the gym, fishing, hunting, music, concerts, traveling and most of all their faithful companion dog Caliber. Cory is survived by his wife Leanna Deming Miele, father and mother Thomas and Dianne Miele, his brothers Dillon, Cameron and Stefan Miele, sister-in-laws Stephanie and Monica Miele, uncles Joseph and Stephan Miele, aunts Rebecca Hood (Miele), Kathleen Miele, Eileen Miele (Papelian), Anne Miele (Carter), Christine Miele (Lockrey), Jean Miele (Fruedenthal), father and mother in-law Lee Deming and Ann Marie Deming, 3 double-first cousins, 17 first cousins, 2 nieces and 2 nephews, as well as a great Nation and his brother-in-arms.
Cory Michael Miele will be received with honors at Sacramento International Airport on Thursday, July 12th. Cory will receive a police escort from Sacramento to Tulocay Funeral Home in Napa California. Cory’s family respectfully requests everyone’s presence at Tulocay in order to receive him with the honor and respect with which he has earned.
Please be in place by 11:30 for the arrival of the motorcade. Visitation from 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., Thursday, July 12th at Tulocay Funeral Home Chapel, 411 Coombsville Road, Napa CA. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 13th at 9:30 A.M. at Grace Church of Napa Valley, 3765 Solano Ave, Napa.
Burial services and military honors will be held at 1:00 P.M. at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon, CA.
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