Sergeant George Miok
Sergeant George Miok
Sergeant George R. Miok joined the Canadian Forces on 7 May 1998. He completed basic combat engineer training as a member of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment. He deployed on Task Force 3-09 in October 2009 as a Section Commander in Stabilization Company A (2 PPCLI) of the Task Force 3-09 Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Sgt Miok deployed on three operational tours; once to the Balkans and twice to Afghanistan. His first deployment was to Bosnia and Herzogovina as a Mine Monitor Driver and Storeman on Op Palladium Roto 11, based out of Sipovo from September 2002 through April 2003.
Sgt Miok's second tour was to the Middle East and Afghanistan where he was employed as a Section 2IC for the Defense and Security Platoon from December 2005 through July 2006.
This current deployment was his second to Afghanistan. In addition to military training and three operational deployments, Sgt Miok had earned his Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta in 2006 and was employed as a math, physical education and religious studies teacher at Ecole St. Cecilia Junior High in Edmonton.
Sgt Miok was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device in Kandahar Province on 30 December, 2009. He is survived by his parents Anna and Illes, and three brothers, Mike, Les and John. Sgt Miok will be sorely missed and dearly remembered by his family, friends and both Regimental Families. We will remember him. Chimo.
Family Statement
George was the youngest of four brothers raised in a loving home by Anna and Illes (Eli) Miok. Before George had even graduated from Archbishop Jordan High School in Sherwood Park, he was already looking ahead. In high school, he had a part-time job at a local restaurant but he felt that it wasn’t for him. He saw an Army advertisement and he decided to join the Engineers in 1998 because his father, Eli, served his country when he was in the military.
An excerpt from his Grade 12 Scrapbook titled ‘The Event That Has Changed My Life’ – This last summer, the summer of ’98, I did Basic Military Training at the Wainwright Training Base. The experience was long but it made me look at things differently. I went through many tough times, long nights, and early mornings. I got through the days with the help of friends and my own inner strength. Once, when I was in the field late at night, I looked at the sky and saw stars like I’ve never seen before and I knew that there was more to life. The whole experience made me appreciate my life more and made me think about everything I was fortunate for.
George, then 17, was happy to spend his Saturday’s and Wednesday evenings with his new friends at the Debney Armoury. He enjoyed the weekend field adventures, comradeship, and opportunity to travel; he also appreciated having money to buy gas for the car and hang out with his friends. After high school, George entered the University of Alberta where he earned a degree in Education and became a junior high school teacher in Edmonton.
A gifted athlete, George loved playing sports – especially soccer, baseball, hockey, football, and rugby. He was also a natural on the dance floor, and had many admirers when he danced the two-step with a lucky partner. Perhaps he learned those skills as along-time member of the Hungarian Folk Dance Group.
With his family and friends, George loved watching movies and liked to laugh at funny TV shows. He loved to socialize, and was known to go for a long run after a night of merriment – just another example of his strength.
His appreciation of humanity is what compelled him to serve with the Canadian Forces in Bosnia in 2002, and again in Afghanistan in 2006. Before he left on his first overseas deployment to Bosnia, he tried to explain his decision to his mother in the following way – Canada has been good to us and I want to pay it back. He then read a passage from the Bible (The Beatitudes) that contains the following phrase:... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
George was so proud of the good changes that he saw in Afghanistan. He firmly believed in the importance of helping people, and was determined to do more. “I’m just off to save the world – somebody has to,” is how he described his efforts.
George will be loved and remembered forever by his many friends, his large extended family (aunts, uncles, and so many cousins) and his dad Illes (Eli), his mom Anna, his three older brothers Michael, John, Laszlo (Les) and his sister-in-law Melissa.
The Family of George Miok