Eric D. Miner, 44, of Brooklyn, CT., died on Thursday Oct. 14, 2004 as a result of wounds received in a terrorist attack while working for the State Department security contractor DynCorp in the country of Iraq. The blasts were reportedly the work of suicide bombers, Iraq's most feared terror group, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He was born April 20, 1960 in Willimantic. Eric is survived by his wife Tammy, daughters Audrey and Emily, son Nicholas, guardian/mother Lois B. Potter, brothers Mark Miner and John Collins and sisters Pam Barrea and Jackie Collins. In addition to his 20 year employment with Southern New England Telephone, he ran a small sawmill business at home. He was a proud member of the Rhode Island National Guard Unit, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. He served in Kuwait and Kosovo over the past several years. He asked for a leave of absence in July to pursue the job with DynCorp. When Eric wasn't serving with the military, he enjoyed spending time with his children. He especially loved playing catch with Nick and was thrilled when Audrey and Emily would join in. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoyed woodworking, tending his sawmill and restoring old vehicles as well as old machinery. Casualty officers from Rhode Island met with Miner's widow. The Rhode Island National Guard said Miner would be buried in the New Mansfield Center Cemetery, Connecticut with full military honors. A fund has been established for the children's college education. Donations can be made to "The College Bound Fund", c/o Mark Miner, P.O. Box 321, South Windham, CT. 06266.
