Jenna Bush Hager Emotional as She Presents Late Grandfather's Service Van to Ailing Veteran

By Kayla Kunkel April 27, 2019 at 1:57pm

U.S. Navy veteran David Miller, 31, received an emotional surprise from Jenna Bush Hager on April 25, 2019, that once belonged to her late grandfather, George H.W. Bush.

Miller began serving in the Navy as soon as he graduated high school in 2007; he served for ten years in Japan and the Middle East.

While serving in Japan, he met his wife Misa whom he married in 2011. They now have a 7-year-old daughter named Rachel.

In 2017, however, his health took an unexpected turn that would change the course of his life forever.

While deployed on the USS Nimitz in the Middle East, Miller became feverish.

“I just had a seizure, went unconscious, and collapsed,” Miller told “Today.” “And next thing you know, I was in the ER of the ship.”

Medics quickly medevaced him to Bahrain to receive treatment. He was later diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy and ataxia, a rare disease that affects his movement and speech.

“I was scared so bad because I couldn’t walk,” Miller said. “I thought I was paralyzed. I just thought, ‘Man, how am I going to support my wife and child now?’”

Thankfully he has since received help from the Wounded Warrior Project and the VA.

“At least I gave my all when I was able-bodied,” he said. “That’s all I can say. I just tried my best.”

“I just knew I wanted to serve in the Navy with all my heart.” US Navy veteran David Miller served for more than 10 years, but during his deployment to the USS Nimitz, his life changed forever. pic.twitter.com/hOVx9hjFjh

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 25, 2019

Miller and his family recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he and his family will live together for the first time ever.

When Jenna Bush Hagar heard Miller’s story, she knew that he would be the perfect person to receive a special gift.

Hagar and Jay Leno met Miller and his family outside of Rockefeller Plaza in a black van to help Miller settle into his life in Florida.

“The bad news is it’s a used car,” Leno joked to Miller. “The good news is it was owned by a Navy hero. And that hero was President George [H.W.] Bush.”

The van had been modified to meet the 41st president’s needs at the end of his life.

Miller could hardly believe it; he told Hagar that her grandfather was “one of the greatest presidents of all time.”

Hagar also presented Miller with a letter from her father, George W. Bush, honoring the veteran for his service.

“Forty-one would be proud to know that a fellow sailor will take his seat in the van, and I know he would join me in thanking you for your contributions to our country,” George W. Bush wrote.

Later Hagar pulled out her phone so that Miller could video chat with the 43rd president directly.

.@jayleno and @jennabushhager give Navy veteran David Miller an unforgettable gift – the vehicle that the late President George HW Bush used in the last years of his life to get around. pic.twitter.com/yiAJJPYcFx

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 25, 2019

Miller’s new van was donated to him through BraunAbility’s initiative Drive for Inclusion; BruanAbility is a company that makes wheelchair-accessible vans.

Hagar reflected on the precious time she and her family had spent in the van and told Miller, “I hope you and your family have as many happy memories in this van as my family did.”

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