Fort Riley ? A song saluting U.S. military casualties in Iraq is gaining popularity in the Fort Riley area.

Sgt. Alton Miller wrote “The Man That Made the Medal” to honor his buddy at the northeast Kansas Army post.

Master Sgt. William Lee Payne, 46, of Michigan, was killed in the ground war last year. Miller, 35, says Payne was like a father to him.

“He helped me out through some pretty rough times,” said Miller, who is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Miller was preparing to ship out to Iraq when he received word that Payne was dead. He quickly wrote the song, which he sang at Payne’s funeral.

“Ever since then I’ve sang it at memorials when we were over in Iraq for the fallen soldiers over there,” he said. “It’s taken off, and it’s touched a lot of people’s lives.”

Miller also performed at a recent Veterans and Military Appreciation Day dinner, attended by more than 600 people in Junction City. He received a standing ovation at the dinner, and again after singing the tribute at Junction City’s Veteran’s Day ceremony.

Also, some area radio stations have been playing Miller’s song.

“There’s no song out there right now that actually tells you the loss and the story behind that,” Miller said.

Miller, who plans to leave the Army at the end of 2005, said he was searching for a record label to pick up his song.