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Navy Aircraft Carrier to Be Named for Black Pearl Harbor Veteran Navy Aircraft Carrier to Be Named for Black Pearl Harbor Veteran
(about 2 hours later)
Doris Miller was working as a mess attendant on the battleship West Virginia the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. An alarm sounded, and as the ship drew heavy fire, Mr. Miller raced to assist the West Virginia’s fatally wounded commanding officer. He also fired a machine gun against enemy planes.Doris Miller was working as a mess attendant on the battleship West Virginia the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. An alarm sounded, and as the ship drew heavy fire, Mr. Miller raced to assist the West Virginia’s fatally wounded commanding officer. He also fired a machine gun against enemy planes.
For his bravery and “distinguished devotion to duty” that day, Mr. Miller was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross, the second-highest military decoration, in 1942, making him the first African-American to receive the medal.For his bravery and “distinguished devotion to duty” that day, Mr. Miller was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross, the second-highest military decoration, in 1942, making him the first African-American to receive the medal.
Now, 78 years after the attack, the United States Navy is set to recognize the sailor with another honor on Monday, when it is expected to name a CVN-81 aircraft carrier after Mr. Miller, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.Now, 78 years after the attack, the United States Navy is set to recognize the sailor with another honor on Monday, when it is expected to name a CVN-81 aircraft carrier after Mr. Miller, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
“I think that Doris Miller is an American hero simply because of what he represents as a young man going beyond the call of what’s expected,” Doreen Ravenscroft, a team leader for the Doris Miller Memorial, told the newspaper. “I think he is an American hero because he went beyond” what was expected of someone of his rank, Doreen Ravenscroft, a team leader for the Doris Miller Memorial, said on Saturday. “His human instinct was to defend his team on board the West Virginia and the United States. He certainly deserves the honor.”
“Without him really knowing, he actually was a part of the civil rights movement because he changed the thinking in the Navy,” she said.
Mr. Miller was born on Oct. 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas, where he was a high school football player, according to the Doris Miller Memorial in Waco.Mr. Miller was born on Oct. 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas, where he was a high school football player, according to the Doris Miller Memorial in Waco.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1939, when black sailors were not allowed to serve in combat positions.He enlisted in the Navy in 1939, when black sailors were not allowed to serve in combat positions.
After training in Norfolk, Va., he was assigned to the West Virginia as a mess attendant; his duties included cooking, swabbing the decks and shining officers’ shoes, according to the Defense Department. He was also a boxing champ on the ship.After training in Norfolk, Va., he was assigned to the West Virginia as a mess attendant; his duties included cooking, swabbing the decks and shining officers’ shoes, according to the Defense Department. He was also a boxing champ on the ship.
The day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Miller woke up at 6 a.m. and had already collected laundry when the general alarm sounded. He headed for his battle station, the Navy said, “only to discover that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went on deck.”The day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Miller woke up at 6 a.m. and had already collected laundry when the general alarm sounded. He headed for his battle station, the Navy said, “only to discover that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went on deck.”
Because of his build, Mr. Miller, then 22, was assigned to carry wounded sailors to safety. An officer ordered him to help Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion on the bridge, according to the Navy. Captain Bennion died of his injuries.Because of his build, Mr. Miller, then 22, was assigned to carry wounded sailors to safety. An officer ordered him to help Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion on the bridge, according to the Navy. Captain Bennion died of his injuries.
With no prior training, Mr. Miller then operated “a .50-caliber Browning antiaircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship,” the Navy said.With no prior training, Mr. Miller then operated “a .50-caliber Browning antiaircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship,” the Navy said.
“It wasn’t hard,” Mr. Miller recalled, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command website. “I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about 15 minutes.”“It wasn’t hard,” Mr. Miller recalled, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command website. “I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about 15 minutes.”
He said that he thought he “got” an enemy plane, adding, “They were diving pretty close to us.”He said that he thought he “got” an enemy plane, adding, “They were diving pretty close to us.”
Of the 1,541 men aboard the ship at the time, 130 were killed and 52 were wounded.Of the 1,541 men aboard the ship at the time, 130 were killed and 52 were wounded.
Mr. Miller later served on the Indianapolis and then the escort carrier Liscome Bay. In 1943, he was killed during the Battle of Makin when a Japanese torpedo sank the Liscome Bay, according to the Defense Department. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.Mr. Miller later served on the Indianapolis and then the escort carrier Liscome Bay. In 1943, he was killed during the Battle of Makin when a Japanese torpedo sank the Liscome Bay, according to the Defense Department. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Mr. Miller, whose image was used in recruiting posters, has been honored in different ways over the years.Mr. Miller, whose image was used in recruiting posters, has been honored in different ways over the years.
Schools, buildings and at least one neighborhood have been named after the crewman. A destroyer escort that had previously borne his name was decommissioned in 1991.Schools, buildings and at least one neighborhood have been named after the crewman. A destroyer escort that had previously borne his name was decommissioned in 1991.
In 2001, the actor Cuba Gooding Jr. played Mr. Miller in the World War II movie “Pearl Harbor.” And in 2017, a statue of Mr. Miller was unveiled in Waco.In 2001, the actor Cuba Gooding Jr. played Mr. Miller in the World War II movie “Pearl Harbor.” And in 2017, a statue of Mr. Miller was unveiled in Waco.