Doris “Dorie”
Miller, an African American sailor, was one of the most unsung American heroes
of World War II. His actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor helped
save many lives and served as an inspiration to countless others.
Doris “Dorie” Miller was an
unsung hero of World War II. His bravery during Japan’s surprise attack on
Pearl Harbor helped to save countless lives.
Miller was born on October 12,
1919, in Waco, Texas. He worked on the family farm with his three brothers
until September 16, 1939, when Miller enlisted in the Navy to earn extra money
for his family. Miller completed training at the Naval Training Station in
Norfolk, Virginia, where he was promoted to Mess Attendant Third Class. This
was one of the only positions available to African-Americans at the time, due
to Navy segregation.
Following his promotion, Miller
was assigned to the USS Pyro, where he served as a mess attendant before being
transferred in 1940 to the USS West Virginia. It was there that Miller became
the ship’s heavy-weight boxing champion, earning the respect of his
compatriots.
On December 7, 1941, Miller woke
up early to begin his workday. As he began collecting the ship’s laundry, an
alarm from General Quarters sounded. Miller raced for his battle station, the
anti-aircraft battery magazine amidships. But when he got to his position, he
found it destroyed by torpedo. Miller returned to deck, and because of his
physical prowess, was assigned to help carry his fellow wounded sailors to
safety. He carried several men to safe quarters, then retrieved the ship’s
injured captain, Mervyn Bennion.
Then, without rest, and before
being ordered to abandon ship, Miller fired an unmanned .50-caliber Browning
anti-aircraft machine gun until it ran out of ammunition. When asked how he
managed to fire with such prowess, Miller said, “It wasn’t hard. I just pulled
the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I
guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap
planes. They were diving pretty close to us.”
The USS West Virginia sank to the
bottom of the harbor. Of the ship’s 1,541 men, 130 were killed and 52 wounded.
For his actions, Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox
on April 1, 1942. On May 27, 1942, he was awarded the Navy Cross by the Pacific
Fleet’s Commander in Chief, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
On November 24, 1943, a Japanese
torpedo struck the USS Liscome Bay off the coast of Buritaritari Island.
Two-thirds of the crew died or went missing—including Miller.
Doris Miller’s legacy paved the
way for other African-American service members to serve in combat roles. And
his likeness was used in Navy recruitment drives, including an iconic World War
II enlistment poster featuring the words, “Above and beyond the call of duty.”
In addition to the Navy Cross,
Doris Miller received the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal –
Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory
Medal. In 1973, the Knox-class frigate USS Miller was named in his honor.
We honor his service.
More about Miller’s service is
at https://www.hilbert.edu/social-justice-activists/doris-(dorie)-miller.
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