Doris Miller

Doris Miller
   
Nickname "Dorie"
Born October 12, 1919(1919-10-12)
Waco, Texas
Died November 24, 1943(1943-11-24) (aged 24)
Gilbert Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1939-1943
Rank Cook 3rd Class
Battles/wars World War II
*Attack on Pearl Harbor
*Battle of Tarawa
*Operation Galvanic
Awards Navy Cross
Purple Heart

Doris "Dorie" Miller (October 12, 1919 – November 24, 1943) was a cook in the United States Navy noted for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross, the third highest honor awarded by the U.S. Navy at the time, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (today the Navy Cross precedes the Distinguished Service Medal).[1]

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Early life and career

Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919, to Henrietta and Connery Miller. He was the third of four sons and grew up in a strong and loving household. He enjoyed playing with his brothers but was also a considerate child. He often helped around the house, cooking meals and doing laundry, as well as working the fields. Miller was a good student and a fullback on the football team at Waco′s A.J. Moore High School (5 ft 9 in (1.8 m), over 200 lb (91 kg)). They called him the "Raging Bull" because of his emotions. He was kicked out of high school because he would get into fights with other students about his race.

He worked on his father′s farm until enlisting in the United States Navy as Mess Attendant, Third Class in September 1939.[2] Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Virginia, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship Pyro where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on January 2, 1940 was transferred to the battleship West Virginia, where he became the ship′s main cook. In July of that year, he had temporary duty aboard BB-36 at Secondary Battery Gunnery School. He returned to West Virginia on August 3, 1940.[1][2]

Attack on Pearl Harbor

On 7 December 1941, Miller awoke at 06:00 and was collecting laundry when the alarm for general quarters was sounded. He headed for his battle station, the antiaircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover that torpedo damage had destroyed it. He went on deck where he was assigned to carry wounded fellow sailors to safer locations. When Captain Mervyn Bennion was injured by a bomb splinter, an officer ordered Miller to the bridge to help in the effort to move him to a place of relative safety. Miller picked him up and attempted to carry him to a first-aid station; the Captain refused to leave his post and remained on the bridge until his death.

When directed to assist in loading a pair of unattended Browning .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns, Miller took control of one and began firing at the Japanese planes, even though he had no training in operating the weapon. He fired the gun until he ran out of ammunition. Japanese aircraft eventually dropped two armor-piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship and launched five 18 in (460 mm) aircraft torpedoes into her port side. Heavily damaged by the ensuing explosions, and suffering from severe flooding below decks, West Virginia slowly settled to the harbor bottom as her crew—including Miller—abandoned ship.[1] Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on 1 April 1942, and on 27 May 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Admiral Chester W. Nimitz—the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet—presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier Enterprise for his extraordinary courage in battle.[1]

World War II

Miller′s rate was raised to Mess Attendant First Class on 1 June. On 27 June, The Pittsburgh Courier called for Miller to be allowed to return home for a war bond tour like white heroes. On 23 November, Miller arrived at Maui, and was ordered on a war bond tour while still attached to the heavy cruiser Indianapolis. In December 1942 and January 1943, he gave talks in Oakland, California, in his hometown of Waco, Texas, in Dallas, and to the first graduating class of African-American sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago.

The Pittsburgh Courier continued to hammer to return Miller for a war bond tour in the February 6, 1943 issue. The caption to Miller′s photo read, "He fought...Keeps Mop", while another hero of Maui got a commission. It said that Miller was "too important waiting tables in the Pacific to return him", even though he was already on tour.

Doris Miller reported for duty at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 15 May 1943. His rate was again raised, to Petty Officer, Ship′s Cook Third Class on 1 June,[1][2] and he reported to the escort carrier Liscome Bay. After training in Hawaii for the Gilbert Islands operation, Liscome Bay participated in the Battle of Tarawa which began on 20 November. On 24 November, a single torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-175 struck the escort carrier near the stern. The aircraft bomb magazine detonated a few moments later, sinking the warship within minutes. There were 272 survivors. The rest of the crew was listed as "presumed dead". On 7 December 1943, PO Miller′s parents were notified their son "was dead ".[3]

A memorial service was held on 30 April 1944, at the Waco, Texas, Second Baptist Church, sponsored by the Victory Club.[3] On 28 May, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School to honor Miller. On 25 November 1944, James Forrestal—the Secretary of the Navy—announced that Miller was "dead".[1]

Many officers and men in the Navy felt that for his actions on West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, Miller should have been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Popular culture

Miller′s face adorned the U.S. Navy recruiting poster "above and beyond the call of duty".

In 1942, Miller′s actions were dramatized on the CBS radio series They Live Forever. The Gwendolyn Brooks poem Negro Hero (1945) is narrated from Miller′s point of view. Although he was not identified by name, he was portrayed by Elven Havard in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!.

In Michael Bay′s 2001 film Pearl Harbor, Miller was portrayed by Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.

In 2007, historian Bill O'Neal published Doris Miller: Hero of Pearl Harbor.

Military awards

 

Memorials

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ship's Cook Third Class Doris Miller, USN". United States Naval Historical Center. U.S. Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq57-4.htm. 
  2. ^ a b c "Ship's Cook Third Class Doris "Dorie" Miller". National Geographic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/ngbeyond/people/. Retrieved 10/7/2010. 
  3. ^ a b http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/IKONBOARDNEW312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=Print;f=20;t=15
  4. ^ Linn's Stamp News, November 9, 2009
  5. ^ Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Amherst, New York. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-963-8.

Further reading

External links

Biography portal
United States Navy portal