Doris Miller
Encyclopedia
Doris "Dorie" Miller 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).
, 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 in 9 in (1.75 m), over 200 lb (90.7 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. Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk
, Virginia
, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on January 2, 1940 was transferred to the battleship
, 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.
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 41 in 6 in (12.65 m).50 caliber anti-aircraft
machine gun
s, Miller took control of one and began firing at the Japan
ese 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 (457.2 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.
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
for his extraordinary courage in battle.
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
. 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, and he reported to the escort carrier . 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 ".
A memorial service was held on 30 April 1944, at the Waco, Texas
, Second Baptist Church, sponsored by the Victory Club. 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".
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.
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.
—was commissioned on June 30, 1973 in honor of Miller.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
noted for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on 7 December 1941. He was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to be awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
, the third highest honor awarded by the U.S. Navy at the time, after the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
(today the Navy Cross precedes the Distinguished Service Medal).
Early life and career
Miller was born in Waco, TexasWaco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, 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 in 9 in (1.75 m), over 200 lb (90.7 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
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as Mess Attendant, Third Class in September 1939. Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on January 2, 1940 was transferred to the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, where he became the ship′s main cook. In July of that year, he had temporary duty aboard BB-36
USS Nevada
USS Nevada may refer to: was renamed Nevada in August 1869, was a monitor commissioned in 1902, renamed to Tonopah in 1909, and sold in 1922...
at Secondary Battery Gunnery School. He returned to West Virginia on August 3, 1940.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On 7 December 1941, Miller awoke at 06:00 and was collecting laundry when the alarm for general quartersGeneral quarters
General Quarters or Battle Stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship to signal the crew to prepare for battle or imminent damage....
was sounded. He headed for his battle station, the antiaircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover that torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
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 41 in 6 in (12.65 m).50 caliber anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s, Miller took control of one and began firing at the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese planes, even though he had no training in operating the weapon. He fired the gun until he ran out of ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. Japanese aircraft eventually dropped two armor-piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship and launched five 18 in (457.2 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.
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
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
for his extraordinary courage in battle.
World War II
Pittsburgh Courier
The Pittsburgh Courier was an American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.A pillar of the Black Press, it rose...
called for Miller to be allowed to return home for a war bond
War bond
War bonds are debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries...
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
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
. In December 1942 and January 1943, he gave talks in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, in his hometown of Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and to the first graduating class of African-American sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
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, and he reported to the escort carrier . After training in Hawaii for the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
operation, Liscome Bay participated in the Battle of Tarawa
Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa, code named Operation Galvanic, was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region....
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 ".
A memorial service was held on 30 April 1944, at the Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, Second Baptist Church, sponsored by the Victory Club. On 28 May, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School to honor Miller. On 25 November 1944, James Forrestal
James Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
—the Secretary of the Navy—announced that Miller was "dead".
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
In 1942, Miller′s actions were dramatized on the CBS radio series They Live Forever. The Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was an American poet. She was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1985.-Biography:...
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!
Tora! Tora! Tora!
is a 1970 American-Japanese war film that dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, to the extent these facts were known at the time of production. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and stars an all-star cast, including So Yamamura, E.G...
.
In Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
′s 2001 film Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor (film)
Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American action drama war film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay...
, Miller was portrayed by Academy Award
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
In 2007, historian Bill O'Neal
Bill O'Neal
John William O'Neal, known as Bill O'Neal , is an American author who has written some thirty books and more than three hundred articles and book reviews on the American West, including gunfighters, lawmen, and ghost towns; Country music, with emphasis on Texas artists; baseball, such as his study...
published Doris Miller: Hero of Pearl Harbor.
Military awards
Memorials
—a Knox-class frigateKnox class frigate
Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as...
—was commissioned on June 30, 1973 in honor of Miller.
- The Doris Miller Foundation was founded in 1947, to give an annual award to the individual or group considered outstanding in the field of race relations.
- The Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Great Lakes Naval Base was dedicated to Miller’s memory on December 7, 1971.
- A monument dedicated to Miller is at the Waco Veterans Medical Center, Waco, TexasWaco, TexasWaco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
- Doris Miller Drive - located at the Waco Veterans Medical Center
- Dorie Miller Center - A former shopping center located in San Antonio, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- Dorie Miller Houses - A housing co-operative complex located in CoronaCorona, QueensCorona is a densely-populated neighborhood in the former Township of Newtown in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - Dorie Miller Housing Project - housing community, Located in Gary, IN
- Doris Miller Elementary School - located in San Antonio, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- Dorie Miller Elementary School - located in San Diego, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- Doris Miller Elementary School - located in Waco, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- Doris Miller YMCA - located in Waco, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- Doris Miller Junior High School - located in San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos, TexasSan Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
- Doris Miller Auditorium - located in Austin, TX
- Doris Miller Community Center - A recreation facility located in Newport News, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. - Doris Miller Park - a housing community for junior officers located at MauiMauiThe island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
- Doris Miller Post 915 - an American Legion post located in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
http://www.doriemiller915.org - Dorie E Miller Post 817 Beaumont, Texas
- Dorie Miller American Legion Chapter 14 - a Disabled American Veterans Chapter located in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
- On October 11, 1991, Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of Miller at the Miller Family Park located on the U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor. - Dorie Miller Park - Lewisburg, West Virginia
- Dorie Miller Drive- Champaign, Il.
- Doris Miller Loop - Honolulu, Hawaii, monument located at north end of street
- Honored by the U.S. Postal Service as one of four Distinguished Sailors, with a 44 cent commemorative stamp issued on February 4, 2010.
- In 2002, Molefi Kete AsanteMolefi Kete AsanteMolefi Kete Asante is an African-American scholar, historian, and philosopher. He is a leading figure in the fields of African American studies, African Studies and Communication Studies...
listed Doris Miller on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans100 Greatest African Americans100 Greatest African Americans is a biographical dictionary of the one hundred historically greatest African Americans , as assessed by Molefi Kete Asante in 2002.-Criteria:...
.