Doris Miller

Doris Miller, born on October twelfth, nineteen nineteen, was a remarkable U.S. Navy sailor and cook who made history as the first black recipient of the Navy Cross. Serving aboard the battleship USS West Virginia during the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller displayed extraordinary bravery by carrying wounded sailors to safety amidst the chaos. He then took command of an anti-aircraft gun, despite having no prior training, and is credited with shooting down one enemy plane, although eyewitness accounts suggest he may have downed as many as four to six.

On May twenty-seventh, nineteen forty-two, Admiral Chester Nimitz awarded Miller the Navy Cross for his heroism. However, many of his fellow sailors and naval officers believed his actions warranted the prestigious Medal of Honor. Miller was nominated for this honor by a congressman from Michigan and a senator from New York, with strong support from the black press. Unfortunately, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox opposed the recognition of black sailors in combat roles and recommended against the Medal of Honor for Miller.

In June nineteen forty-three, Miller was promoted to Cook Petty Officer, Third Class. Tragically, his life was cut short in November nineteen forty-three when he was killed in action during the Battle of Makin. His ship, the escort carrier Liscome Bay, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, resulting in the loss of seven hundred two officers and sailors, marking it as the deadliest sinking of a carrier in U.S. Navy history.

In honor of his legacy, the frigate USS Miller (FF-1091) and the aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) were named after him, ensuring that his contributions and sacrifices will never be forgotten.