Sixty-nine years ago, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, leading to the American entry in World War II. Doris "Dorie" Miller, an African-American sailor who joined the navy even though the government only permitted him to serve as a ship's cook (third class), went to the deck of his ship, the USS West Virginia, when the attack began.
He saw that the captain had been wounded and carried him to safety. Miller next joined in the defense of his ship. He hadn't been trained in weapons use, only to do laundry and cook meals, but he took over an anti-aircraft machine gun, a Browning, firing it until he exhausted its ammunition. In his estimated 15 minutes of firing the Browning, he brought down between four to six attacking planes.
Miller and his fellow sailors had to abandon the ship, and he survived the battle to receive the Navy Cross. He was the first African American awarded the Navy Cross.
In 1943, while serving aboard the USS Liscome Bay, Miller was killed in action. Thirty years later, the Navy remembered Miller's bravery and named a frigate in his honor--the USS Miller.
Comments
Did you mean to say “Sixty-nine years ago, on December 7, 2010 ” or did you mean to say in 1941?
I enjoyed the remainder of the article. I did not know about Dorie Miller but I will be sure to share this info with my children. Thanks.
Thank you for catching that! It’s been corrected.
it good that both you and the Navy remembered Mr. Miller.
I want to share Some Black History Facts
On March 17, 1877 Frederick Douglass became the first African American to be appointed to the position of United States Marshal. He was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes. He was appointed to the District of Columbia.
I t would be 85 years before President John Kennedy appointed the second African American Marshal to the same district. Assistant United States Attorney Luke Moore received that appointment in 1962
It would be 133 year after Marshal Douglass’ appointment before President Obama would appoint the former Atlanta Georgia Chief of Police Beverly Harvard, as the first African American Female to the Position of United States Marshal in the the Northern District of Georgia. That appointment took place on October 15, 2010
It would be 133 years after Marshal Douglass appointment that Marshal Robert Moore a retired United States Marshal, appointed by President Clinton would publish the history book entitled , “The President’s Men: Black United States Marshals in America.”
As of December 6, 2010 only nine Presidents out of forty four have appointed African American Marshals in the 222 year history of the Service.
Robert,
Thanks for sharing interesting facts.
this was a very good site 2 help me with my project
When I first moved out on my own, I rented a room from a woman in Carona, Queens. It was on 101st St & 34th Ave. Across from her house was a beautiful apartment building called THE DORIE MILLER. She spoke so highly about the man it was named for. It was well kept and famous Jazz musicians had lived there at some point.
Thanks for conjuring up that memory.