Doris “Dorie” Miller with his Navy Cross (UNITED STATE Navy photo)
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly will certainly call a future Gerald R. Ford- course warship in honor of World War II hero Ship’s Cook Third Class Doris “Dorie” Miller throughout an event in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,Jan 20.
The statement will certainly be made at aMartin Luther King Jr Day event, highlighting the payments of African Americans to the best generation.
This will certainly be the 2nd ship called in honor ofMiller The initially was the Knox- course frigate USS Miller (FF-1091), appointed in 1973 as well as decomissioned in 1991
The warship will certainly be the very first called for an African American as well as the initial to be called in honor of a seafarer for activities while offering in the gotten rankings.
“In selecting this name, we honor the contributions of all our enlisted ranks, past and present, men and women, of every race, religion and background,” statedModly “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observed, ‘Everybody can be great – because anybody can serve.’ No one understands the importance and true meaning of service than those who have volunteered to put the needs of others above themselves.”
On Dec. 7, 1941, Doris Miller, recognized to his good friends as “Dorie,” was gathering washing on the battlewagon West Virginia (BB-48), when the assault from Japanese pressures began. When the alarm system for basic quarters appeared he went to his fight terminal, an anti-aircraft battery publication, just to find that torpedo damages had actually damaged it. Miller was gotten to the ship’s bridge to assist the mortally injured regulating policeman, as well as ultimately manned a. 50 quality Browning anti-aircraft gatling gun till he lacked ammo. Miller after that assisted relocate several various other hurt seafarers as the ship was gotten deserted as a result of her very own fires as well as flaming oil drifting below the damaged Arizona ( BB-33). West Virginia shed 150 of its 1,500 individual team.
Miller’s activities throughout the assault gained him a recommendation from after that Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox as well as the Navy Cross, which existed to him directly byAdm Chester Nimitz, leader of the UNITED STATE Pacific Fleet at the time.
“Doris Miller stood for everything that is good about our nation, and his story deserves to be remembered and repeated wherever our people continue the watch today,” stated Modly.
In 1943, Miller passed away aboard USS Liscome Bay (CVE 56) when the ship was struck by a torpedo as well as sank off Butaritari Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.
The Naval History as well as Heritage Command bio of Doris Miller can be discovered HERE
The Pearl Harbor Visitors Bureau has a lot more on Miller HERE
