http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
Wikipedia
Doris Miller
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).
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 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m).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. 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.
World War II
Miller′s rate was raised to Mess Attendant First Class on 1 June. On 27 June, The Pittsburgh Courier[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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 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 ".
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".
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102697035.html
HighBeam RESEARCH
This week in Black History.(Dorie Miller; Buck (John) O'Neil)(Brief Article)
Jet
June 2, 2003
May 27, 1942--
Dorie Miller became the first Black awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in World War II on this day for his heroics during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Miller was born October 12, 1919, on a small farm in Waco, TX. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1939. At that time, the messman branch was the only branch officially open to Black enlistment. As a messman, Miller had never been instructed to fire a gun. Aboard the battleship USS Arizona at the time of the attack, he came to the aid of the mortally wounded captain. After he moved the captain to shelter on deck, Miller manned a machine gun and shot down five Japanese planes. A hero, Miller was later ...
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/jackson-advocate/mi_8134/is_20101209/commemorative-coin-honors-doris-dorie/ai_n56660250
BNET
THE CBS INTERACTIVE BUSINESS NETWORK
Commemorative coin honors Doris 'Dorie Miller
JANS- Cultural Expressions Publishers has produced a commemorative coin to honor Doris "Dorie" Miller, an African American hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. Miller was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross. The price is $25. A portion of the sales of the Doris "Dorie" Miller Commemorative Coin will go to build a Doris Miller memorial in Waco, Texas.
Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas. He attended Moore High School in Waco and was a star fullback on the football team. In September 1939, Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a mess attendant, Third Class. in January, 1940, he was assigned to the USS West Virginia and became the ship's heavyweight boxing champion.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941 , Japanese aircraft attacked the United States Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After moving his captain who was seriously wounded, Miller, without any gunnery training, manned a 50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and shot down at least three Japanese planes. For his heroism that day, he was awarded the Navy Cross
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-2873100046.html
HighBeam RESEARCH
Miller, Doris (Dorie) 1919–1943
Contemporary Black Biography
January 1, 2001
Naden, Corinne; York, Jennifer
Holder of the Navy Cross for outstanding bravery at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Ship’s Cook Third Class Doris (Dorie) Miller was one of the earliest American heroes of World War II. Although at the time the U.S. Navy did not offer African Americans opportunities to rise above the menial labor of the mess hall, Miller took advantage of the chance fate gave him to distinguish himself in battle. But two years after his heroism at Pearl Harbor, he lost his life aboard the USS Liscome Bay in the Gilbert Islands in November of 1943.
Miller was born on a 28-acre cotton farm near Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919.
