Dorie Miller, WWII American Navy Hero

Just after being presented with the Navy Cross by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, on board USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor, May 27, 1942. The medal was awarded for heroism on board USS West Virginia (BB-48) during the Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941. Doris (Dorie) Miller (October 12, 1919 - November 24, 1943) was an American Messman Third Class in the United States Navy. During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Miller manned anti-aircraft guns, (despite having no formal training in their use), and attended to the wounded. For his actions, he was recognized by the Navy and awarded several medals. He was the first African-American to be awarded the Navy Cross, the third highest honor awarded by the US Navy at the time, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Navy Cross now precedes the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Miller's acts were heavily publicized in the black press, making him an iconic emblem of the war for black Americans. Nearly two years after Pearl Harbor, he was killed in action when his ship, Liscome Bay, was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Battle of Makin. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives

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Dorie Enterprise Heroic Icon Iconic Messmate Negro Negroes

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