Doris Miller Pearl Harbor Obituary – Death: “He was a cook and during the attack at Pearl Harbor he went topside. The young sailor then took over a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and fired it until the ammunition ran out. No matter that he’d never been trained on the weapon.”
United States Navy Third Class Cook, Doris Miller, has died. Doris Miller, was killed in action during World War II.
Miller was born on October 12, 1919 in Waco, Texas. He was a fullback for the Alexander James Moore High School football team in Waco. Miller was the first black American to receive the Navy Cross, the second highest decoration for bravery in combat after the Medal of Honor.
Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a mess attendant third class at the Naval Recruiting Station in Dallas, Texas, for six years on September 16, 1939.
“He was a cook and during the attack at Pearl Harbor he went topside. The young sailor then took over a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and fired it until the ammunition ran out. No matter that he’d never been trained on the weapon. For his bravery, Miller was presented with the Navy Cross in May 1942. He was the first black sailor to be awarded the medal, one of the Navy’s highest honors. He opened the doors for more black men to join the Navy and become something instead of just cooks.”
“Just watched a story on the national news about the newest US Navy aircraft carrier being built. It will be named after an American sailor, Doris Miller. If you don’t know who Doris Miller was you should look it up. He was a bonified hero who manned a .50 cal machine gun to fight the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.
I think it’s an incredible way to honor Navy Cook 3rd class Doris Miller, who gave his life for his country.”
“This story has nothing to do with New Jersey, except that it is about a man who has always been a hero of mine. I was in the Navy, and I have always been a sort of a (wanna be ) historian. I read a lot about navel history, and it was there I learned about Petty Officer Doris Miller. As a black man in the navy, before and during W.W.2, his options were very limited. Petty Officer Miller was a mess attendant on the battleship West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th 1941. As a cook, he had no weapons training, but as his ship was being attacked, he went up on deck and took control of a machine gun post. There he was responsible for shooting down at least two of the attacking planes Then, and this is according to many witnesses, he was responsible for transporting several of his wounded shipmates to safety and away from his stricken ship. As a result of his actions, he was the first black sailor to receive the Navy Cross, this medal is one step below the Congressional Medal of Honor, which I always thought he should have gotten. He was then transferred to an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and killed in action before the wars end. Today I was watching the news and guess what? The Navy has decided to name it newest Super Carrier ( of the Ford class, The U.S.S. Doris Miller. Most of these Super Carriers are named for Presidents or other big shots….Well Done P.O. Miller, not bad for a guy who was told he could be nothing but a cook!”
“U.S. NAVY to honor Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller by dedicating a new Aircraft Carrier in his honor. Doris Miller was a cook on board the battleship USS West Virginia when it came under attack by Japanese fighters on December 7, 1941. Miller had no experience on any AA Gun, but he took it upon himself to man a gun and shot down several Japanese aircraft. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his gallantry and bravery.
USS DORIS MILLER CVN-81″