Doris Dorie Miller Research Paper
World War II war hero Doris “Dorie” Miller was born in Waco, Texas on October 12, 1919, and played football at Waco’s A.J. Moore Academy. He dropped out of school at the age of 17 and enlisted in the US Navy in 1939 at the age of 20. He was a mess attendant, one of few positions available to African Americans at the time. Then he was eventually elevated to Cook, Third Class and was soldier of West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
He was working at the West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when there was a surprise attack by Japanese forces. After hearing a loud and urgent summons to battle, Miller, who made his way from below deck to the ship’s bridge, saw Japanese fighter planes attacking US Naval forces, and the harbor already engulfed in flames. He ran to an anti-aircraft station, that he found out …show more content…
On May 27, 1942, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz honored him by awarding him the Navy Cross, the third highest medal in the Navy. The Navy then promoted Miller to Cook, third class and moved him from the laundry room to the galley.
During the spring of 1943, Dorie Miller was assigned to the Liscome Bay and was still serving as a ‘messman’ on the warship, despite his previous heroism, when the carrier was sunk in the Gilbert Islands (now the Republic of Kiribati) on November 24, 1943. At the time of his death, Miller was 24.
In addition to the Navy Cross, Miller received the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal - Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In 1973, the Knox-class frigate USS Miller was named for Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller. Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Miller in the 2001 movie Pearl Harbor, and in 1991, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of Miller at the Miller Family Park located on the US Naval Base, Pearl
He was working at the West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when there was a surprise attack by Japanese forces. After hearing a loud and urgent summons to battle, Miller, who made his way from below deck to the ship’s bridge, saw Japanese fighter planes attacking US Naval forces, and the harbor already engulfed in flames. He ran to an anti-aircraft station, that he found out …show more content…
On May 27, 1942, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz honored him by awarding him the Navy Cross, the third highest medal in the Navy. The Navy then promoted Miller to Cook, third class and moved him from the laundry room to the galley.
During the spring of 1943, Dorie Miller was assigned to the Liscome Bay and was still serving as a ‘messman’ on the warship, despite his previous heroism, when the carrier was sunk in the Gilbert Islands (now the Republic of Kiribati) on November 24, 1943. At the time of his death, Miller was 24.
In addition to the Navy Cross, Miller received the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal - Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In 1973, the Knox-class frigate USS Miller was named for Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller. Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Miller in the 2001 movie Pearl Harbor, and in 1991, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of Miller at the Miller Family Park located on the US Naval Base, Pearl