{"id":6137,"date":"2025-02-19T07:40:39","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T13:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/?p=6137"},"modified":"2025-10-09T11:00:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T16:00:42","slug":"doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross","title":{"rendered":"Doris Miller: The First African American Awarded the Navy Cross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The greatest calling in life is to be truly human, no matter your profession. Doris Miller embodied that belief. Though he was just a cook, he managed to shoot down at least one enemy plane and save several shipmates from certain death. Despite his short life, Miller\u2019s courage made him a hero whose name would live on. Here\u2019s the story of this ordinary yet extraordinary man. More on <a href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\">houston-yes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a13a47d8797d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a13a47d8797d\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross\/#From_the_Kitchen_to_the_Gridiron%E2%80%94and_a_Lifes_Calling\" >From the Kitchen to the Gridiron\u2014and a Life\u2019s Calling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross\/#Becoming_%E2%80%9CDorie%E2%80%9D_the_Sailor\" >Becoming \u201cDorie\u201d the Sailor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross\/#Between_Water_and_Fire_The_Luck_of_Pearl_Harbor\" >Between Water and Fire: The Luck of Pearl Harbor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross\/#When_Luck_Runs_Out\" >When Luck Runs Out<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/doris-miller-the-first-african-american-awarded-the-navy-cross\/#Honoring_Dories_Memory\" >Honoring Dorie\u2019s Memory<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_the_Kitchen_to_the_Gridiron%E2%80%94and_a_Lifes_Calling\"><\/span>From the Kitchen to the Gridiron\u2014and a Life\u2019s Calling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Doris Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas, to Connery and Henrietta Miller, a family of modest farmers. He was their third son, and later another boy joined the family. As a kid, Doris was like most boys\u2014he loved playing football, goofing around, and helping his parents on the farm. He attended A.J. Moore High School in Waco, where he was an average student but an outstanding football player. His performance earned him a spot as a defensive back on the school team\u2014a role he filled brilliantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He might have become a famous football player in Texas\u2014or even nationwide\u2014but the Great Depression changed everything. To help his family survive, Doris had to leave school and his beloved sport. His father found him a job at a small restaurant in Waco, a twist of fate that would shape his future. Though he started as a kitchen helper, he quickly discovered that he loved the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What began as a temporary job turned into his calling. Doris showed up each morning with enthusiasm, and coworkers remembered him as someone who tackled even the dirtiest kitchen chores with a smile. His earnings helped his large family weather the worst years of the Depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.houston-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxdjlqjbt88unyjrvwvghaeqlm97lrgxugb3nblilvogyzbap4nqbgiqmdbrkuawz-tn6jm_5swp75u85gguacfmi9g6k_s3e5hjilub-az4mnoerympc-bst_0wvsh8kvz1wo7qswkeyasekpb0iphxguu7rq_u6tawg.png\" alt=\"Young Doris Miller\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Becoming_%E2%80%9CDorie%E2%80%9D_the_Sailor\"><\/span>Becoming \u201cDorie\u201d the Sailor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just weeks before his 20th birthday, Doris Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy in early autumn 1939. By that time, Hitler had already invaded Poland and was rapidly advancing across Europe. Anticipating America\u2019s eventual involvement in the conflict, the U.S. military began recruiting volunteers. Like many young men, Doris dreamed of adventure and saw military service as an opportunity for something greater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He traveled to Dallas to enlist and chose the Navy\u2014it seemed the most exciting branch of service. But his love for <a href=\"https:\/\/i-houston.com\/en\/eternal-a-history-of-taste-the-development-and-formation-of-houstonians-gastronomic-preferences\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cooking<\/a> never faded. After completing training in Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned as a mess attendant aboard the battleship <em>USS West Virginia<\/em>. There began the not-so-romantic daily life of \u201cDorie\u201d Miller, the ship\u2019s cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.houston-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxfyvsiseoffbtdgc3w1i4r1cnduu6erid-_giisrec-zvaasfmckjk3ncxivhafca-twsr0bk8pr9bmasb7np-lpwq064jhod23cfv-usrxej9usj_vkjmm46qc_ryfgp4cangnjwkeyasekpb0iphxguu7rq_u6tawg.png\" alt=\"USS West Virginia crew\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Between_Water_and_Fire_The_Luck_of_Pearl_Harbor\"><\/span>Between Water and Fire: The Luck of Pearl Harbor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>December 7, 1941 \u2014 a date forever marked in American history. It was a quiet Sunday morning, and most sailors were resting. Miller, who had been promoted to Mess Attendant Second Class, was doing laundry when Japanese bombers struck Pearl Harbor. The <em>USS West Virginia<\/em>, anchored near the naval base, was one of the first ships hit. Although Miller escaped injury, many of his shipmates did not. Some were killed instantly; others were gravely wounded, including the ship\u2019s captain, Mervyn Bennion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miller immediately jumped into action, carrying wounded men to safety and personally rescuing Captain Bennion. Then, in a stunning act of bravery, he returned to the deck and manned an anti-aircraft gun\u2014a weapon he had never been trained to use. At the time, segregation in the U.S. military prevented Black sailors from serving in combat roles or weapons crews. But under fire, Miller figured out how to operate the gun and opened fire on incoming planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>News reports later claimed he shot down as many as five enemy aircraft, though official records confirmed one. Miller himself modestly said he was sure about one plane but couldn\u2019t vouch for the others. The <em>West Virginia<\/em> sustained two bomb hits and seven torpedo strikes before it began sinking, forcing Miller and the surviving crew to abandon ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out of 1,106 crew members, 106 were killed, including Captain Bennion, who died of his injuries. The ship settled on the shallow harbor floor but was later refloated and repaired. By 1944, it was back in service, participating in key battles at Leyte, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For his extraordinary courage, Doris Miller was awarded the Navy Cross\u2014the first African American ever to receive this honor. The ceremony took place on May 27, 1942, at Pearl Harbor. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz personally presented him with the medal, calling Miller\u2019s heroism an inspiration to the entire Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.houston-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxc49t1kgtsiac045stfkeeaqczcyryyl9_ozzf4fyljx-plqnakbec5krojgp1o-hobjqrey7fxf7p2gwmp6uudg306zybdl44qka_ffjmt7jtyx9rey_cjoo_yayr9imd4oporfqkeyasekpb0iphxguu7rq_u6tawg.png\" alt=\"Admiral Nimitz awarding Doris Miller\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Luck_Runs_Out\"><\/span>When Luck Runs Out<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After the ceremony, Dorie was given a short leave and returned home to Waco, where his family welcomed him as a hero. Sadly, it would be their last reunion. After his leave, Miller returned to duty and was assigned to the escort carrier <em>USS Liscome Bay<\/em>, as the <em>West Virginia<\/em> was still under repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite his status as the Navy Cross recipient, Miller continued to serve as a cook. By then, the U.S. had entered World War II as a full combatant, and his ship operated in the Pacific. On November 24, 1943, during the Battle of the Gilbert Islands, the <em>Liscome Bay<\/em> was supporting U.S. Marines landing on Tarawa when it was struck by a Japanese torpedo. The hit detonated ammunition storage, causing a massive explosion. The ship sank in just 23 minutes, killing 644 of its 916 crew members\u2014including Doris Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.houston-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxdb8xiu-mxejdybaamcy_zxvojw69ppivo66e9l7uyforsu2vdi-f0iyvrulnmtrzw0coufh0fzba-7kka7uwoggz12yyfz5de6ayhwgmksqlybb8g5mngoakvuyglggwtdmywyfakeyasekpb0iphxguu7rq_u6tawg.png\" alt=\"USS Liscome Bay explosion\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Honoring_Dories_Memory\"><\/span>Honoring Dorie\u2019s Memory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Doris Miller\u2019s heroism was never forgotten. His story became a rallying symbol of patriotism and equality, inspiring African Americans to enlist during the war. The Navy named a dining hall, a barracks, and even a destroyer in his honor. The <em>USS Miller<\/em> became the third Navy ship ever named for an African American. Construction of a new aircraft carrier, the <em>USS Doris Miller<\/em>, is scheduled for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his hometown of Waco, a park and cemetery bear his name. In 2019, the city unveiled a statue commemorating the local hero. Schools in Houston and Philadelphia are named after him, as is a chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Los Angeles. In Chicago, the Doris Miller Foundation continues to honor those who advance racial understanding and social justice\u2014carrying forward the spirit of a man who proved that courage knows no color.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The greatest calling in life is to be truly human, no matter your profession. Doris Miller embodied that belief. Though he was just a cook, he managed to shoot down at least one enemy plane and save several shipmates from certain death. Despite his short life, Miller\u2019s courage made him a hero whose name would [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":409,"featured_media":5338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[498],"tags":[3374,3377,3371,3367,1359,3375,3364,3366,3369,3376,3368,3365,3373,3372,3370],"motype":[491],"moformat":[93],"moimportance":[101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-6137","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-voenna-istoria","8":"tag-african-american-veterans","9":"tag-american-war-hero-legacy","10":"tag-black-military-heroes","11":"tag-chester-nimitz-ceremony","12":"tag-doris-miller","13":"tag-first-african-american-navy-cross","14":"tag-pearl-harbor-hero","15":"tag-segregation-in-the-navy","16":"tag-u-s-navy-history","17":"tag-uss-doris-miller-carrier","18":"tag-uss-liscome-bay","19":"tag-uss-west-virginia","20":"tag-waco-texas-history","21":"tag-world-war-ii-navy-hero","22":"tag-wwii-pacific-battles","23":"motype-eternal","24":"moformat-longrid-korotka","25":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","26":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/409"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6137"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6138,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137\/revisions\/6138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6137"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=6137"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=6137"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houston-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=6137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}