He signaled to the japanese empire and to the rest of the world that the most beautiful diamonds emerge from the severest of pressures. This heroic sailor went beyond the call of duty when his ship, the uss west virginia, was attacked in pearl harbor over 76 years ago. And in 2017, a statue of miller was unveiled in waco. This is one of the most intriguing pearl harbor attack facts, and a true american story of heroism. Navy names aircraft carrier for dorie miller, black sailor. Navy urged to award medal of honor to black sailor whose. Navy sailor who wanted to travel the world and support his family. On december 7, 1941, while serving aboard uss west virginia bb48, he distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the japanese attack on pearl harbor. Navy at the time, after the medal of honor and the navy distinguished service medal. Where the state and eventually the film industry recognized miller, it was in testimony to injustices now consigned to the past. Doris miller doris miller, pearl harbor, war bonds. The movie tells about an intense love story arisen in the background of the events of december 7, 1941. Doris dorie miller wears the navy cross, awarded for bravery during the pearl harbor attack.
He was the first african american to be awarded the navy cross, the third highest honor awarded by the u. Instead, he enlisted as a kitchen worker for the navy. Doris dorie miller was born in waco, texas, on 12 october 1919. The us navy will name a new aircraft carrier after doris dorie miller, a decorated african american world war ii veteran who defended pearl harbor. They were sharecroppers who would eventually become subsistence. Pearl harbor doris miller interviews primary and secondary sources i wanted to interview someone who was in pearl harbor at the time of the attack, but there arent too many people alive today that who were at pearl harbor on the day of the attacks. Nimitz pins the navy cross on doris miller, at a ceremony on board. On mlk day, navy to name aircraft carrier after pearl. Pearl harbor attack facts doris miller, hero at pearl harbor. The story of doris millers heroism has been credited for the surge in africanamerican enlistment during world war ii, and for the. The heart of this true story reads like a scene out of a hollywood movie.
On 11 october 1991, alpha kappa alpha sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of miller at the miller family park located on the u. Uss doris miller aircraft carrier named after pearl. He was recognized by the navy for his actions and awarded the navy cross he was the first black american to be awarded the navy cross, the. His bravery during japans surprise attack on pearl harbor helped to save countless lives. Eventually assigned to the uss liscome bay, miller was killed by a torpedo from a japanese vessel off of the coast of butaritari island, along with over twothirds of the sailors on board. The oberg color film footage of pearl harbor december 7, 1941 duration. The doris miller story navigating the journey duration. Eventually assigned to the uss liscome bay, miller was killed by a torpedo from a japanese. The story of doris miller has been glamorized in motion pictures, but few know the real story of the black cook who became a hero during the attack on pearl harbor. On 7 december 1941, while serving aboard uss west virginia bb48, he distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the japanese attack on pearl harbor. Doris miller, pearl harbor, and the birth of the civil rights movement tells the life of a titan among men.
Miller was born on october 12, 1919, in waco, texas. How doris miller went from kitchen duty to pearl harbor hero. Navy to name new aircraft carrier for african american. Miller, however, completed his job as the ships mess attendant without complaint. The story follows two lifelong friends and a beautiful nurse who are caught up in the horror of an infamous sunday morning in 1941. Doris dorie miller was an unsung hero of world war ii. Navsup rear admiral dedicates pearl harbor day hero doris. Commissioned on 30 june 1973, uss miller ff1091, a knoxclass frigate, was named in honor of doris miller. In late 1940, the uss west virginia joined the pacific fleet and dorie miller found himself on the way to pearl harbor, hawaii.
The film presented a heavily fictionalized version of the japanese attack on pearl harbor on december 7, 1941, focusing. Miller was portrayed in the film pearl harbor by actor cuba gooding jr. By the time the epic film pearl harbor has swept across america, dorie miller, the first hero of world war ii, will finally be wellknown outside the africanamerican community. Doris miller, pearl harbor, and the birth of the civil. Commissioned on 30 june 1973, uss miller ff1091, a knox class frigate, was named in honor of doris miller. Pearl harbor is a 2001 american romantic war drama film directed by michael bay, produced by bay and jerry bruckheimer and written by randall wallace. Doris miller, byname dorrie, born october 12, 1919, waco, texas, u. Doris miller is an american hero simply because of what he represents as a young man going beyond the call of whats.
Because the navy was segregated, african americans were not given combat roles or weaponry training, so millers adept ability to shoot down enemy planes was all the more remarkable. When darkness fell on hawaii during that fateful day in 1941, dorie miller stood as a beacon of hope. Moore high school in waco and became the schools star fullback. Please do not disable good movie great visuals pearl harbor fullhd 1080p. First african american to be awarded the navy cross was a.
On the day of the attack, december 7, 1941, dorie was following his schedule per usual. At the time, the us military was strictly segregated on racial grounds. Dorie miller facts franklin roosevelt was the 32nd american president who served in office from march 4, 1933 to april 12, 1945. Plot during a quiet sunday morning in december, while the kids are playing and the families are praying, squadrons of japanese military aircrafts rumble in the skies of the hawaiian paradise in a sneak attack to the us military base in pearl harbor. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Doris miller couldnt take a combat position in the navy for the simple fact that he was africanamerican. In michael bays 2001 film pearl harbor, miller is portrayed by actor cuba gooding jr.
Pearl harbor hero doris miller statue unveiled pearl. He worked on the family farm with his three brothers until september 16, 1939, when miller enlisted in the navy to earn extra money for his. Regina akers, naval history and heritage command, washington, d. Navy cook doris dorie miller took over a machine gun during japans attack on pearl harbor, shooting down several bombers before his ship sank. Among them was doris miller who, on december 7th, 1943, was presumed missing in action. Doris dorie miller was born on october 12, 1919 in waco, texas, the son of connery and henrietta miller. The public was made aware, and miller was a national hero, but specifically, he was an inspiration for the bravery and fortitude that africanamericans would display in the coming years of war. Doris miller, pearl harbor, and the birth of the civil rights movement was released on the 76th anniversary of the pearl harbor attack, on the same day a bronze statue dedicated him was unveiled in waco.
The navy will name an aircraft carrier for pearl harbor hero doris. It stars ben affleck, kate beckinsale, josh hartnett, cuba gooding jr. But because he was black, he was forced to work in the kitchen as a ships cook, third class until fate interceded. Us navy names aircraft carrier for pearl harbor hero doris miller duration.
In 1973, the knoxclass frigate uss miller was named for doris dorie miller. Doris miller, pearl harbor, and the birth of the civil rights movement by thomas w. Dorie miller is the native texas son whose name you should. The hero of pearl harbor veterans affairs acting secretary of the navy thomas modly dr. Doris dorie miller, africanamerican hero of world war ii, was born doris miller in waco, texas, on october 12, 1919, the son of sharecroppers connery and henrietta miller. Doris dorie miller didnt think about heroism on dec.
Postal service honored doris dorie miller, a hero at pearl harbor, in a stamp. Doris dorie miller october 12, 1919 november 24, 1943 was an american sailor in the united states navy. He enlisted in the navy in september 1939 as a mess attendant third class. Postal service dante brizill is a 15year history teacher in delaware and maryland. In this video learn how the actions ships mess attendant doris miller on. He manned antiaircraft guns during the attack on pearl harbor on december 7, 1941, for which he had no training, and tended to the wounded.
Read about the recentlyinstalled doris miller statue, the newest tribute in his hometown of waco, texas. Doris dorie miller october 12, 1919 november 24, 1943 was a messman third class that the united states navy noted for his bravery during the attack on pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Doris miller the world war ii africanamerican hero. He was awarded the navy cross for his actions on this occasion. Instead of presidents or admirals, an african american. Doris miller, known as dorie to his friends and shipmates, was a u. Miller, a mess attendant, was on the battleship uss west virginia bb 48 at the time of the pearl harbor attack, dec. Doris miller was a true patriot like many others during the war, and continued to serve his country well after the events of the pearl harbor raids. Navy to name aircraft carrier for doris dorie miller. This is the official trailer for the documentary film, the doris miller story. Serving in a noncombat role in the navy, dorie miller responded heroically when the battleship west virginia was attacked at pearl harbor. Portrayed in the movie by oscarwinning actor cuba gooding jr. The closest i could get were two gentlemen that who were in.
Was the black cook from the movie pearl harbor real. The story behind an american hero, ships mess attendant doris. With ben affleck, kate beckinsale, josh hartnett, william lee scott. Cook third class doris dorie miller receiving the navy cross from admiral chester nimitz aboard the. When the japanese attacked pearl harbor, doris miller snapped into action and distinguished himself in combat a role his white. Miller being awarded the navy cross was portrayed in the 2019 film midway. Doris miller served aboard uss indianapolis ca35 from december. One of the important events during his presidency was the bombing of pearl harbor and the story of doris dorie miller.
In 1991, alpha kappa alpha sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of miller at the miller family park, located on the us naval base in pearl harbor. To hear more about the heroes of pearl harbor, explore the world war ii. Pearl harbor hero, doris miller, finally gets deserved. He was the first african american recipient of the navy cross for valour miller worked on his familys farm and played football in high school before he. Pearl harbordoris miller plane kill aa gunfullhd1080p youtube.
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