Doris Miller

Good morning, James Dray I'm not familiar with that Navy man.... no wonder he was the ship's heavyweight champion, if HIS name was Doris!! he needed to defend himself....

James, as an African American he was relegated to non-combat duties and lived in segregated quarters because of  an executive order by President Woodrow Wilson (Democrat, New Jersey) that would actually ban the recruitment of black sailors in the interwar period up to 1932.   The US Navy, unlike the Army,  had a proud tradition of men serving together with some restrictions on what percentage could serve. 

Doris Miller showed great courage when he manned a vacated anti-aircraft gun to return fire to attacking Japanese planes.  The West Virginia was hit by seven Japanese torpedoes and sank into the muddy bottom of Pearl Harbor.  He was a hero who stepped up and showed how wrong Wilson was to segregate blacks in the Navy (and the entire federal workforce) and that blacks could fight as well or better than whites.  President Harry Truman (Democrat, Missouri) would later reverse Wilson's segregation policies in the Navy and rest of the Armed Forces in 1947.

Hi James... you had me fooled there for a minute. I thought you were writing about a woman! Brought to mind Johnny Cash's song about a boy named Sue! All that being said, Doris Miller showed great courage in defending our nation and so deserved the Navy Cross.

Good morning James,

A man who lived as a fellow human being and assisted those less fortunate around him.

Make yourself an astonishing day.

He was a true Patriot and it was to bad he lived such a short life.

Hi James - thank you for this information about Mr. Miller and thanks to Bruce Walter for the additional info.  

I was caught off guard too, as I thought Doris was a gal.  I have never known a man named Doris, but this guy sounds like he was quite a talent.

OMG James- I have to admit that I did not know about Doris Miller. And, I just saw Bruce Walter  response to Barbara Todaro comment so I'll have to read more about him and maybe watch the movie again. 

Interesting,  sure he learn to fight with a name like Doris Miller.  I do recall the movie.

Good morning again James. What a beautiful yet sad story of a brave guy gone too soon.

James,

What a short life he had, and what an accomplishment.  Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.  A

James,

Thanks for sharing such a great story. So sad to hear Miller had such a short life but he made the best of it and made such an impact.

Good afternoon James Dray - he sure made an impact on the country in his short life.

Hi James,  Thanks for sharing the story of Doris Miller - a courageous young man - a hero - sad he was taken from us so young.

Well, now that I know the rest of the story...and that Doris was not a woman...I must watch the movie again too! Thanks for the fascinating lessons in history, James & Bruce Walter! 

Hi James:

Well I knew none of this. What a hero, but sad that his life was cut so short!

Jeff

Thank you for sharing about Doris Miller, the only African-American recognized for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

An American hero, and more African-Americans should be recognized for valor.  Thank you, James