TammyinWI
Talk is cheap
Continued:
Black organizations began a campaign to honor Miller with additional recognition. On April 4, the Pittsburgh Courier urged readers to write to members of the congressional Naval Affairs Committee in support of awarding the Medal of Honor to Miller.[22] The All-Southern Negro Youth Conference launched a signature campaign on April 17–19. On May 10, the National Negro Congress denounced Knox's recommendation against awarding Miller the Medal of Honor. On May 11, President Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross for Miller.[23]
On May 27, Miller was personally recognized by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) at anchor in Pearl Harbor.[3][24] Nimitz presented Miller with the Navy Cross, at the time the third-highest Navy award for gallantry during combat, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal; on August 7, 1942, Congress revised the order of precedence, placing the Navy Cross above the Distinguished Service Medal in precedence.
Nimitz said of Miller's commendation, "This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts."[3][24]
Return to United States and the war
Miller advanced in rating to mess attendant first class on June 1, 1942.[1][16] On June 27, the Pittsburgh Courier called for him to be allowed to return home for a war bond tour along with white war heroes.[26] On July 25, the Pittsburgh Courier ran a photo of Miller with the caption "He Fought ... Keeps Mop" next to a photo of a white survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack receiving an officer's commission.[27] The photo caption stated that the Navy felt that Miller was "too important waiting tables in the Pacific" for him to return to the United States.
On November 23, Miller returned to Pearl Harbor and was ordered on a war bond tour while still attached to Indianapolis.[11] In December, and January 1943, he gave presentations in Oakland, California, in his hometown of Waco, in Dallas, and to the first graduating class of black sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Station.[16] He was featured on the 1943 Navy recruiting poster "Above and beyond the call of duty", designed by David Stone Martin.[28]
In February 1943, "mess attendant" was changed to the "steward's mate" rate title by the Navy.[29] On May 15, Miller reported to Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington assigned to the newly constructed escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56).[1][3] He was advanced in rating to cook third class on June 1.[1] The ship had a crew of 960 men, and its primary functions were to serve as a convoy escort, to provide aircraft for close air support during amphibious landing operations, and to ferry aircraft to naval bases and fleet carriers at sea.[30] The Liscome Bay was the flagship for Carrier Division 24 which was under the command of Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix. On October 22, Liscome Bay set sail for Pearl Harbor.[30]
Death
After training in Hawaii waters, Liscome Bay left Pearl Harbor on November 10, 1943, to join the Northern Task Force, Task Group 52.[30] Miller's carrier took part in the Battle of Makin (invasion of Makin by units of the Army's 165th Regimental Combat Team, 27th Infantry Division) which had begun on November 20.[31] On November 24, the day after Makin was captured by American soldiers and the eve of Thanksgiving that year (the cooks had broken out the frozen turkeys from Pearl Harbor),[30] the Liscome Bay was cruising near Butaritari (Makin Atoll's main island) when it was struck just before dawn in the stern by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-175 (which fired four torpedoes at Task Group 5312).[30][32] The carrier's own torpedoes and aircraft bombs, including 2,000-pounders, detonated a few moments later causing the ship to sink in 23 minutes.[30] There were 272 survivors from the crew of over 900,[33] but Miller was among the two-thirds of the crew listed as "presumed dead".[34] His parents were informed that he was missing in action on December 7, 1943.[11] Liscome Bay was the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands operation.[30] Rear Admiral Mullinnix and the carrier's captain, Irving Wiltsie, also died aboard the Liscome Bay. Mullinnix was in command of Task Group 52.3 (Air Support Group of Northern Attack Force (Makin), Task Group 52) at the time.
A memorial service was held for Miller on April 30, 1944, at the Second Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, sponsored by the Victory Club.[11] On May 28, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School in Waco to honor him.[11] Miller was officially declared dead by the Navy on November 25, 1944, a year and a day after the loss of Liscome Bay.[3] One of his brothers also had served during World War II.
Military awards
Miller's decorations and awards:
Navy Cross citation
Commemorative plaque for Dorie Miller at the National Museum of the Pacific War
Dorie Miller memorial at the housing cooperative named for him in Corona, Queens
Doris Miller Auditorium in Austin, Texas
USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-class frigate commissioned in 1973, in honor of Miller
Memorials
Black organizations began a campaign to honor Miller with additional recognition. On April 4, the Pittsburgh Courier urged readers to write to members of the congressional Naval Affairs Committee in support of awarding the Medal of Honor to Miller.[22] The All-Southern Negro Youth Conference launched a signature campaign on April 17–19. On May 10, the National Negro Congress denounced Knox's recommendation against awarding Miller the Medal of Honor. On May 11, President Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross for Miller.[23]
On May 27, Miller was personally recognized by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) at anchor in Pearl Harbor.[3][24] Nimitz presented Miller with the Navy Cross, at the time the third-highest Navy award for gallantry during combat, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal; on August 7, 1942, Congress revised the order of precedence, placing the Navy Cross above the Distinguished Service Medal in precedence.
Nimitz said of Miller's commendation, "This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts."[3][24]
Return to United States and the war
Miller advanced in rating to mess attendant first class on June 1, 1942.[1][16] On June 27, the Pittsburgh Courier called for him to be allowed to return home for a war bond tour along with white war heroes.[26] On July 25, the Pittsburgh Courier ran a photo of Miller with the caption "He Fought ... Keeps Mop" next to a photo of a white survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack receiving an officer's commission.[27] The photo caption stated that the Navy felt that Miller was "too important waiting tables in the Pacific" for him to return to the United States.
On November 23, Miller returned to Pearl Harbor and was ordered on a war bond tour while still attached to Indianapolis.[11] In December, and January 1943, he gave presentations in Oakland, California, in his hometown of Waco, in Dallas, and to the first graduating class of black sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Station.[16] He was featured on the 1943 Navy recruiting poster "Above and beyond the call of duty", designed by David Stone Martin.[28]
In February 1943, "mess attendant" was changed to the "steward's mate" rate title by the Navy.[29] On May 15, Miller reported to Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington assigned to the newly constructed escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56).[1][3] He was advanced in rating to cook third class on June 1.[1] The ship had a crew of 960 men, and its primary functions were to serve as a convoy escort, to provide aircraft for close air support during amphibious landing operations, and to ferry aircraft to naval bases and fleet carriers at sea.[30] The Liscome Bay was the flagship for Carrier Division 24 which was under the command of Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix. On October 22, Liscome Bay set sail for Pearl Harbor.[30]
Death
After training in Hawaii waters, Liscome Bay left Pearl Harbor on November 10, 1943, to join the Northern Task Force, Task Group 52.[30] Miller's carrier took part in the Battle of Makin (invasion of Makin by units of the Army's 165th Regimental Combat Team, 27th Infantry Division) which had begun on November 20.[31] On November 24, the day after Makin was captured by American soldiers and the eve of Thanksgiving that year (the cooks had broken out the frozen turkeys from Pearl Harbor),[30] the Liscome Bay was cruising near Butaritari (Makin Atoll's main island) when it was struck just before dawn in the stern by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-175 (which fired four torpedoes at Task Group 5312).[30][32] The carrier's own torpedoes and aircraft bombs, including 2,000-pounders, detonated a few moments later causing the ship to sink in 23 minutes.[30] There were 272 survivors from the crew of over 900,[33] but Miller was among the two-thirds of the crew listed as "presumed dead".[34] His parents were informed that he was missing in action on December 7, 1943.[11] Liscome Bay was the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands operation.[30] Rear Admiral Mullinnix and the carrier's captain, Irving Wiltsie, also died aboard the Liscome Bay. Mullinnix was in command of Task Group 52.3 (Air Support Group of Northern Attack Force (Makin), Task Group 52) at the time.
A memorial service was held for Miller on April 30, 1944, at the Second Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, sponsored by the Victory Club.[11] On May 28, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School in Waco to honor him.[11] Miller was officially declared dead by the Navy on November 25, 1944, a year and a day after the loss of Liscome Bay.[3] One of his brothers also had served during World War II.
Military awards
Miller's decorations and awards:
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| 1st Row | Navy Cross[3] | Purple Heart[3] (posthumous) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row | Combat Action Ribbon (posthumous) | Good Conduct Medal | American Defense Service Medal with "FLEET" clasp (bronze star)[3] |
| 3rd Row | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars[3] | World War II Victory Medal[3] (posthumous) |
Navy Cross citation
Legacy
Commemorative plaque for Dorie Miller at the National Museum of the Pacific War
Dorie Miller memorial at the housing cooperative named for him in Corona, Queens
Doris Miller Auditorium in Austin, Texas
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USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-class frigate commissioned in 1973, in honor of Miller
Memorials
- Doris Miller Memorial, a public art installation honoring Miller on the banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas.[36] Groundbreaking held in October 2015.[37] A nine-foot bronze statue was unveiled on December 7, 2017, temporarily located at nearby Bledsoe–Miller Park.[38]
- A bronze commemorative plaque at the Doris Miller Park housing community located near Naval Station Pearl Harbor; organized by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and dedicated on October 12, 1991, which would have been Miller's 72nd birthday.[39][40]
- Plaque in the Memorial Courtyard at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.[41]
