{"id":13747,"date":"2024-01-03T12:39:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T18:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=13747"},"modified":"2024-01-03T12:59:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T18:59:29","slug":"honoring-war-hero-doris-miller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=13747","title":{"rendered":"Honoring War Hero Doris Miller"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Doris Miller<\/strong> and Admiral Nimitz were born just 168 miles apart, but their fates became intertwined in Pearl Harbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story of Doris Miller is amazing in many respects – personal heroism, patriotism, and a lasting positive societal influence.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Doris “Dorie” Miller was an African American sailor in the United States Navy during World War II. He became a hero for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the attack, Miller was a mess attendant on the USS West Virginia. When the ship came under attack, he manned a machine gun, despite having no formal training on that weapon. Miller’s courageous actions helped defend his ship and earned him recognition for his bravery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz presented Miller with the Navy Cross, making him the first African American to receive the award. The Navy Cross is the second-highest decoration for valor in the U.S. military. Miller’s actions played a significant role in challenging racial stereotypes and contributing to the eventual desegregation of the U.S. military.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Some interesting trivia about Doris Miller<\/strong>. He was born in Waco <\/strong>in 1919, was a big guy (6’3″, 200+lb), played fullback in school. He was named “Doris” because the midwife thought he would be a girl, and the name just stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He filled his time squirrel hunting with a .22 rifle and completed a correspondence course in taxidermy. Miller worked on his father’s farm until shortly before his 20th birthday.” – Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

After training in Hawaii waters, Liscome Bay left Pearl Harbor on November 10, 1943, to join the Northern Task Force, Task Group 52. 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. On November 24, the day after Makin was captured by American soldiers and the eve of Thanksgiving (the cooks had broken out the frozen turkeys from Pearl Harbor), 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). The carrier’s own torpedoes and aircraft bombs exploded, causing the ship to sink in 23 minutes. There were 272 survivors from the crew of over 900, but Miller was among the two-thirds of the crew listed as “presumed dead”. His parents were informed that he was missing in action on December 7, 1943. Liscome Bay was the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands operation.
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A memorial service was held for Miller on April 30, 1944, at the Second Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, sponsored by the Victory Club. On May 28, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School in Waco to honor him. Miller was officially declared dead by the Navy on November 25, 1944, a year and a day after the loss of Liscome Bay.<\/p>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Facebook<\/a> page is dedicated to the Doris Miller Memorial<\/strong> in Waco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

On behalf of Cultural Arts of Waco supporting the Doris Miller Memorial, we would like to extend a special thank you to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas District 30, for her generous donation in #honor of #DorisMiller for Memorial Day 2020!She has helped to bring our fundraising to fruition. Thank you Congresswoman Johnson! – Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Images from the Facebook<\/a> page….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Austin Auditorium Honoring Doris Miller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many schools, auditoriums, medical centers, YMCAs and public buildings that honor Doris Miller<\/strong>, including the Doris Miller Auditorium<\/strong> in east-central Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Rosewood Recreation Center and the Doris Miller Auditorium<\/strong>, is a 31,500 square feet facility with a gymnasium. The purpose of the facility is to provide all groups in the City of Austin with community recreation and leisure programs. The Center and gymnasium offer year round classes, workshops, special events, tournaments, performances, demonstrations. – Now Playing Austin<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The interior of the Doris Miller Auditorium<\/strong> were used in the film Waiting for Guffman<\/a><\/strong>.
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Many of the rehearsals for the big \u201cRed, White and Blaine\u201d show are conducted in the local gymnasium where the show is ultimately held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scenes were filmed inside the Doris Miller Auditorium<\/strong>, 2300 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702.
\"\"<\/p>\nGrahm’s Guide<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Naval Honor: Destroyer Escort USS Miller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

USS Miller (FF-1091), originally (DE-1091) was a Knox-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy. She was named for Cook Third Class Doris “Dorie” Miller, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at the attack on Pearl Harbor. – Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Naval Honor: Ford-Class Air Craft Carrier USS Doris Miller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

USS Doris Miller<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) will be the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. Doris Miller is scheduled to be laid down January 2026, launched October 2029 and commissioned in 2032. She will be built at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding) in Newport News, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ship, named for Messman Second Class Doris Miller, is the first aircraft carrier named for both an enlisted sailor and an African American. The ship will be the second to honor Miller, who received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor; the first ship was USS Miller (FF-1091).
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 25 August 2021, with six members of Doris Miller’s family in attendance, the Navy conducted the First Cut of Steel ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding, signaling the formal start of construction for the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier.<\/p>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

USS Doris Miller<\/em> (CVN-81) will be the fourth Ford<\/em>-class aircraft carrier, following USS Ford<\/em>, USS John F. Kennedy<\/em>, and USS Enterprise<\/em>. The Navy will buy about eleven Ford<\/em> class carriers, replacing the older Nimitz<\/em>-class carriers throughout the 2020-2050 time frame.
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USS Miller<\/em>, like the other ships in the Ford-<\/em>class of aircraft carriers, will be one of the largest warships ever built. Miller<\/em> will carry nearly 80 warplanes<\/strong> and will be manned by 6,000 sailors<\/strong>. Miller<\/em> is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2032, a fitting tribute for sailor that gave everything.<\/em><\/p>\nPopular Mechanics<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Thomas Bledsoe<\/strong>, now 42, [is] the great-nephew of Doris Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bledsoe is the Chief Human Resource Officer for My Health My Resources of Tarrant County which offers Behavioral Health, Disability, and Child and Family Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years ago on MLK Day when Bledsoe and other family members, were invited to a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Naval Base, the Navy announced that its next Ford-class aircraft carrier, CVN-81 would be named after Miller.
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last August, Bledsoe, members of his family, and Naval officials participated in a ceremony where the first steel for the vessel was cut at Newport News Shipbuilding.<\/p>\nThe New Journal and Guide<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

During a small ceremony held inside of a manufacturing facility, Thomas Bledsoe, the great nephew of the ship\u2019s namesake, gave the order to \u201ccut that steel\u201d to shipbuilder Gerald Bish, who operated a large plasma-cutting machine that sliced into a steel plate. Shipbuilders, U.S. Navy leadership, elected officials and Doris Miller\u2019s relatives signed their names on the plate. – Naval News<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Jennifer Boykin, Executive vice president, HII and president, Newport News Shipbuilding, was in attendance at the ceremonial first cut of steel ceremony for aircraft carrier Doris Miller. She has a video on her Facebook page<\/a> that gives the history of USS Doris Miller.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

USS Doris Miller<\/strong> (CVN-81) Is the U.S. Navy’s Next $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier