USS Dorie Miller (CVN 81)
My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
“Naming CVN 81 for Dorie Miller casts long overdue recognition to a true American Hero and Icon. It also honors the contributions of African Americans and enlisted Sailors for the first time in the history of American Aircraft Carriers. The Sailors who will put the USS Doris Miller to sea will be the fortunate ones, as heirs to the mightiest of Navy Legends who epitomized the kind of fighting Sailor we need today”. Russell Smith, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
In addition, I must add that Doris “Dorie” Miller was earlier awarded the Navy Cross for his extraordinary courage. “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 am sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts.” Admiral Chester Nimitz. Newspapers across the nation and beyond cited this example for civil rights and equality. Dorie Miller is a celebrated hero all over the world.
So, what did Dorie Miller do? Miller was below deck on December 7, 1941, when the first Japanese torpedo struck the USS West Virginia. He was the ship’s cook. Because of his physical prowess, Miller was ordered to the bridge, where he helped carry the ship’s mortally wounded captain to safety. Miller then manned, loaded and fired a 50-caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun – a weapon that, as an African American in a segregated military, he had not been trained to operate. He was victorious in using the weapon to righteously destroy the enemy. The Japanese aircraft dropped two armored piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship while launching five 18-inch torpedoes into her port side. The crew abandoned ship while the USS West Virginia settled slowly to the harbor bottom.
On January 20, 2020, Acting Navy Secretary Modly, was the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day ceremonies at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii, where the honor to an American Hero of World War II was bestowed. The U. S. Navy officially named its newest aircraft carrier, the future USS Doris Miller (CVN 81). The CVN indicates an aircraft carrier nuclear powered.
Stored in my memory bank was an interview on one of my earlier television shows. I could not wait to call this hero. My guest, circa 1990, was a military man that the Navy hired as a mathematician in 1960. The masterful Deacon Arthur Fuller, (who moved to Texas to marry my best friend) from Washington, DC to Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, worked for the Navy designing and writing the computer programs for the coming-into-fruition steam-to-nuclear Navy ships. The division was called Conceptual Designs. This section had three employees, an engineer, an architect and a mathematician. Arthur Fuller worked designing ships for the Navy from 1960 to 1989. He retired as a Navy Architect and Head of the Department. He is so very proud of the Navy’s choice, as is, I am sure, Commander Reggie L. Williams, Ken Bowen and all the members of VFM Post 1406.
Cook Third Class Doris Miller died in 1943 when a torpedo sank USS Liscome Bay off Butaritari Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The Dorie Miller VFW Post 1406 is located in Dallas. Dorie Miller was from Waco, Texas.
History . . his truth is marching on. And we are all “Texas Proud”.
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