Biography of dorie miller

First African American to be awarded the Navy Cross (1919–1943)

For other uses, see Doris Miller (disambiguation).

Doris "Dorie" Miller (October 12, 1919 – November 24, 1943) was a U.S.

Navy sailor who was the first Black recipient of the Navy Cross and a nominee for the Medal of Honor. As a mess attendant second class^[1][2] in the United States Navy, Miller helped carry wounded sailors to safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

He then manned an anti-aircraft gun^[3] and, despite no prior training in gunnery, officially shot down one plane (according to Navy Department Records), but Miller and other eye witnesses claimed the ranges of four to six.^[4]

Miller received the Navy Cross from Admiral Chester Nimitz on May 27, 1942, but many sailors and naval officers believed that Miller's heroism deserved a Medal of Honor.^[5] Miller was nominated for a Medal of Honor by a congressman from Michigan and