Doris Miller, or "Dorie", has a truly amazing story and I was actually interested in history. Doris was a 3rd class Mess Atendent on the USS West Virginia; he became the heavyweight boxing champion on this ship. On December 7, 1941 when the attack on Peal Harbor took place Dorie did something he was never trained to do. In this time period blacks couldn't do much in the military so they were never trained on any weapons. However, when the Japanese attacked Dorie got on a machine gun and he pulled Capt. Bennion, the ship's commanding officer, out of the line of fire. He shot down a few attacking planes and still he didn't get the credit he deserved.
On May 27, 1942, Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary courage in battle. He was later awarded the Purple Heart. Dorie Miller died from a torpedo from Japanese submarine. There was many survivors when it hit the ship, but the rest were said to be dead. There was a memorial service in Waco, Texas (his home town) for Dorie. Then on November 25, 1944, it was announced that Dorie Miller was "presumed dead". This story is so amazing. Doris Miller over came and went beyond the call of duty to protect. He was never trained to do the things he did and yet he did. I think this also shows how far we as a society have come in such a short amount of time. Now, for the most part, all races are accepted.
Breann Lehr
Sources:
http://www.nps.gov/pwso/honor/miller.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller#Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
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