Miller Shot Down About Six Japanese Aircraft At Pearl Harbor

"During the assault, U.S. Navy messman Doris (Dorie) Miller helped move
his mortally wounded commander to shelter, then manned a machine gun on
the USS Arizona and shot down about six of the Japanese aircraft.


This was a particularly notable accomplishment, since combat positions
were not open to black sailors and Miller had no formal training on
this kind of weapon.

After a lengthy press campaign, the
Navy awarded Miller the Navy Cross, which Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
presented in a ceremony held on 27 May 1942.

Miller was one of the more than 600 crewmen killed in November 1943 when the Japanese torpedoed the USS Liscombe Bay.

In recognition of Miller’s valor, the Navy commissioned the destroyer escort USS Miller on 30 June 1973."