Courage at Pearl Harbor

Kicking off Black History Month with the heroic tale of Dorie Miller

Doris “Dorie” Miller’s name is etched into the story of American heroism, and for good reason. He wasn’t a general or a decorated officer — in fact, he was a mess attendant, one of the few positions available to African Americans in the segregated U.S. Navy. But when duty called on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Miller answered with remarkable bravery, making him one of World War II’s first national heroes.

Dorie’s story is one that speaks to courage, grit, and the undeniable power of rising to the moment. For Philadelphians, his legacy fits right into the fabric of a city built on stories of underdogs and overachievers, where grit isn’t just admired — it’s expected. While his roots trace back to Waco, Texas, his legacy touches every corner of America, and his spirit finds a natural home here in Philly.

It’s easy to picture Miller’s morning that day. The 22-year-old woke up at 6 a.m., served breakfast to the crew of the USS West Virginia, and was collecting laundry when the world suddenly changed. At 7:57 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky, their torpedoes screaming toward the U.S. fleet docked at Pearl Harbor. One of the first torpedoes struck the West Virginia, and battle station alarms blared through the chaos. Miller rushed to his post, only to find it destroyed. This could have been the end of his story, but instead, it was only the beginning.

With no assigned role in the fight, Miller did what true heroes do—he found a way to help. He made his way to “Times Square,” a crossroads of passageways on the ship, where he was ordered to assist in moving Captain Mervyn Bennion, who had been critically wounded by shrapnel. Despite his injuries, Captain Bennion refused to abandon his post and continued giving orders, even as his own life slipped away. Miller’s strength and resolve were tested in that moment, and he met the challenge head-on.

But Miller’s heroics didn’t end there. With Bennion beyond saving, Lieutenant Frederic H. White called on Miller to assist with a task for which he had no prior training—operating a Browning .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun. The lieutenant gave him a quick lesson, but it turned out Miller didn’t need much guidance. Once the gun was loaded, Miller’s instincts kicked in. “It wasn’t hard,” he later said. “I just pulled the trigger, and she worked fine.” For 15 minutes, Miller unleashed a torrent of fire at the incoming aircraft, striking at least two enemy planes out of the sky.

Even when the West Virginia began to sink, Miller’s resolve didn’t waver. Waist-deep in smoke, oil, and water, he worked alongside other crew members to move the wounded to safety. By the end of that horrific day, the West Virginia lay on the harbor’s shallow floor, but it’s safe to say that many of Miller’s shipmates owed their lives to his courage.

Word of Miller’s bravery didn’t stay quiet for long. By May 1942, he became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, one of the military’s highest honors. The award was presented by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who acknowledged Miller’s “extraordinary courage” and “inspiring devotion to duty.” At a time when African American service members were often relegated to support roles, Miller’s recognition stood as a powerful symbol of what Black sailors could achieve if only given the chance.

But Miller’s story wasn’t over. After Pearl Harbor, he continued to serve, this time on the USS Liscome Bay. Tragically, his life was cut short in November 1943 when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the carrier. The Liscome Bay sank in just 23 minutes, and Miller was among the 644 men lost at sea. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, and his legacy as a trailblazer and hero only grew in the years that followed. In 2017, Waco, TX unveiled the Doris Miller Memorial in a riverside park (also named for him). His sweeping monument has a reflecting pool and a nine-foot tall bronze likeness.

Doris Miller’s story could have ended there, but history wasn’t done with him. On January 20, 2020, the U.S. Navy announced a tribute that few enlisted sailors, let alone African Americans, could have ever imagined. They would name an aircraft carrier—one of the Navy’s most powerful symbols of might and prestige—after Miller. This marked the first time an aircraft carrier was named for an African American and an enlisted sailor. The construction of the USS Doris Miller is underway, with the laying of its keel scheduled for January 2026, its launch planned for October 2029, and commissioning set for 2032.

The journey to this recognition was decades in the making, and the significance is not lost on those who understand the weight of history. The formal start of the ship’s construction was marked by the “First Cut of Steel” ceremony on August 25, 2021, with six members of Miller’s family in attendance. It’s a reminder that while Doris Miller may have started as a cook on a battleship, his legacy has grown to something far greater—he’s become a symbol of valor, equality, and the capacity for greatness that lies within us all.

So what does this story have to do with Philadelphia? A lot, actually. We’re a city of underdogs rising to the occasion, from Revolutionary War soldiers at Valley Forge to boxers in North Philly gyms. We know what it’s like to face long odds and win. And we know how vital it is to shine a light on Black excellence, especially when that excellence has been so often overlooked.

Doris Miller’s story isn’t just his story — it’s our story. It’s about doing more than what’s expected of you. It’s about stepping up, not because you’re told to, but because it’s the right thing to do. It’s about facing down challenges even when the odds aren’t in your favor. In that sense, Miller’s spirit is alive and well right here in Philly. When the USS Doris Miller takes to the seas in 2032, it’ll be more than a warship. It’ll be a testament to how far we’ve come, how far we still have to go, and the heroes who remind us of what’s possible when courage meets opportunity.

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