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'''Doris "Dorie" Miller''' was an African-American sailor in the [[US Navy]] who won the Navy Cross for heroism during the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor attack]]. He was the first African-American to receive this honor.
'''Doris "Dorie" Miller''' was an African-American sailor in the [[US Navy]] who won the [[Navy Cross]] for heroism during the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor attack]]. He was the first African-American to receive this honor.
Doris Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, [[Texas]], and had three brothers, one of whom served in the Army in [[World War II]]. He enlisted in the Navy on September 16, 1939 and over the next two years worked his way from mess attendant up to ship’s cook, third class. In January, 1940, he was transferred aboard the battleship USS ''West Virginia'', and became the ship’s heavyweight boxing champion. When the battleship was hit by the Japanese at [[Pearl Harbor]], Miller first tended to the wounded and carried them to safety, then manned a Browning anti-aircraft gun against attacking Japanese planes. Despite having no training, he managed to down at least one of the enemy planes, and was awarded a Navy Cross for his actions, presented to him on May 27, 1942, by Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]].
Doris Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, [[Texas]], and had three brothers, one of whom served in the Army in [[World War II]]. He enlisted in the Navy on September 16, 1939 and over the next two years worked his way from mess attendant up to ship’s cook, third class. In January, 1940, he was transferred aboard the battleship USS ''West Virginia'', and became the ship’s heavyweight boxing champion. When the battleship was hit by the Japanese at [[Pearl Harbor]], Miller first tended to the wounded and carried them to safety, then manned a Browning anti-aircraft gun against attacking Japanese planes. Despite having no training, he managed to down at least one of the enemy planes, and was awarded a Navy Cross for his actions, presented to him on May 27, 1942, by Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]].