Dorie Miller’s Forgotten Heroism at Pearl Harbor

Dorie Miller’s Forgotten Heroism at Pearl Harbor

​A Day That Changed Everything: December 7, 1941

​On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a devastating surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Amidst the chaos of the aerial assault, one man, Dorie Miller, a Mess Attendant Second Class aboard the USS West Virginia, found himself in the direct path of history.

​In the U.S. Navy of that era, Black sailors were typically assigned roles in the Steward’s Branch, limited to duties like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Combat roles were systematically closed off to them. Miller was performing his routine duty, collecting laundry, when the first bombs began to fall, turning the peaceful morning into an inferno.

​Courage Under Fire: A Sailor Defies the Rules

​As the attack intensified, Miller disregarded the non-combat roles assigned to him and rushed toward the danger. He first displayed immense bravery by carrying his mortally wounded captain and several other injured shipmates to a safer location on the deck.

​What followed was an act of extraordinary defiance and heroism. Miller took control of an unmanned M-50 machine gun, a weapon he had not received formal training to operate, as Black personnel were not permitted to handle such weaponry.

​For a crucial fifteen minutes, with no training, only sheer determination, Miller fiercely fired at the incoming enemy aircraft. His accurate and sustained fire is credited with successfully shooting down at least two Japanese planes, potentially more, making a significant contribution to the defense of his ship.

​Recognition Denied and Then Granted: The Battle for a Name

​Following the attack, the Navy was left with an uncomfortable truth: a Black sailor, barred from combat, had become one of the day’s greatest heroes. This reality did not align with the established segregated narrative. Initial official reports shamefully referred to the heroic sailor as merely “an unidentified Negro messman,” effectively erasing his identity.

​It was the dedicated efforts of the Black press that refused to let the story fade. They relentlessly pressured the Navy for the hero’s name and full acknowledgment. The public and political pressure grew so intense that the Navy was ultimately forced to respond.

​In May 1942, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, personally awarded Dorie Miller the Navy Cross, the third-highest decoration for valor at the time. Miller was the first African American in World War II to receive this prestigious honor. However, instead of allowing him to continue serving in combat, the Navy used him for a publicity tour, capitalizing on his image while maintaining the systemic restrictions on Black service members.

​A Hero’s Final Sacrifice and Lasting Legacy

​In November 1943, Dorie Miller was serving aboard the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay. The ship was tragically struck by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Tarawa and sank rapidly. Miller, at the age of 24, was one of the 646 crew members lost in the sinking; his remains were never recovered.

​Despite his immense sacrifice and documented valor, Miller’s story was regrettably downplayed and often omitted from official historical accounts for many decades. He was minimized to a simple footnote, a silent casualty of both war and racial prejudice.

​Today, the U.S. Navy is finally providing Miller with a recognition commensurate with his heroism. A new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the Future USS Dorie Miller (DDG-161), is being built and is scheduled to be launched in 2029, ensuring that his name and sacrifice are permanently etched into the history he helped defend.

​The Question of Erasure

​Dorie Miller’s initial lack of recognition highlights a painful truth about historical narratives: those in power sometimes attempt to suppress stories that challenge existing social and racial hierarchies. By omitting his name, the Navy initially sought to maintain the prevailing narrative of racial segregation in its ranks, where Black sailors were not seen as capable or worthy of combat heroism. His legacy now serves as a powerful testament to the fact that true courage knows no color and cannot be permanently silenced.