The Story of Dorie

Dorie Miller was born in Waco, Texas on October 12, 1919. His parents were Henrietta and Connery Miller, he had three brothers, one of which served in the Army during World War II. While attending Moore High School in Waco, he was a fullback on the football team. He worked on his father's farm before enlisting in the U.S Navy as Mess Attendant, Third Class, at Dallas, Texas, on September 16, 1939, to travel, and earn money for his family. He later was commended by the Secretary of the Navy, was advanced to Mess Attendant, Second Class and First Class, and subsequently was promoted to Cook, Third Class. In July of that year he had temporary duty aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) at Secondary Battery Gunnery School.On December 7, 1941, when the Japanese made their infamous surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, a black cook, Dorie Miller took over a machine gun aboard the USS West Virginia. "It wasn't hard. I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us." After the battle was over  Dorie Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on April 1, 1942, and on May 27, 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral, Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) for his extraordinary courage in battle.