LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Doris Miller posthumously for special
recognition, and noting the significance of his purposeful life and his
accomplishments as a member of the United States Navy

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals and events which celebrate our Nation's great strug-
gle to fulfill the promise of equality and opportunity for all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Doris Miller posthumously for special recognition, and noting the
significance of his purposeful life and his accomplishments as a member
of the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the United States Postal
Service will issue a "Distinguished Sailor Stamp" in Doris Miller's
honor for serving with bravery and distinction as a member of the United
States Navy during World War II; and
WHEREAS, The Doris Miller stamp features a detail from a photograph of
Miller in 1942; beside the photograph is a depiction of the crest of the
destroyer escort USS Miller (DE-1091), which was commissioned in 1973;
and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer Doris Miller has been given the title of "the
first African-American hero of World War II"; he became an inspiration
to generations of Americans for his actions at Pearl Harbor on December
7, 1941; and
WHEREAS, Although he was only the first of a number of African-Ameri-
cans to be recognized for their heroism in World War II, Doris Miller is
singularly remembered for providing inspiration to a campaign for equal
recognition and opportunity for Blacks in the military, a campaign that
bore fruit in 1948 when President Truman ordered "that there shall be
equality and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces"; and
WHEREAS, Doris Miller, known as "Dorie" to shipmates and friends, was
born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919, to Henrietta and Conery Mill-
er; and
WHEREAS, While attending Moore High School in Waco, Doris Miller 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;
and
WHEREAS, He later was commended by the Secretary of the Navy, and then
advanced to Mess Attendant, Second Class and First Class, before being
promoted to Cook, Third Class; and
WHEREAS, Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk,
Virginia, Doris Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship USS Pyro
(AE-1) where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on January 2, 1940, was
transferred to USS West Virginia (BB-48), where he became the ship's
heavyweight boxing champion; and
WHEREAS, In July of that year he had temporary duty aboard USS Nevada
(BB-36) at Secondary Battery Gunnery School; Doris Miller returned to
USS West Virginia on August 3rd, and was serving in that battleship when
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; and
WHEREAS, Doris Miller had arisen at 6 a.m., and was collecting laundry
when the alarm for general quarters sounded; he headed for his battle
station, the anti-aircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover
that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went up to the deck; because
of his physical prowess, he was assigned to carry wounded fellow sailors
to places of greater safety; and

WHEREAS, He was then ordered by an officer to go to the bridge to aid
the mortally wounded Captain of the ship; subsequently, Doris Miller
maimed a 50-caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he ran out
of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship; and
WHEREAS, Of the 1,541 men on USS West Virginia during the attack, 130
were killed and 52 wounded; refloated, repaired, and modernized, the
battleship served in the Pacific theater through to the end of the war
in August of 1945; and
WHEREAS, Doris Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank
Knox on April 1, 1942, and on May 27th of that year, he received the
Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral (then 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 cour-
age in battle; and
WHEREAS, On December 13, 1941, Doris Miller reported to USS Indianapo-
lis (CA-35), and returned to the west coast of the United States in
November of 1942; assigned to the newly constructed USS Liscome Bay
(CVE-56) in the spring of 1943, he was on board that escort carrier
during Operation Galvanic, the seizure of Makin and Tarawa Atolls in the
Gilbert Islands; and
WHEREAS, Liscome Bay's aircraft supported operations ashore from
November 20-23, 1943; at 5:10 a.m. on November 24th, while cruising near
Butaritari Island, a single torpedo from Japanese submarine I-175 struck
the escort carrier near the stern; the aircraft bomb magazine detonated
a few moments later, sinking the warship within minutes; and
WHEREAS, Listed as missing following the loss of that escort carrier,
Doris Miller was officially presumed dead on November 25, 1944, a year
and a day after the loss of Liscome Bay; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the Navy Cross, Doris Miller was entitled to
the Purple Heart Medal; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp;
the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal;
and
WHEREAS, Commissioned on June 30, 1973, USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-
class frigate, was named in honor of Doris Miller; furthermore, the
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of
Miller at the Miller Family Park located on the U.S. Naval Base, Pearl
Harbor, on October 11, 1991; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the accomplish-
ments of members of our Armed Forces who served valiantly and honorably
in wars in which this country's freedom was at stake are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Doris Miller posthumously for special recognition, and noting the
significance of his purposeful life and his accomplishments as a member
of the United States Navy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Doris Miller.