On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly officially announced that a new aircraft carrier will be named for Ship's Cook Third Class Doris Miller.
It will be the first aircraft carrier named for an African American and an enlisted service member. It is the second ship named in honor of Miller after the USS Miller, a destroyer escort.
Miller was recognized with the Navy Cross for valor — the first African American to receive the award — for manning a machine gun on the USS West Virginia and returning fire against Japanese planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor. African Americans were not allowed to man guns in the Navy in 1941.
Miller died aboard the USS Liscome Bay in 1943 when the ship was hit by a torpedo and sank off Butaritari Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.
"In selecting this name, we honor the contributions of all our enlisted ranks, past and present, men and women, of every race, religion and background," said Modly. "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observed, 'Everybody can be great - because anybody can serve'. No one understands the importance and true meaning of service than those who have volunteered to put the needs of others above themselves."
Members of Miller's family attended the naming ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Monday, including two of Miller's nieces.
"Doris Miller stood for everything that is good about our nation, and his story deserves to be remembered and repeated wherever our people continue the watch today," Modly said.
—
Want to get more connected to the great stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
The first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 1
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 2
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 3
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 4
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 5
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 6
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 7
DVIDSThe first-ever aircraft carrier named after an African American sailor 8
DVIDS




