CVN-81

The Navy is expected to announce Monday that CVN-81, the fourth Ford class carrier, will be named for Mess Attendant 3rd Class Doris Miller. Miller was assigned to the USS West Virginia on December 7th, 1941, moored in Pearl Harbor. He had served breakfast that morning, and was collecting laundry when the ship was hit by the first torpedo. He rushed to his battle station, only to discover it had been destroyed.

He was ordered to assist the ship's communications officer with moving the wounded captain to a sheltered spot on the bridge. He was then ordered to assist with loading the #1 and #2 machine guns on the conning tower. He was instructed on how to load and operate the guns by Lt Frederick White and Ensign Victor Delano. Delano expected Miller to feed the guns while he fired them, but Delano was briefly distracted. When he turned back, Miller was firing the gun. He fired the gun until he ran out of ammunition, when he was ordered again to assist with moving the captain.

After the ship was hit several more times, Miller assisted with with moving injured crew members to the quarterdeck, saving a number of lives. The ship eventually settled to the bottom, and the crew, including Miller abandoned ship. In May of 1942 he was presented the Navy Cross by Admiral Chester Nimitz. In 1943, he was assigned to the escort carrier Liscome Bay. On November 24th, the ship was struck by a torpedo fired from a Japanese submarine. As a result, one of the weapons magazines exploded, sinking the ship in less than 30 minutes. Of the crew of over 900, 272 survived, but Miller wasn't among them. He was declared dead in 1944, one year and one day after the sinking.

Doris Miller

Next Ford to be named for Doris Miller.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I've no issue with that. He was a true hero, one among many that day.

For a guy named doris he sure was a pretty tough dude.

Then again the Navy naming a ship after a guy named doris....

a reply to: seagull

A well deserved honor for sure.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Would this be the first Carrier named after a ( please insert current US language for a black dude).

I remember reading this hero's story a long time ago. Apparently, being black, he was not allowed to fire a gun ... but he did anyhow. Not sure how accurate that is.

Ships should be named after a hero.

Which CVN will be named after President Trump?

Too late for CVN17 lol.

P

a reply to: dashen

Apparently, he was a very large man.

He served aboard USS Enterprise, as well, I believe--that's where the award of his Navy Cross took place. Just prior to the Battle of Midway.

I didn't know he didn't survive the war, and went down with the Liscome Bay...

a reply to: pheonix358

Yes. Of 14 modern carriers, 12 have been named for presidents or members of Congress, and two were named for admirals. There was a Benjamin Franklin class SSBN named for George Washington Carver, and several other warships named for prominent black people from Destroyer Escorts to modern DDGs.

a reply to: pheonix358

First carrier, obviously. They used to be named after battles, or reused famous Navy ship names. Enterprise, Essex, Saratoga, etc...

But they began to run of those names during WWII, so famous people from US history who were fans of the Navy were used. Or so my understanding of it goes...

As for the first black man?

I just happen to know that answer...

U.S.S. Harmon (DE-678) was named after another black mess attendant, who died during Guadalcanal campaign, and was awarded a Navy Cross for conspicuous bravery.

a reply to: pheonix358

CVN 45 appears to be available. CV 45 was taken though.

a reply to: ntech

The numbers are sequential. They're not going to jump back for one ship.

Amazing story and I totally approve of naming ships after those who gave everything they had. I was on CVN 72 as a Marine in the early 90's. Doris sounds like a true bad ass and a fearless bastard. Should have gave him an easier assignment after that went down.

Reading about him, he has a lot of things named after him...schools, buildings. Even portrayed in a couple of movies. Man is a legend.

originally posted by: ErEhWoN

Which CVN will be named after President Trump?

a reply to: pheonix358

I searched the Navy database for a USS Capt. Bonespurs, alas, I had no luck.

Congratulations on managing to distract from a story honoring a hero, in order to get in a political jab.

The person being honored here also played an important part in civil rights. His skin color was what relegated him to a mess position at Pearl Harbor that day. He showed that he was much more than a mess attendant.

A true hero indeed!

I believe that the character Cuban Gooding Jr. played in the movie Pearl Harbour was based on or represented Dorris Miller, here's the pivotal scene,



May he and his colleagues forever rest in piece.

a reply to: Zaphod58

in all the time between now and then that i have ever seen any mention of him was in the movie Pearl Harbor. ( i know , i just watched it for the fighting and training scenes).

will give them a nod on the portrayal of him.

originally posted by: MerkabaTribeEntity
I believe that the character Cuban Gooding Jr. played in the movie Pearl Harbour was based on or represented Dorris Miller, here's the pivotal scene...

That film was a steaming pile of **** and an insult to everyone there that day.

originally posted by: seagull
a reply to: Zaphod58

I've no issue with that. He was a true hero, one among many that day.

Hear, Hear!

originally posted by: pheonix358
a reply to: Zaphod58

Would this be the first Carrier named after a ( please insert current US language for a black dude).

I remember reading this hero's story a long time ago. Apparently, being black, he was not allowed to fire a gun ... but he did anyhow. Not sure how accurate that is.

Ships should be named after a hero.

Which CVN will be named after President Trump?

Too late for CVN17 lol.

P

Actually, the first acknowledged cruiser for the USSF, will bare President Trumps name.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: MerkabaTribeEntity
I believe that the character Cuban Gooding Jr. played in the movie Pearl Harbour was based on or represented Dorris Miller, here's the pivotal scene...

That film was a steaming pile of **** and an insult to everyone there that day.

There's an edited copy of the movie floating around the net the leaves out the love story and everything not relating to the events of Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raid.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: pheonix358

Yes. Of 14 modern carriers, 12 have been named for presidents or members of Congress, and two were named for admirals. There was a Benjamin Franklin class SSBN named for George Washington Carver, and several other warships named for prominent black people from Destroyer Escorts to modern DDGs.

G,day
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