"God’s peace stills. . . and stirs our hearts.” ~
Rev. David Eardly
Seventy-five years ago today, U.S.
Navy Ship's Cook Doris Miller had just finished serving breakfast to the crew
of the battleship USS West Virginia moored along Ford Island at Pearl Harbor. At the time, the ship's mess and laundry were
some of the only Navy jobs available to Black sailors.
It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous gig in the Fleet, but it
offered him the opportunity to enjoy the warm Hawaiian beaches and picturesque
palm trees. When he wasn’t cooking or
cleaning, he took out some of his aggression by becoming the heavyweight boxing
champion of the ship – a Colorado-class warship housing over 2,000 Sailors and
Marines.
When the alarm for general quarters was sounded, he headed
for his battle station, the anti-aircraft battery magazine amid ship. Unfortunately, the ship was under attack by
more than 200 Japanese torpedo planes, bombers and fighters that had destroyed
his battle station.
This was a guy who’d spent his entire life overcoming adversity;
he wasn't about to let a trivial thing like the entire Japanese Naval Air Force
stop him. The biggest, strongest,
toughest man aboard the ship immediately started running across the deck,
grabbing wounded men and carrying them to safety on the quarterdeck, where his
injured comrades were partially shielded from the shelling Zeroes.
Then Dorie noticed that some of the deck guns were unmanned. He rushed over to a .50-caliber anti-aircraft
machine gun, strapped himself in and immediately went to work putting a giant
curtain of bullets between West Virginia and the enemy.
Despite not having any training on how to operate the
.50-cal, the ship’s main cook held his ground for fifteen minutes straight,
blasting away from an exposed position. The
specific details of Dorie Miller's efficiency aren't well-documented. His kill count ranges from "at least
one" to "several" – but no one denies the fact that his courage
and gallantry inspired many.
He only backed down after he ran out of ammunition and his
half-dead commanding officer ordered him to abandon ship. But not before he again helped move countless
wounded shipmates through hellfire and chaos to the quarterdeck undoubtedly
saving their lives.
The West Virginia sank at her berth in shallow water after
on an even keel after being struck by six 18-inch torpedoes in her port side. Sixty six fellow shipmates went down with her.
Although Miller’s bravery was initially overlooked, the
black press pressured the Navy to recognize him. On May 27, 1942, Admiral Nimitz honored him
as the first African-American awarded the U.S. Navy Cross. He later toured the country promoting war
bonds before being reassigned to the escort carrier Liscome Bay. Sadly, Dorie Miller was among the 646 crewmen
killed when the ship was torpedoed and sunk in 1943.
Father, Thank You for the men and women that
protect this nation! As they protect us,
protect them as well! Be with them
wherever they are and guide them through whatever challenges and trials they
face today and every day. Amen
