Medal of Honor for Doris Miller: Mfume’s Legislative Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At present (March 25), on Nationwide Medal of Honor Day, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) introduced the introduction of a pair of payments to commemorate the life and legacy of African American Mess Attendant Doris “Dorie” Miller. Through the assault on Pearl Harbor, Mess Attendant Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun and downed enemy planes, even though the racially segregated steward’s department of the Navy was not skilled to make use of anti-aircraft weapons. Congressman Mfume’s payments search to award the Medal of Honor and a Congressional Gold Medal to Mess Attendant Miller.

“At present is ‘Dorie Miller Day’ on Capitol Hill. Dorie Miller protected America, and we’re all of the beneficiaries of his bravery. His valiance is much more admirable as a result of he courageously labored to save lots of a democracy that he couldn’t totally take pleasure in at the moment, as the US army didn’t turn out to be totally built-in till virtually seven years after his heroism in World Struggle II,” mentioned Congressman Kweisi Mfume. 

“I’m honored to proceed the work of my pal, the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who had fought to provide Mess Attendant Miller’s legacy the celebration of the Medal of Honor since 2001. Whereas the Trump administration shamefully seeks to eviscerate Black historical past from the American story, I’m introducing my dual-tracked legislative effort to award each the Medal of Honor and a Congressional Gold Medal to Dorie Miller so he can lastly be acknowledged with an American salute that’s lengthy overdue,” he concluded.

This laws’s introduction comes within the wake of experiences that the majority U.S Division of Protection webpages chronicling the heroism of Mess Attendant Miller had been eradicated following a directive to take away variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) content material from Pentagon platforms. 

The Lifetime of Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller

Background

Born in Waco, Texas on October 12, 1919.

Son of Connery and Henrietta Miller.

Dropped out of college to assist the household farm, labored part-time as a cook dinner in a small restaurant in Waco.

Navy Profession 

Enlisted in the US Navy in September of 1939.

After bootcamp coaching, was assigned to the usWest Virginia as a messman.

Rapidly moved up within the ranks from messman to ship’s cook dinner, third class, and was stationed at Pearl Harbor.

Black sailors serving within the racially segregated steward’s department of the Navy weren’t skilled to make use of anti-aircraft weapons.

On December 7, 1941, Doris Miller was doing laundry at round 8:00 a.m. when a Japanese torpedo hit his ship, anchored in Pearl Harbor.

He rushed to the principle deck to assist transfer his mortally wounded captain out of hurt’s manner and attend to different wounded sailors.

He then manned a 0.50-calibre anti-aircraft gun and fired on the attacking planes.

In keeping with information tales and different sailors’ accounts, Doris Miller downed 2 to five enemy planes earlier than he was compelled to desert ship.

Nationwide Awards and the Medal of Honor 

Doris Miller was awarded a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy in addition to the Navy Cross on Could 27, 1942, in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

In 2017, the city of Waco, Texas unveiled a riverside memorial that includes a 9-foot-tall, 700-pound bronze sculpture of hometown hero Doris Miller.

In 2020, the Navy commissioned an plane provider to be named after Doris Miller.

Doris Miller has but to obtain the Navy’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.Mr. Miller’s household and mates have fought for many years to persuade the Navy to award Doris Miller with the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Greater than 15 cities have expressed assist, and the U.S. Convention of Mayors adopted a decision endorsing the trouble in 2001.

Congress has launched a decision in assist of the Navy awarding Doris Miller the Medal of Honor yearly since 2015.Selections on army honors are usually reserved for the army, and the Navy has not but determined to vary course on Doris Miller’s standing.

Medal of Honor Invoice – Doris Miller

This invoice authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor, the best army ornament in the US Armed Forces, to Mess Attendant Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller.

The late Consultant Eddie Bernice Johnson had fought to provide Mess Attendant Miller’s legacy this recognition since 2001.

This laws is endorsed by the Nationwide Affiliation for Black Veterans (NABVETs) and the Dorie Miller Medal of Honor Committee. 

Congressional Gold Medal Invoice – Doris Miller

The second invoice of this dual-tracked legislative effort to federally acknowledge Doris Miller awards him posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal, the best civilian award in the US.

If accredited by Congress, Doris Miller’s household would obtain the medal and it might be displayed on the Smithsonian Museum. 

SOURCE: Workplace of Congressman Kweisi Mfume