- Doris Miller in late May 1942. Pacific fleet facilities. Doris "Dorie" Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919. In 1939 He joined the Navy as a mess attendant, third class, but was soon promoted to second class, then first class, and finally to ship’s cook, third class. On January 2, 1940, was transferred to the battleship West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, where he became the main cook. On December 7, 1941, Miller had arisen at 6 a.m. to begin work. When the Japanese attack occurred, he immediately reported to his assigned battle station. Miller was a former football player and a Navy boxing champ so his job was to carry any of the injured to safer quarters; this included the mortally wounded ship’s captain. Miller then returned to deck and saw that the Japanese planes were still dive-bombing the U.S. Naval Fleet. He picked up a 50-caliber Browning antiaircraft machine gun on which he had never been trained and managed to shoot down three to four enemy aircraft. (In the chaos of the attack, reports varied, and not even Miller was sure how many he hit.) He fired until he ran out of ammunition; by then the men were being ordered to abandon ship. The West Virginia had been severely damaged and was slowly sinking to the harbor bottom On May 27, 1942, Miller was personally recognized by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise. Nimitz presented Miller with the Navy Cross and said of Miller's commendation, "This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts". Miller continued to serve in the Pacific and was reassigned in 1943 to a new escort carrier, the U.S.S. Liscome Bay. Early on November 24, 1943, off Butaritari island, in the South Pacific, a Japanese (I-175) submarine’s torpedo ripped into the Liscome. The torpedo detonated a bomb magazine, sinking the ship within minutes and eventually killing 646 of its 918 sailors, including "Dorie". * In 2012 NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) funds a Doris Miller Statue in Waco by Lubbock Sculptor Eddie Dixon. * Information obtained from the Internet -- New city, new home, new life ... it's been a long, long time but I'm still here ! I'm very happy to see you all again. Greets from your Spanish friend ;)