Posted on 01/17/2020 11:19:16 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Pearl Harbor Monday, the U.S. Navy is expected to announce that a new aircraft carrier will be named after Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris Miller, the first African American to receive the Navy Cross for valor for his actions on Dec. 7, 1941, when he manned a machine gun on the USS West Virginia to fire back at attacking Japanese planes.
“I think that Doris Miller is an American hero simply because of what he represents as a young man going beyond the call of what’s expected,” said Doreen Ravenscroft, president of Cultural Arts of Waco (Texas), and team leader for the Doris Miller Memorial.
In 1941, an African American was not allowed to man a gun in the Navy, and as far as rank was concerned, “he could not really get above a messman level,” Ravenscroft said. His actions started to turn the tide, she added.
“Without him really knowing, he actually was a part of the Civil Rights movement because he changed the thinking in the Navy,” Ravenscroft said.
“In the end, the fact that he didn’t think about what could be repercussions — that wasn’t a thought, when, at the time and in war, he did what was needed in his way to defend the United States of America,” she said.
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Remember....
I’m surprised they didn’t name it after Chelsea Clinton or some other lefty dolt.
Heroic actions by sailor Miller.
But life must have been tough for a man named Doris.....
This will be the second ship named for him. Has that ever happened before?
You own what you earn.
Mr. Miller earned it
He was named Doris, as the midwife who assisted his mother was convinced the baby would be female
I wonder if the aircraft carrier will be one of the full sized nuclear powered carriers or one of the helicopter carriers?
He has already had a ship named after him, USS Miller (FF-1091) which was active in the fleet from 1973-1991. He would be a good choice for another frigate or a destroyer, but I don't think he should have a carrier named after him. But it's a better choice than a politician.
Good thoughts
Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
[He was named Doris, as the midwife who assisted his mother was convinced the baby would be female]
Well, back then ya had a 50% chance of being correct....(lol)
Then came Barack Hussein Obama.
In 1941, a black enlisted navy guy and named Doris.
Cripes. Only way to be worse would be to be burned/scarred and have a hump on the back.
Yes, it’s pretty common, and in some cases more than twice. USS FARRAGUT (DDG 99), is the 5th ship to bear the name of the US Navy’s first Admiral, David Glasgow Farragut.
It is a significant break from tradition to name a CVN after an Enlisted man.
Not to rain on Mr Miller’s heroics, which speak for itself but carriers are usually named after heroic battles (USS Lexington, USS Yorktown, USS Midway, USS Tarawa) Former warships(USS Enterprise) or presidents.(USS John F. Kennedy, USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Ronald Reagan)
Tradition should be upheld so if this hero have a ship named after him, how about a destroyer?
I will say, at least it wasn’t named after a homo or trans sexual.
When ordinary men did extraordinary things.
the naming ceremony will be coming up on Monday
I am betting a Wasp Class assault carrier
My long time neighbor, Walter Kandelin, was there at Pearl Harbor that day. The gun lockers were Locked and they busted them open and started shooting away. Heroes! Every one!
He’s buried at Punchbowl. RIP, Walter. We love you...
I doubt that many dissed Miller over his first name since he was also the heavyweight boxing champ of his ship.
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