Yes, the Navy occasionally breaks with naming conventions, but more commonly it’s to reuse a name with significant naval heritage, like Wasp, Enterprise, Hornet, Saratoga, etc, or a historic naval figure, battle, or President. But sometimes they break tradition for political purposes, and this falls into that category. It would have been much more appropriate to name a new Destroyer for him. Even then, comparing Miller’s story to the other heroes that have ships named for them, his is at the very lowest end of the scale even when compared to those who “only” received the Navy Cross (the award Miller actually received). His MOH was more about politics and civil rights than his demonstrated heroism on Dec 7th 1941. The same is true about this ship naming.
Was it a political decision to name the bird-farm after Miller. Yes, it most certainly was. I’m not going to be really happy until they name a supercarrier “USS Ernest Evans”. Or, name it after a battleship that struck terror into the hearts of Americas enemies. “USS Samuel B. Roberts”. Being a bubblehead, the “USS Mush Morton” would be a pretty sweet thing too. All that being said, was this a BAD political decision? I really don’t feel that it this is so. Dorie was a Bluejacket, just like you and me. In the end, he made that sacrifice that we were willing, but never called on to make. There may have been better choices in the long run, but this Squid is going to sleep tonight with a smile on his face.