Cook Third Class Doris Miller
U.S. Navy (USN) earned Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor
Missing In Action (MIA) aboard USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56)

Background
Doris Miller was born October 12, 1919 in Waco, Texas. Nicknamed "Dorie". On September 16, 1939 enlisted in the U.S. Navy (USN) in Dallas, Texas as a mess attendant, third class for six years of service.

Wartime History
On December 7, 1941 aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48) moored at berth F-6 in Pearl Harbor. Miller awoke at 6:00am, served breakfast to the crew and was collecting laundry when the Japanese attack. On the bridge at the side of Captain Mervyn S. Bennion despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, Miller assisted in moving Bennion after he was mortally wounded by a bomb fragment and later manned and a machine gun and fired at Japanese planes until ordered to leave the bridge. For his actions, he would later earn the Navy Cross.

On May 27, 1942 Miller was bestowed the Navy Cross by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz during a ceremony aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor.

Cook Third Class Doris Miller Navy Cross citation: "For distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. While at the side of his Captain on the bridge, Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge."

On May 15, 1943 at Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington, assigned to the newly built escort carrier USS Liscome Bay. On June 1, 1943 promoted to the rank of Cook Third Class. On October 21, 1943 departed San Diego bound for Pearl Harbor arriving a week later and continued to train off Hawaii until assigned to Operation Kourbash the captured of Makin.

Missing In Action
On November 24, 1943 lost aboard USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) when sunk by a torpedo fired by Japanese submarine I-175. He went down when the escort carrier sank and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Miller was officially declared dead on November 25, 1944. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 1.

Awards
Miller earned the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, posthumously.

References
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Cook Third Class Doris Miller, USN Transcript of Service
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Cook Third Class Doris Miller's Navy Cross Citation
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Doris Miller
FindAGrave - Doris “Dorie” Miller (photo, courts of the missing photo)

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?