121: Doris Miller: Duty, Honor, and the Fight for Recognition

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor. During that chaotic scene, a Black sailor named Doris “Dorie” Miller shot down a Japanese plane and saved an untold number of lives. Doris Miller’s actions were particularly heroic, given the fact that the Navy’s racist policies barred him from serving in a combat role. In fact, he’d only been trained to serve food.

For decades, people have fought for Doris Miller to get the recognition that he deserves. The government has been slow to recognize his heroism. But, a few years ago, the acting Secretary of the Navy announced that a future aircraft carrier would be named the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). Last month, CNN reported that the White House might rescind that decision – opting to name it the USS Donald Trump instead. Needless to say, Normie C had some thoughts about that.

Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from:

Britzky, Haley, and Pamela Brown. “Exclusive: Navy Weighs Renaming Carrier Slated to Honor Black War Hero, Potentially Switching It to Trump.” CNN, August 20, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/politics/navy-weighs-renaming-carrier-black-war-hero-to-trump.

CBS Sunday Morning. Aircraft Carrier to Be Named after Pearl Harbor Hero. 2020. 07:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPIHx_fik-0.

Cutrer, Thomas W., and T. Michael Parrish. Doris Miller, Pearl Harbor, and the Birth of the Civil Rights Movement. Texas A&M University Press, 2018.

Dudley, Margaret. “The Unforeseen Legacy of Doris Miller.” National Museum of the Pacific War, October 26, 2023. https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/learn/articles/the-unforeseen-legacy-of-doris-miller.

English, Molly. “Trump Says ‘Nobody Will’ Build Monuments for Him Once He’s Gone.” KTEN, September 4, 2026. https://www.kten.com/news/politics/trump-says-nobody-will-build-monuments-for-him-once-he-s-gone/article_c5df451c-87aa-5e20-94a4-af52c1035877.html.

Forbes Breaking News. “It Caused A Lot Of Concerns”: Relative Reacts To Navy Mulling Rename USS Doris Miller To USS Trump. 2026. 04:28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Q_z1t-lis.

Naval History and Heritage Command. “The Sinking of USS Liscome Bay.” November 24, 2014. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/education/articles/history-up-close/the-sinking-of-uss-liscome-bay.html.

NBC News. “Pentagon Restores Histories of Navajo Code Talkers, Other Native Veterans after Public Outcry.” March 20, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pentagon-restores-histories-navajo-code-talkers-native-veterans-public-rcna197215.

The National Medal of Honor Museum. “The Medal.” https://mohmuseum.org/medal-recipients/learn-about-the-medal.

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