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I've not edited before because I haven't felt the need to. Apologies if there are any procedural errors. This error has been here since 2004: Doris Miller was never confirmed to have shot down any aircraft, and indeed did not claim to have done so, but is quoted as saying he might have. This is another case where a movie has re-written history (Perl Harbor Movie) to take either fiction or unsubstantiated events as fact (U571 springs to mind!). I've removed the piece where it stated "During the battle, he shot down at least one Japanese aircraft before...". Miller is quoted elsewhere as saying "I think I got one of those Jap planes". But thats not enough to make it a fact. Mononen
Added the rest of the Nimitz quote from the official Navy page in the reference list. I think it adds some additional context to the dicussion over the Navy's racial polices in the 1940s.
You might want to look through "What links here" and make the same correction where necessary -- for example, Attack on Pearl Harbor. Melchoir 08:53, 26 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz pins Navy Cross on Doris Miller, at ceremony on board warship in Pearl Harbor, 27 May1942
The 1941 Honor Roll of Race Relations named an "unknown Negro mess man"[1]and on 12 March1942 Dr. Lawrence D. Reddick announced, after corresponding with the Navy, that he found the name was "Doris Miller." The next day, US SenatorJames M. Mead introduced a Senate Bill to award Miller the Medal of Honor, without knowing what Miller’s deeds were for the basis of such award.
Letters of Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy were finally issued. Miller’s commendation of 1 April1942 cited his "distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard of his personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor on 7 December1941. While at the side of his Captain on the bridge, Miller despite enemy strafing and bombing, and in the face of 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 until ordered to leave the bridge."[2]
During the All-Southern Negro Youth Conference of 17 April, a signature campaign was launched to give proper recognition to Doris Miller. Miller’s parents were brought to the conference and awarded a $100 defense bond.
On 10 May, the National Negro Congress denounced Frank Knox’s recommendation to decline the Medal of Honor for Miller. But the next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross, the Navy’s third highest medal at the time, for Miller.[1]
Finally, on May 271942, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz personally awarded Miller the Navy Cross aboard USS Enterprise. In his address, Nimitz remarked that "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 the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts."
I recall reading that Miller found the .50-cal unloaded, and that he used a fire-axe to break the lock from an ammo box.
My memory stinks (and I've read some pretty crappy 'history' books...so...is this history or hollywood?
Who cares....can't you imagine it....standing on the deck....pounding away with a .50-cal at those Zeros??? Hollywood can't come up with that kind of drama!—Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.67.104.4 (talk • contribs)
"However, President Roosevelt, Secretary of the Navy Knox and Chief of Naval Operations Stark for political reasons refused to honor Miller with the nations highest award because he was a "Negro." " - No source is provided for this assertion, and it should be deleted unless one is provided. Intelligent Mr Toad (talk) 14:05, 10 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Unreferenced allegation removed, possible vandalism[edit]
It was stated that Doris was expelled from school for fighting with students about his race. This was added in 2010 without a reference which I believe was vandalism as this edit also changed "Raging Bull" to "Raging Duck". How can Doris have been expelled from school if he already had decided to quit going to school as the actual references state? One other thing, it states he was called Raging Bull because of his emotions. This has no citation, and old versions of the article stated it was because of his large body weight and size. Both have no citations, so who knows which one is correct, if either. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.73.114.111 (talk) 06:07, 23 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]
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This article claims that the Navy Cross is the second highest honor awarded by the US Navy after the Medal of Honor. This isn't true because the Medal of Honor is awarded by the president of the United States, in the name of Congress. Not the Navy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lrsnsam (talk • contribs) 21:38, 19 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
The Navy Cross is the highest medal awarded by the US Navy. The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded by the US President in the name of the US Congress: Navy personnel must be recommended to the President/Congress to be considered for it. The highest medal a sailor can receive is the Medal of Honor awarded by the President in the name of Congress. The highest medal the Navy can award is the Navy Cross. -- Naaman Brown (talk) 20:33, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
The article says he was a Third Class during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec, 7, 1941, then it says "He advanced in rating to mess attendant second class on February 16, 1941". Second Class is a higher rank so unless he was busted, he wouldn't have been a Second Class in Feb 1941. 70.161.8.90 (talk) 23:49, 2 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]
He went from mess attendant first class to cook third class. There's more info here and here. - wolf 00:10, 3 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Still need to fix the rank. Says on May 15 was advanced to 1st class then says was advanced to 3rd class June 1. 1st class is a higher rank than 3rd class. Let's get this corrected. 24.123.91.42 (talk) 20:10, 6 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
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