Dear Constituent,

It is “Dorie Miller Day” on Capitol Hill.  

I am honored to announce the introduction of two bills to commemorate the life and legacy of African American Mess Attendant Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mess Attendant Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun and downed enemy planes, despite the fact that the racially segregated steward’s branch of the Navy was not trained to use anti-aircraft guns.

My first bill authorizes the President to bestow the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States Armed Forces, to Mess Attendant Miller. This legislation is the continuation of an effort led by former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson who since 2001, and up until her retirement from Congress, fought to award this recognition to Dorie Miller. This legislation is endorsed by the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETs) and the Dorie Miller Medal of Honor Committee. 

The second bill of my dual-tracked legislative effort to federally celebrate Dorie Miller posthumously awards him the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States. If approved by Congress, Dorie Miller’s family would receive the medal and it would be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum.

Dorie Miller enlisted in the United States Navy in September of 1939, and after bootcamp training was assigned to the USS West Virginia as a messman. He quickly moved up in the ranks from messman to ship’s cook, third class, and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he rushed to the main deck to help move his mortally wounded captain out of harm’s way and attend to other wounded sailors. He then manned a 0.50-calibre anti-aircraft gun and fired at the attacking planes. According to news stories and other sailors’ accounts, Dorie Miller downed 2 to 5 enemy planes before he was forced to abandon ship.

Dorie Miller protected America, and we are all the beneficiaries of his bravery. His valiance is even more admirable because he courageously worked to save a democracy that he could not fully enjoy at that time, as the United States military did not become fully integrated until almost seven years after his heroism in World War II. With my dual-tracked legislative effort, Dorie Miller will finally be recognized with an American salute that is long overdue.

Yours in service,

Kweisi Mfume
Member of Congress