World War II Doris Miller, Hero of Pearl Harbor, 1942 Photo

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This photo was taken on board U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor by a U.S. Navy photographer on 27 May 1942. The occasion was the awards ceremony where Admiral Chester W. Nimitz presented the Navy Cross to Doris Miller, Mess Attendant Second Class, USN (1919-1943). Although the Navy was still segregated, Doris ("Dorie") Miller joined the Navy as a messman and was on board the U.S.S. West Virginia during the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Messmen received no gunnery training, but during the attack, at great personal risk, Miller took over a weapon after another man was wounded and succeeded in hitting Japanese planes. The medal was awarded for that action.

This is the photo that was the basis for the Navy recruiting poster "Above and Beyond" featuring Dorie Miller, also available in this Olive-Drab.com Gallery.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.