Lot of 5 items related to Doris "Dorie" Miller (1919-1943). Includes four press photographs and 1 commemorative pinback. Miller was a Messman Third Class in the United States Navy serving aboard the West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when it was struck by nine torpedoes during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He helped move the ship's injured captain Mervyn Bennion and then proceeded to man a Browning .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun, despite being untrained on the weapon. Once out of ammunition, Miller helped move injured sailors, commended in the Action Report as "unquestionably saving the lives of people who might otherwise have been lost." Dorie was recognized as one of the "first US heroes of World War II" and was commended in a letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and following campaigning from the All-Southern Negro Youth Conference and the National Negro Congress, President Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross for Miller, which was awarded to him personally by Admiral Nimitz. Miller became the first African American to ever receive the award, the third-highest honor in the US Navy at the time. Miller went on a 1942 war bond tour and was featured on a 1943 Navy recruitment poster. He would go missing in action, presumed killed, during the Battle of Makin on November 20, 1943. The Hero of Pearl Harbor, Dorie Miller pinback, caption surrounding a photographic portrait of Dorie Miller flanked by an illustration of him manning the machine gun and divebombing plane. 1.25 in. (31 mm) Whitehead & Hoag Co.: Newark, New Jersey, n.d., ca 1942. Four press photographs by E.F. Joseph: Oakland, California. Imprinted and dated on versos. A February 21, 1942 image shoes a Navy dance with sailors dancing, Miller can be seen in the background. December 9, 1942 image of a USO function showing a seated African American woman, possibly Miller's mother, talking to a uniformed white woman sitting at low table. Several white men sit in chairs on either side. December 16, 1942 image of a Navy banquet with a large group of African Americans seated around a table. Miller, seated at the head in uniform. March 9, 1943 image shows the tall Miller in uniform, wearing his Navy Cross with several other African American serviceman standing to either side. Condition: USO photo faded.
Lot of 5 items related to Doris "Dorie" Miller (1919-1943). Includes four press photographs and 1 commemorative pinback. Miller was a Messman Third Class in the United States Navy serving aboard the West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when it was struck by nine torpedoes during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He helped move the ship's injured captain Mervyn Bennion and then proceeded to man a Browning .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun, despite being untrained on the weapon. Once out of ammunition, Miller helped move injured sailors, commended in the Action Report as "unquestionably saving the lives of people who might otherwise have been lost." Dorie was recognized as one of the "first US heroes of World War II" and was commended in a letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and following campaigning from the All-Southern Negro Youth Conference and the National Negro Congress, President Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross for Miller, which was awarded to him personally by Admiral Nimitz. Miller became the first African American to ever receive the award, the third-highest honor in the US Navy at the time. Miller went on a 1942 war bond tour and was featured on a 1943 Navy recruitment poster. He would go missing in action, presumed killed, during the Battle of Makin on November 20, 1943. The Hero of Pearl Harbor, Dorie Miller pinback, caption surrounding a photographic portrait of Dorie Miller flanked by an illustration of him manning the machine gun and divebombing plane. 1.25 in. (31 mm) Whitehead & Hoag Co.: Newark, New Jersey, n.d., ca 1942. Four press photographs by E.F. Joseph: Oakland, California. Imprinted and dated on versos. A February 21, 1942 image shoes a Navy dance with sailors dancing, Miller can be seen in the background. December 9, 1942 image of a USO function showing a seated African American woman, possibly Miller's mother, talking to a uniformed white woman sitting at low table. Several white men sit in chairs on either side. December 16, 1942 image of a Navy banquet with a large group of African Americans seated around a table. Miller, seated at the head in uniform. March 9, 1943 image shows the tall Miller in uniform, wearing his Navy Cross with several other African American serviceman standing to either side. Condition: USO photo faded.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
