Navy mess attendant Doris 'Dorie' Miller mans an anti-aircraft gun during the attack on Pearl Harbor despite having no training, then helps move wounded sailors.
At a Glance
- Date
- 7 December 1941
- Location
- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- Key people
- Doris Miller
- Category
- Military
- Source
- U.S. Navy records (1942) · U.S. Navy
What It Meant Then
His heroism challenged the Navy's segregation of Black sailors to menial roles.
What It Means Now
Miller became the first Black American awarded the Navy Cross; a warship now bears his name.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Doris Miller's Heroism at Pearl Harbor.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/doris-millers-heroism-at-pearl-harbor/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Doris Miller's Heroism at Pearl Harbor. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/doris-millers-heroism-at-pearl-harbor/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Doris Miller's Heroism at Pearl Harbor.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/doris-millers-heroism-at-pearl-harbor/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.