Dorrie Miller was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross. Though he was just a mess attendant, he did far more than clean up messes on December 7, 1941 at the famous Pearl Harbor on the USS West Virginia. When the ship was hit in an air raid, Dorrie saved his captain, and shot down at least one Japanese fighter plane, and manned the gun until he was told to stop, even though he was never taught to use a gun. He was originally awarded a letter of accommodation, but American citizens thought he deserved a greater award. Frank Knox, the navy secretary at the time was reluctant to award him something greater, but was finally swayed when president Roosevelt intervened and commanded Knox to award Miller the Navy Cross. Dorrie later died aboard the USS Liscomb Bay.
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