by PAYTON DAVIS
Staff Writer
Recently the U.S. Navy announced that they will officially be naming an aircraft carrier after former U.S. mess attended and African American, Doris Miller, that served in the battle of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. On the morning of the tragic and mournful December day, Doris heroically leaped into the fight taking a .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun, firing it until there was nothing left to fire. He even carried injured soldiers over his shoulders to protect them from further injuries and jumped into combat without a thought. Miller, however, did not survive the war due to him drawing on board of the USS Liscome Bay that was struck by Japanese torpedos. Due to his truly heroic acts, he was presented with the Navy Cross in May 1942, making him the first African American to receive the award in history. He was awarded the purple heart alongside many other fallen and deserving soldiers as well. Thomas B. Modly, acting secretary of the Navy, stated that by naming the aircraft after Doris Miller, it would stand as a reminder that the country honors enlisted soldiers no matter their race, religion, and background. Doris Miller stood for all acts of good and in the eyes of Thomas B. Moldy as well as the U.S. Navy, he should be forever honored and remembered.