The Doris Miller Memorial honors local World War II hero Doris “Dorie” Miller for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The memorial is located on the northern bank of the Brazos River, near the historic Waco Suspension Bridge. It was dedicated in December 2017 on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. It has since hosted annual Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies.
Miller was a sharecropper’s son who became a star fullback and boxer during high school. He enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and because of his race served as a Mess Attendant Third Class on the USS West Virginia. During the Pearl Harbor attack, he carried the mortally wounded captain of the USS West Virginia (and many others) to safety. Despite no training on anti-aircraft guns he manned one and fired at the attacking Japanese planes (and is credited with downing at least two).
The memorial include a 9-foot-tall, 700-pound bronze statue of Miller. A photo of the statue was used as last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo. It was recognized by master travel sleuth, George G. Miller’s statue is standing in front of a 170′ x 30′ memorial with two slanted walls resembling a battleship hull.
Miller became the first African American awarded the Navy Cross, presented to him by Admiral Chester Nimitz. Miller died when the USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed during the Battle of Makin in the Gilbert Islands. He received other honors including the Purple Heart. Later tributes include the USS Miller (a frigate, 1973) and the upcoming Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81).
