There is an old (at least partially true) adage in national security circles:
When an international crisis occurs, the President asks: Where’s the carrier?
For over 70 years, aircraft carriers have been one of the most important military tools associated with diplomacy in times of peace, crisis, and war. A visible statement of US national interest, aircraft carriers are a powerful symbol of national power. That “symbolism” began with names like Lexington, Saratoga and Yorktown. For the past 50 years, with the exception of USS Enterprise, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs: CV for carrier of aviation and N for nuclear) have all been named for powerful politicians, mainly Presidents.
Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr, Day, the U.S. Navy will radically break from this tradition in a ceremony in Pearl Harbor with naming the next CVN after Pearl Harbor Hero Doris “Dorie” Miller.
Miller was below decks December 7, 1941, when the first Japanese torpedo struck USS West Virginia (BB 48). His battle station in the magazine damaged, Miller was ordered to the bridge, where he helped carry the ship’s mortally wounded captain to safety. Miller then loaded and fired an anti-aircraft machine gun—a weapon that, as an African American in a segregated military, he had not been trained to operate. Miller stayed behind once the order to abandon ship was passed to help evacuate shipmates and save the lives of Sailors in the burning water.
For his extraordinary courage, Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross. Newspapers around the country cited his example as an argument for civil rights and equality.
“This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race, and I’m sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts.” — Admiral Chester Nimitz
That note, of course, glosses over so much. How hard it was for a “Negro” in America of 1941 in nation … in the military. How racism delayed giving Miller any honor, let alone a significant one. And …
The Navy Cross citation
"For distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. While at the side of his Captain on the bridge, Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge."
Miller’s actions made it to the big screen (at least once):
Some more discussions/background on Miller
and on the Navy’s action today.
Amid the Age of Trump, that the Acting Secretary of the Navy has chosen to name such a powerful symbol of American national power after an enlisted African American sailor is, well, a potentially powerful symbol. A symbol that is projected to be sailing the oceans for some sixty years to come as a symbol of American national power.
NOTEs:
This diary is not intended as a (very legitimate to discuss) ‘are aircraft carriers worth it’ or ‘we should be prioritizing investing in other important national security from diplomacy to improved education to climate mitigation to health care for all rather than the military” discussion.
Some more background on MIller
Doris "Dorie" Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919. He enlisted in the Navy in September 1939 as a Mess Attendant Third Class. On 7 December 1941, while serving aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48), he distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on this occasion.
Doris Miller served aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35) from December 1941 to May 1943. He was then assigned to the escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56). Cook Third Class Miller was lost with that ship when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on 24 November 1943, during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
USS Miller (DE-1091) was named in honor of Cook Third Class Doris Miller.
Some material for further reading/background re naming ships, Dorie Miller, ...