Quarterly Muster Roll of the Crew of the USS West Virginia
9/30/1941
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The quarterly muster roll for the U.S.S. West Virginia provides the name, service number, rate, date of enlistment, and date of reporting on board the ship for each crew member. Navy Cross winner Doris “Dorie” Miller is the fifth name from the bottom.
Navy Messman Third Class Dorie Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas. Miller joined the U.S. Navy in 1939, and was made a mess attendant, then cook, aboard the USS West Virginia. Although there were limited opportunities for African Americans in the Armed Forces during World War II, 2.5 million black men registered for the draft and thousands of black women joined auxiliary units. African Americans generally served in segregated combat support groups with limited military engagement.
During the Pearl Harbor attack on the morning of December 7, 1941, Miller first ensured the safety of several crewmates. Then he began firing at Japanese warplanes with a 50 caliber anti-aircraft gun. Miller shot down two Japanese aircraft (and possibly downed two more) during the raid.
Following Pearl Harbor, Miller received a Navy Cross from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He would later receive the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal – Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In the spring of 1943, he was assigned to the USS Liscome Bay (still at the rank of messman), when he was killed during a Japanese submarine attack on November 24, 1943 near the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific.
Navy Messman Third Class Dorie Miller was born on October 12, 1919, in Waco, Texas. Miller joined the U.S. Navy in 1939, and was made a mess attendant, then cook, aboard the USS West Virginia. Although there were limited opportunities for African Americans in the Armed Forces during World War II, 2.5 million black men registered for the draft and thousands of black women joined auxiliary units. African Americans generally served in segregated combat support groups with limited military engagement.
During the Pearl Harbor attack on the morning of December 7, 1941, Miller first ensured the safety of several crewmates. Then he began firing at Japanese warplanes with a 50 caliber anti-aircraft gun. Miller shot down two Japanese aircraft (and possibly downed two more) during the raid.
Following Pearl Harbor, Miller received a Navy Cross from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He would later receive the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal – Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In the spring of 1943, he was assigned to the USS Liscome Bay (still at the rank of messman), when he was killed during a Japanese submarine attack on November 24, 1943 near the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
National Archives Identifier: 595153
Full Citation: Quarterly Muster Roll of the Crew of the USS West Virginia; 9/30/1941; Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 1/1/1939 - 1/1/1949; Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/muster-roll-west-virginia, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.