(Washington, DC) -- Maryland U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume has introduced a pair of bills to commemorate the life and legacy of African American Mess Attendant Doris 'Dorie' Miller.
During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun and downed enemy planes, despite the fact that the racially segregated steward's branch of the Navy was not trained to use anti-aircraft guns.
Congressman Mfume's bills seek to award the Medal of Honor and a Congressional Gold Medal to Mess Attendant Miller so he can finally be recognized with an American salute that is long overdue.
“Today is ‘Dorie Miller Day’ on Capitol Hill. Dorie Miller protected America, and we are all the beneficiaries of his bravery. His valiance is even more admirable because he courageously worked to save a democracy that he could not fully enjoy at that time, as the United States military did not become fully integrated until almost seven years after his heroism in World War II,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I am honored to continue the work of my friend, the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who had fought to give Mess Attendant Miller’s legacy the celebration of the Medal of Honor since 2001. While the Trump administration shamefully seeks to eviscerate Black history from the American story, I am introducing my dual-tracked legislative effort to award both the Medal of Honor and a Congressional Gold Medal to Dorie Miller so he can finally be recognized with an American salute that is long overdue,” he concluded.