1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1111 1-3 In Memory 1-4 of 1-5 Doris Miller 1-6 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-7 remembering World War II hero Doris "Dorie" Miller on the occasion 1-8 of the Doris Miller Celebration being held on May 25, 2001, at the 1-9 State Capitol; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Dorie Miller was born in Waco in 1919; after 1-11 unsuccessfully trying to enlist in the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1-12 he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1939; and 1-13 WHEREAS, In the early morning of December 7, 1941, Dorie's 1-14 ship, the U.S.S. West Virginia, was among those attacked at Pearl 1-15 Harbor; and 1-16 WHEREAS, During the attack, 22-year-old Dorie assisted the 1-17 mortally wounded captain of the West Virginia out of the line of 1-18 fire to a sheltered spot; Dorie accomplished this in the middle of 1-19 heavy fire and the detonation of bombs all around him; and 1-20 WHEREAS, While struggling back to the bridge through the 1-21 debris, Dorie came upon a machine gun whose gunner had been killed; 1-22 although Dorie had never been trained to use the weapon, he began 1-23 firing at the Japanese planes with telling effect and continued 2-1 firing until the crew was ordered to abandon the ship; and 2-2 WHEREAS, For his heroism on board the West Virginia, 2-3 Dorie Miller received the Navy Cross, the United States Navy's 2-4 highest honor, from Admiral Chester Nimitz during a ceremony on 2-5 the flight deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise at Pearl Harbor on 2-6 May 27, 1942; Dorie was the first African American to receive this 2-7 award; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Later assigned to the U.S.S. Liscome Bay in the 2-9 Pacific, Dorie was on board on November 24, 1943, when the light 2-10 aircraft carrier was sunk by a submarine; 272 sailors survived but 2-11 646 were lost, and Dorie was officially presumed dead a year and a 2-12 day after the carrier went down; and 2-13 WHEREAS, A man of great honor and courage, Dorie Miller is a 2-14 true Texas hero; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-16 77th Legislature, hereby honor the memory of Doris Miller, an 2-17 outstanding man of valor and courage; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an 2-19 expression of the highest respect of the Texas Senate. 2-20 Barrientos 2-21 ______________________________________ 2-22 President of the Senate 2-23 I hereby certify that the above 2-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-25 on May 21, 2001, by a rising vote. 2-26 ______________________________________ 2-27 Secretary of the Senate 2-28 ______________________________________ 2-29 Member, Texas Senate