The family of a Black Navy veteran who was set to be honored with a warship bearing his name is condemning the Navy over what they describe as a shocking and unexpected reversal.
The U.S. Navy is reportedly considering scrapping plans to name an aircraft carrier after Doris “Dorie” Miller, the Black sailor credited for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The plans to name the future aircraft carrier after Miller were announced on MLK Day in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Report Sparks Outrage
CNN reported the Navy is now considering changing the ship’s name, although no final decision has been announced publicly. Some sources told CNN there have been discussions about potentially naming the carrier after Trump.
Naming an aircraft carrier after a sitting president would be unprecedented. The reported possibility of a name change sparked outrage online.
View on Threads
“This is absolutely sinful,” @dwb2290 wrote on Threads. “See? It’s never been about merit; it has always been about racism,” @cooprw64 added.
“Talk about stolen valor…” @helenofpeel commented. “This is soooo disturbing and disrespectful. He didn’t serve not one d–n day in service. Awful,” @veebee1014 wrote.
For Miller’s family, the news was particularly jarring, as they say the Navy had not informed them of the potential change.
Thomas Bledsoe, Miller’s great-nephew, told CNN the family learned about the discussions through the media.
“For our family, it was quite a shock to hear that there was a conversation about the possibility of renaming the Doris Miller carrier,” Bledsoe said. “Not only was it a shock, but it was also a shock that we found out from a news outlet, comparably from the Navy.”
Bledsoe said learning about the possibility of a name change caused “a lot of concerns and uncertainty” for the family.
Who Was Doris Miller?
Miller was a Waco, Texas, native who served in the Navy as a Mess Attendant Third Class, one of the few positions available to Black sailors at the time.
On Dec. 7, 1941, Miller was aboard the USS West Virginia when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor.
Although he had not been trained as an anti-aircraft gunner, Miller reportedly took control of an anti-aircraft gun and fired at Japanese aircraft during the attack.
He also helped care for wounded sailors amid the chaos.
“Although untrained,” the Department of Veterans Affairs says, Miller “laid down effective fire” until he ran out of ammunition and the ship began to sink. He continued helping injured sailors reach safety before making his way to shore.
In 1942, Miller received the Navy Cross for his heroism at Pearl Harbor, making him the first Black sailor to earn the prestigious award.
Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly highlighted Miller’s significance when the Navy announced the carrier would bear his name in 2020.
“Dorie Miller was the son of a sharecropper and a descendant of slaves,” Modly said. “And, he was an American sailor — so designated by the uniform that he wore — the same uniform all sailors wore, and still wear, regardless of race, ethnic background, or political persuasion.”
Miller died in 1943 after the ship he was serving aboard was attacked by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific.
Cuba Gooding Jr. later portrayed his story in the 2001 film Pearl Harbor.
What Could Happen to the Ship?
CNN reported the Navy is also considering another way to honor Miller if his name is removed from the aircraft carrier.
One possibility would be naming another Navy warship after him.
There is also a renewed effort to have Miller receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor.
Bledsoe said the family has been working for years to secure Miller’s recognition.
He said the Navy’s reported recommendation is “very positive,” although the final authorization would rest with Congress and require approval from Trump.
“Doris Miller stands for so much about America and who we are today,” Bledsoe told CNN.
The potential name change comes as the Navy is also making changes to the future carrier itself.
Trump recently ordered the Navy to replace the electromagnetic catapult system planned for the carrier with traditional steam-powered catapults.
The future ship, currently identified as CVN-81, is still under construction and is expected to be delivered years from now.
For Miller’s family, however, the question of what the ship will ultimately be called is about more than a name.
It is about how the Navy chooses to remember a Black sailor who risked his life to save his fellow service members during one of the darkest moments in American military history.
Atlanta Black Star reached out to the Navy for comment on the potential name change but did not receive an immediate response.
