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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, American Legion Department of Illinois Dorie
3Miller Post 915 is an organization of wartime veterans who have
4dedicated themselves to the service of their community, State,
5and nation and to honor U.S. Navy Seaman Doris "Dorie" Miller;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dorie Miller Day was celebrated at the Jesse Brown
8VA Medical Center on June 12, 2019 to recognize his valiant
9devotion to duty on December 7, 1941; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dorie Miller was a U.S. Navy Messman aboard the
11USS West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor; he
12pulled a wounded officer and several of his fellow shipmates to
13safety, and, without any formal training in naval gunnery, he
14then manned an anti-aircraft machine gun and shot down four
15enemy planes, while damaging several others; for this action
16and his heroic efforts, he was awarded the Navy Cross by
17Admiral Chester Nimitz; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dorie Miller was one of the first heroes of World
19War II, and his heroism, in part, helped the movement to
20desegregate the Armed Forces by proving that African Americans
21were suitable for combat duty; and
 

 

 

HR0526- 2 -LRB101 14460 MST 63351 r

1    WHEREAS, Dorie Miller, now known all over the country for
2his heroic actions aboard the USS West Virginia during the
3attack on Pearl Harbor, accepted a request to join the
4marketing efforts to raise war bonds; and
 
5    WHEREAS, After helping to raise financial support for the
6war, Dorie Miller requested to be transferred back to active
7battle; he was assigned to the USS Liscome Bay, where he
8eventually perished after it was hit by a Japanese torpedo;
9therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we declare October 12, 2019 as Doris "Dorie" Miller Day in the
13State of Illinois; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Dorie Miller as a symbol of our
16respect and esteem.