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Old 19th Jan 2020, 17:35
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SASless
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Downeast
Age: 75
Posts: 18,290
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Bit of perspective is worthwhile here.

At the time of Pearl Harbor....Black Americans were treated very much differently than today.

Back then they were Cooks, Bakers, Stewards, and Stevedores in the Navy and were generally not allowed into the more standard kinds of jobs (Rates).

For a Black Serviceman to be awarded the Navy Cross for Gallantry was very unusual.

Miller, initially was awarded the Navy Cross then later it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

That he was killed in action aboard the Escort Carrier Liscombe Bay is ironic if you understand the gallantry demonstrated by the US Navy during the defensive action of the fleet unit known as Taffy 3.

I recommend your reading "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by James Hornfischer....it is a very sobering description of three Destroyers and six Destroyer Escorts supported by some Escort Carrier Air Wings taking on Japanese Battleships, Cruisers, and lots of Destroyers.

It is good that the Navy has named another ship for Miller.....but personally I would have preferred it had been a Destroyer as they carry forward that reputation of being fighting ships that directly engage the enemy.

In the 1980's I had the privilege of walking the decks of many of the ships that were named for ships that were part of the Task Force that engaged the Japanese...thus carrying on their names.

The "Sammy B" (USS Samuel B. Roberts) was always my favorite.
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