Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Doris Miller for his valor as a Navy member during World War II, recognizing his bravery and sacrifice at Pearl Harbor.
Kweisi Mfume
Representative
MD-7
This bill authorizes the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for acts of valor he performed while serving in the Navy during World War II. Doris Miller's heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, for which he received the Navy Cross, merit the nation's highest military honor. This authorization acknowledges Miller's bravery and rectifies the historical lack of recognition for African Americans in combat roles during that era.
Bill Authorizes Posthumous Medal of Honor for Pearl Harbor Hero Doris Miller, Waiving Time Limits
This bill gives the President the authority to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller, recognizing his acts of valor as a Navy sailor during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Miller, who was serving in a role restricted due to his race at the time, had previously received the Navy Cross for his bravery. This legislation specifically overrides the standard time limits usually required for awarding the Medal of Honor.
Correcting the Historical Record
The core of this bill lies in acknowledging Doris Miller's extraordinary courage under fire and addressing a potential historical oversight. The findings laid out in the bill detail Miller's actions: aiding wounded sailors, moving them to safety through oil and water, and taking control of a machine gun despite not being trained or officially permitted to do so due to the Navy's racial restrictions on combat roles for African Americans at the time. While Admiral Chester Nimitz personally awarded Miller the Navy Cross in 1942 – a significant honor – the bill notes that none of the 15 Medals of Honor awarded for similar actions at Pearl Harbor went to African Americans. This legislation essentially states that Miller's heroism warrants the nation's highest military decoration.
How It Works: Presidential Authorization
Section 2 of the bill is straightforward: it authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Miller. This is necessary because the typical statutes of limitation for awarding military medals have long passed since World War II. By passing this bill, Congress formally signals its finding that Miller's actions meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor and removes the procedural time barrier, paving the way for the President to bestow the award. It acknowledges his previous Navy Cross but positions the Medal of Honor as the ultimate, deserved recognition for his distinguished devotion to duty and disregard for his own safety during the attack.