Doris Miller: US Navy to name new aircraft after African-American Pearl Harbor hero

- The United State Navy will be honouring World War II hero Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris Miller for his bravery on December 7, 1941

- The navy will be naming a new aircraft carrier after Miller for going beyond the call of duty

- The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked the naval base in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941

- In return, Miller manned a machine gun on the USS West Virginia and returned fire against Japanese planes during the attack

- In May 1942, Miller became the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross for valour

The United State Navy will be honouring World War II hero Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris Miller by naming a new aircraft carrier after him.

Daily Mail reports that official announcement to that effect will be made at Pearl Harbor on Monday, January 20.

Legit.ng recalls that the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service surprised the US with a military strike at the naval base in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Miller, who was 22 at the time, manned a machine gun on the USS West Virginia and returned fire against Japanese planes during the attack.

The US declared war on Japan the following day.

A team leader for Doris Miller Memorial, Doreen Ravenscroft, said Miller was a hero who went beyond the call of what was expected.

He said: "I think that Doris Miller is an American hero simply because of what he represents as a young man going beyond the call of what´s expected."

At the time Miller exhibited his bravery, African Americans were not allowed to man a gun in the Navy, but Miller did not allow such restriction to deter him.

The $13 billion aircraft carrier is scheduled to launch in 2027 and enter service in 2030.

Miller would later die while serving on a ship that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in November 1943.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that soldiers of the Nigerian Army deployed to Operation Lafiya Dole in the northeast paid tribute to their fallen colleagues who died fighting Boko Haram terrorists.

The Nigerian Army, on Thursday, January 2, tweeted a video of soldiers dancing in a large circle while holding up large portraits of their dead colleagues.

Soldier shares battleground experience dedicates song to colleagues - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng