The US Navy is reportedly planning to replace the name of Doris Miller on an aircraft carrier under construction with that of President Donald Trump, according to CNN. No carrier in the US Navy has ever been named for a sitting president.
Planned naming change
Miller, an enlisted sailor, was slated to become the first African-American to have a carrier named after him. The ship, which is under construction, may now bear Trump's name instead.
Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor. The citation reads: “While at the side of his Captain on the bridge of the battleship U.S.S. WEST VIRGINIA, Mess Attendant First Class Doris Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge.”
Miller's legacy and reaction
The Navy cook had no formal training on the 50-cal. He reportedly shot down four to six Japanese bombers, nonetheless. Miller died at sea in 1943 when a Japanese torpedo struck the Liscome Bay, killing two-thirds of the crew. His family has long advocated for his award to be upgraded to a Medal of Honor. Cuba Gooding Jr. portrayed him in the 2001 film “Pearl Harbor.”
Social media reaction to the reported change has been sharply negative. A popular comment on Reddit summarized sentiment: “Hmmm, who should the 20 billion dollar navy ship be named after? The Navy War Hero? Or the draft dodger?”
US senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy officer, wrote on X: “Dorie Miller’s bravery at Pearl Harbor is legendary and resulted in him being awarded the Navy Cross. This aircraft carrier shouldn’t be renamed at all, let alone for Donald Trump, who has denigrated servicemembers like Dorie Miller who have paid the ultimate price.”
