A Texan, like Nimitz, Doris “Dorie” Miller operated an anti-aircraft gun aboard the sinking USS Virgina during the attack on Pearl Harbor. A cook, he stepped up to provide cover fire for evacuees, despite having no training, and in crisis. For his bravery, he became the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross. His gun would have been smaller calibre than this, and I can’t imagine the courage it would take to take up such slim defense in the face of the Japanese onslaught.
They say that during the course of the war only 1 in 10 bomber aircraft were successfully shot down from the ground. I say that’s an amazing preservation of life.
